Requirements for passing
The Bachelor’s cycle is made of several blocks and groups. Each block or group weighs a given number of ECTS credits. Each block or group contains one or several subjects. Each subject weighs a given number of ECTS credits. The complete Bachelor’s cycle weighs 120 ECTS credits.
A block is passed (and thus all the credits associated with the block are acquired) when all the subjects it contains have been examined at least once and the weighted average of the block is 4,00 or above.
A group is passed when enough subjects in the group are passed (final grade 4,00 or above) to reach the number of credits associated with the group. Although an average is calculated, it has no bearing on the passing of the group.
Failed subjects (final grade below 4,00) in a failed block or group may only be repeated once, in the academic year following the failed exam. Passed subjects (final grade 4,00 or above) and failed subjects in a passed block or group may not be repeated.
To pass the Bachelor’s cycle, a student must:
- have acquired at least 60 credits within four semesters of the admission to the Bachelor’s cycle (conditional admission incl.);
- have acquired all the required credits within eight semesters of the admission to the Bachelor’s cycle (conditional admission incl.).
It is in principle not necessary to have passed all 60 credits associated with the second year to take third-year subjects. Some study plans may require that specific second-year courses (prerequisites) have been taken and/or passed before specific third-year subjects can be taken, however.
Questions/Answers
What happens if I do not attend an exam ?
An exam missed without a valid motive is graded NA (not acquired). This counts as a failed attempt to pass the subject. For subjects evaluated by means of several tests, missed tests are graded 0,00 and the final grade is calculated normally. Should that final grade be below 1,00, the subject is graded NA as well.
A block cannot be passed if one or more subjects in that block are graded NA. These subjects must be repeated for the NA to be replaced by an actual grade. In the case of an NA at a second attempt, the block is definitely failed. In the case of a compulsory block, this leads to the definitive failure of the Bachelor’s cycle.
NAs have no particular bearing on the passing of groups, provided that you can either repeat the subject or take another subject to acquire the required credits.
When can I repeat a subject I have failed?
You may only repeat a failed subject during the academic year immediately after the year of the failed first attempt at that subject. Once that deadline has passed, the result of the first attempt is final.
The result of the second attempt replaces that of the first attempt and becomes final, even when it is below that of the first attempt. It is not possible to keep the first result after the second attempt.
What happens in case of failure at an optional subject?
Just like compulsory subjects, optional ones may be repeated during the academic year immediately after the first failed attempt. You may also choose to take another optional subject within the same group or block. In any case, the final result of every subject will be visible on your final transcripts, including the failed ones.
Can I start the Master’s cycle without having completed the Bachelor’s cycle ?
Yes, but only if you are doing your Master’s in the same program as your Bachelor’s, and provided that:
- you have successfully completed the second-year program of your Bachelor’s cycle;
- no more than 10 ECTS credits are missing to successfully complete the third-year program of your Bachelor’s cycle, and
- you have not definitely failed the Bachelor’s cycle.
The period when you have started your Master’s cycle and not yet completed the Bachelor’s cannot last more than two semesters. This period counts for the maximum duration of both your Bachelor’s and Master’s cycles. Some subjects in the Master’s cycle may have prerequisites, in which case you will not be able to register for these subjects until you have taken all their prerequisites.