Update – changes in the study progress reform
Please read more about recent changes to the Study Progress Reform, including rules the master’ss thesis, registration for courses in autumn 2016 and study planning, maximum duration of studies and the possibilities for exemption.
Master’s thesis
In accordance with the new rules, all master’s degree students are registered for the Master’s thesis at their fourth semester of their master’s degree programme. Students who have planned in accordance with the rules governing the study progress reform part I, and therefore have legitimate expectations regarding their study plan, meaning that they have not planned to write their thesis in the fourth semester of their master’s degree programme, must contact Aarhus BSS Study Service (studies.bss@au.dk). This also applies to specific agreements about the duration of the writing period.
Registration for courses in the autumn 2016 semester and study planning
It is possible to change your course registrations between 16 – 18 May. It is important that you especially note the following:
At the moment it is not possible to present a complete overview of potential consequences by taking fewer courses than prescribed in the standard duration of the degree programme – which is 30 ECTS per semester/ 60 ECTS per year. This is because Aarhus University and Aarhus BSS are still working on creating an overview of potential consequences of different registration scenarios based on students who register for less than the prescribed 30 ECTS per semester.
However, one thing is certain, it is your own responsibility that you pass 45 ECTS per year (40 ECTS for degree programmes consisting only of 10 ECTS courses) and the maximum duration of study applies to all.
If you are considering a course of study, where you take less than 30 ECTS per semester / 60 ECTS per year, and end up not passing 45 ECTS per year, or you exceed the maximum duration of study – then this is also your own responsibility and worst case, you may be deregistered from your degree programme.
Many students have stated that they wish to make use of the increased possibility to plan individual study programmes by registering for 45 ECTS per year and complete the remaining ECTS during their 5th and last semester. An obvious risk is that you – due to the rules regarding maximum duration of studies - will only be offered one attempt in these exams and if you fail you will be deregistered without possibility of completing your studiy programme. As (poor) personal study planning is not an unusual circumstance, there will be no granted no exemption.
Especially, if you start on a master’s degree programme in the autumn 2016 semester, you must be aware that the new Education Grant and Loan Scheme (SU) rules will apply to you. This means that the SU payments are stopped, if you become more than 30 ECTS delayed. It is your own responsibility to be aware of this.
Aarhus BSS therefore recommends:
If you are in doubt, register for 30 ECTS in the autumn 2016 semester.
Maximum duration of study
Pay attention to the rules relating to maximum durations of study, as this can have consequences if you choose to opt out subjects. The new rules for maximum durations of studies imply the following:
For bachelor students
From September 1, 2016, you will have the prescribed standard duration of your degree programme + 12 months to complete your degree programme.
This means, if you started on your bachelor’s degree programme in September 2015, your expected end date, if you follow the prescribed standard duration of your degree programme, is June 30, 2018. If you have not completed your degree programme by June 30, 2018, you will have an additional 12 months to complete it. I.e. you must have passed all courses by no later than June 30, 2019.
If you started in September 2014, you must have passed all courses by no later than June 30, 2018.
If you started in September 2013 or earlier, you must have passed all courses by no later than June 30, 2017.
For master’s students
From September 1, 2016, you will have the prescribed standard duration of your degree programme + 6 months to finish your degree programme.
However, students who started in 2014 will have the same remaining duration of studies left, as students who started in 2015. This means, if you started on your master’s degree programme in September 2015 or earlier, you will have 11/2 years left to complete your degree programme. I.e. you must have passed all courses by no later than February 1, 2018.
Students who started their studies in February 2016 must have completed their studies 30 June 2018.
Students who started their studies in February 2015 or earlier must have completed their studies 30 June 2017.
Exemptions
In case you, due unusual circumstances, have received exemptions from the study progress reform part I’s registration requirements, there may be exceptions from the demands for study activity or the maximum duration of study. There will, as soon as possible, come more information about these exceptions. Until you hear otherwise, you can follow the course that you have planned for the autumn 2016 semester.