Student Charter chapter 3: Education

3.1.1

Programs at Tilburg University may be full-time, part-time or work-study (article 7.7 WHW). This is laid down in the Education and Examination Regulations (see chapter 5 of this charter).

3.1.2

With a view to the binding advice regarding the continuation of the study, the first year will be structured so as to give students a comprehensive idea of the content of the Bachelor’s degree program and the possibilities with regard to referral and selection at the end of the first year (article 7.8, paragraph 5 WHW).

In accordance with article 7.2 WHW, programs are taught in Dutch and exams are in Dutch. This rule may only be departed from in the following cases:

a) in a foreign language program;

b) if a guest lecture is given as part of the program by a lecturer who speaks another language;

c) if the specific nature, establishment or quality of the education or the origin of students so requires, in accordance with a code of conduct established by the Executive Board.

3.3.1

The Dean is responsible for the regular and timely assessment of the Education and Examination Regulations. It assesses the amount of time that students must spend on the program in order to maintain and, if necessary, alter the study load (article 7.14 WHW).

3.3.2

The available programs and the Education and Examination Regulations are announced before the start of the academic year. The Education and Examination Regulations contain clear and adequate information about the program or group of programs, so that students or prospective students can form a clear idea of the content and structure of the program and examinations (article 7.13 WHW). This includes, among other things the available programs, including, if applicable, international aspects, main subjects, and the manner of instruction.

3.3.3

The degree program, including the nominal study load, is structured so that students can be reasonably expected to obtain 60 credits per academic year (article 7 WHW).

3.3.4

The Dean determines mandatory internships that are part of a program and announces them in the Education and Examination Regulations. The dean will endeavor to make enough suitable internships are available. Students must also take the necessary initiatives with regard to this matter.

3.3.5

The Dean, taking account of the available facilities, must ensure that lectures are offered to students at convenient times insofar as this is possible.

3.3.6

The Dean must ensure that the written program material is available from the Syllabus Shop in sufficient quantities and in good time before the start of classes.

3.4.1

The Executive Board expresses the study load for each program and part of the curriculum in whole credits. In principle, the study load for an academic year is sixty credits. Sixty credits are equivalent to 1680 hours of study (article 7.4 paragraph 1 WHW).

3.4.2

An unit of study or subject consists of 28 hours of study or a multiple of this. The study load is at most 180 credits for a Bachelor’s program and 180 credits at most for a Master’s program (article 7.4a WHW).

3.4.3

The Education and Examination Regulations specify the study load for a program and for each separate module (article 7.13 paragraph 2 e WHW).

3.5.1

The Executive Board will cooperate with other institutions in as far as possible to ensure that the quality of the institution activities is assessed regularly, in part by independent experts (article 1.18 WHW).

3.5.2

This assessment will be made partly on the basis of student assessments of the quality of the education on offer.

3.5.3

The part of the assessment carried out by independent experts shall be made public by the Executive Board. The results of previous assessments are taken into account in the assessment (article 1.18 WHW).

3.5.4

Each student is entitled to make a written assessment of the quality of the modules they have taken.

3.5.5

The Dean regulates the way in which the results of the quality assessments (of the parts) of the program are dealt with.

3.5.6

Tilburg University’s annual report,or, strategy plan will include the proposed policy on the quality of education and research, partly in light of the results of the quality assessment and other data pertaining to the quality of the institution.

3.6.1

Registration does not depend on any financial contribution other than the statutory tuition, institution fee or examination fee (article 7.50 paragraph 1 WHW).

3.6.2

Expenses for Tilburg University arising from legal obligations to provide education cannot be passed on to students. If, despite this, certain educational activities entail additional costs, students must be offered an alternative. This alternative must be communicated to students clearly. Additional costs may only be charged on a voluntary basis.

3.6.3

Students must pay for educational necessities for their own use, such as books, materials and laboratory requirements for participation in education, examinations or tests in the program in which they are enrolled. The Executive Board will ensure that the costs are in reasonable proportion to the budget available to students.

3.6.4

Students must be able to obtain an estimate of the costs of educational necessities and financial contributions before the start of the academic year.

3.7.1

Students are entitled to counseling and the services of a dean of students and an education coordinator (article 7.34 paragraph 1, sub paragraphs d and e WHW). The Executive Board pays special attention to counseling students from ethnic or cultural minorities whose participation rate in higher education is significantly lower that of Dutch students who do not belong to such a minority. More information on student counseling is available.

3.7.2

The Dean is responsible for counseling students during the different phases of the study, namely the first year, the subsequent phase, graduation and any international exchanges.

3.7.3

The Education and Examination Regulations regulate the monitoring of individual counseling and study progress.

... given at the end of the first year

3.8.1

At the end of their first year of the Bachelor’s phase of a full-time or work-study program, each student will receive a recommendation regarding on continuation of their study within or outside the program (article 7.8b paragraph 1 WHW).

Students will receive a preliminary recommendation in advance of this advice by March at the latest.

3.8.2

The Executive Board may attach a binding refusal to register the student again for the same program to the recommendation referred to in paragraph 1. Students may only be rejected if the Executive Board, after considering their personal circumstances, is still of the opinion that they cannot be considered suitable for the program because their results do not meet the standards set by the board.

3.8.3

Before the Executive Board proceeds to reject a student, it will issue the student a warning, setting a reasonable period within which the study results must be improved to the board’s satisfaction. Students will be given the opportunity to be heard before a rejection is issued.

3.8.4

The Education and Examination Regulations for the programs in question specify the conditions attached to the binding rejection concerning the study standards, special personal circumstances that could have caused a delay in the study and the conditions for a deferment of the recommendation as mentioned in Article 3.8.1 of this charter.

The Executive Board will give the dean of students the time and opportunity to offer advice on delays that were the direct result of special personal circumstances. Special personal circumstances that were not reported to the dean of students in time (before July 1) will not be taken into account when the decision on the binding rejection is made (article 7.8b WHW).

3.8.5

The Executive Board may extend the rejection to programs that have in common with the program in question for the first year of the bachelor's phase.

3.8.6

From the academic year 2005/2006, the powers referred to in paragraph 2 will be exercised for all programs (binding study advice).

Students may lodge appeals against decisions concerning the progress of their study with the Examinations Appeals Board (see chapter 10 on Legal Protection).