What is the binding study advice?
In accordance with the Dutch Higher Education Act (WHW), all students receive a binding study advice (BSA) at the end of the first year of study. The BSA is the university’s decision with regard to a student’s continuation of the degree programme.
The BSA is applicable to bachelor students only; (pre)master students do not receive a study advice. Students who are enrolled in more than one bachelor programme receive a study advice for each programme.
As such, all first year bachelor students at the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication (ESHCC) receive a binding study advice. At the end of the academic year, the student’s study results are checked against the stipulated standard and a positive or negative study advice is issued as a result. After receiving a positive BSA, the student may continue to the second year of study. A negative BSA equals rejection for the degree programme. Consequentially, the student must quit the programme and is not allowed to register for this particular programme for three subsequent academic years. These rules are set out in Section 9 of the Teaching and Examination Regulations Bachelor Programmes ESHCC.
The standard
After the first year of study, bachelor students ought to meet the standard as stipulated. At the Erasmus School of History, Culture and Communication the following standard applies:
At the end of the first year of study of the degree programme, the student ought to have successfully completed all BA-1 programme components and obtained all credits. The total amount of credits obtained must thus equal 60 EC of Bachelor 1 examinations.
Students’ study results are assessed in August and only after application of the Compensation Regulation. This means students are allowed to compensate for two insufficient grades (at least 5,0) with courses graded with at least 7,0 and worth the same amount of credits. The compensation rule will only be applied once the student meets all other requirements of the BA-1 programme, apart from the courses that qualify for compensation.
Students who deregister for the degree programme before February 1st during their first year of study do not receive a binding study advice. They may restart the bachelor programme in the following academic year and the BSA will be issued at the end of that (second) year.
Personal circumstances
If a first-year student experiences severe personal circumstances that strongly influence their study results, issuing the BSA may be postponed to the next academic year. The student then has to meet the set standard one year later.
This exception can be made solely under severe personal circumstances (e.g. illness, pregnancy, family issues or board membership) and only after timely consultation with the counselling student advisor.
Students who feel this applies to them should inform the student advisor as soon as possible and at least within four weeks after the particular circumstances arise, July 1st at the latest.
The procedure
Throughout the academic year, the school monitors all BA-1 students’ study progress and sends out reports with concern to their results and the implications for their upcoming BSA. These updates are communicated per e-mail to student accounts.
Interim advice
During the first year of study, students receive an interim binding study advice three times; after the examinations of terms 1, 2 and 3 respectively. These interim advices serve as warning signals to students with an impending negative BSA. Students whose study results are not up to par are strongly advised to discuss their study progress with the student advisor or to consider quitting the programme.
The definitive BSA
In early August, after processing all course grades and the application of the Compensation Regulation, the total number of obtained credits for each student is calculated and held against the standard as stipulated. Then, taking into account any personal circumstances reported, either a positive (60 EC), negative (0-55 EC), or postponed binding study advice is issued.
Rejection and legal position
If a student has obtained insufficient credits to pass the norm and no valid personal circumstances apply that have been timely discussed with the student advisors, a negative binding study advice is issued. The student is offered the opportunity to present their view on this binding advice to the Examination Board ESHCC (in writing or in person) before the decree becomes effective, if they feel the rejection is unjust.
The Examination Board will consider this point of view when coming to a final decision and may either uphold the negative study advice or issue a postponed advice based of the hardship clause after all. Instructions for this procedure are included in the BSA letter that students receive in August: the student advisors are also available for advice.
Response to intended negative binding study advice
Students who are informed of an impending negative binding study advice in early August and who consider this advice unjust are offered the opportunity to be heard regarding the impending negative advice. This is strictly limited to the correction of obvious mistakes and the reporting of severe personal circumstances which the student was unable to report before the advice was issued.
If this applies to you, please follow the instructions below:
The response to the negative binding study advice must be submitted through OSIRIS/My Cases within a few days upon receiving the official BSA letter (via email) in early August. The exact response deadline is specified in the BSA letter. Fill out the request form Submit Response to negative Binding Study Advice in OSIRIS and indicate whether you prefer to submit a written response or present your point of view in person.
If you prefer to submit a written response, you have to upload the documents listed below:
- A letter to the Examination Board in which you clearly argue why the negative study advice is unjust and what you will change in the upcoming year;
- An up-to-date study progress overview from OSIRIS (screenshots suffice);
- A schematic study plan for the remainder of the programme;
- If applicable: supporting documentation.
If you prefer to explain your point of view in person, please check this option on the form. You then have to upload:
- An up-to-date study progress overview from OSIRIS (screenshots suffice);
- A schematic study plan for the remainder of the programme;
- If applicable: supporting documentation.
You will be invited to appear at a formal hearing by the Examination Board at very short notice. Principally, hearings are scheduled during the week directly after receiving the Binding Study Advice.
Please make sure to submit everything on time and to provide a solid argument for your suitability for the programme. The Examination Board will inform you of their final decision with regard to the binding study advice as soon as possible, before the end of August at the latest.
Finally, students are entitled to lodge a written appeal with the Board of Appeals for Examinations of the Erasmus University Rotterdam in case a negative BSA is maintained. The BSA letter informs students on the period of appeal and contact information for the Board of Appeals for Examinations. The procedure and information regarding students’ legal rights can be found in the Students’ Charter of the Erasmus University Rotterdam.