FAQ

I have completed part of a programme or just a single subject.
If that is the case, you must apply for starting credits. This means that you are applying to have previously passed subjects included in your new programme. In order to get starting credits, the subject/subjects you previously passed must correspond to the subjects on your current programme – both in terms of their subject matter, scope and academic level.

Apply for starting credits.

I have completed a programme
If you have completed your previous programme, you cannot apply for starting credits. You may, however, apply for credits.

Individual course of study
Getting starting credits or credits you will have semesters where you have less subjects. You should consider whether you want to use that space to take some of the subjects that are scheduled for later in your programme. This may result in a reduction of the time needed to complete your programme.

Individual study plan
If you want to do the subjects in your programme in a different order than specified in the process model, it is a good idea to draw up a plan showing on which semester you are doing the various subjects. Find the subjects in your curriculum.  

Get help to draw up your study plan from The Student Guidance Service.

If you are ill and cannot sit an examination, you must notify SDU of your condition.

I have become acutely ill
If you have become ill at the time of an examination, you must report in sick. Otherwise you will be registered as “absent” and will have used one of your 3 examination attempts. You must be able to document your illness, e.g. in the form of a  doctor's note. When you report in sick you’ll not use an examination attempt.

Registering for the re-exams

• If you do not participate in the first examination attempt (ordinary exam), you must register for the second examination attempt (re-exam) yourself. If you are ill at the time of the re-exam, you must report in sick again. 

I am suffering from prolonged illness
If you have suffered or are still suffering from prolonged illness (e.g. stress, depression etc.) and it affects your ability to study, you may apply for permission to not study actively or to take fewer subjects than required in the progression model. This is referred to as an exemption.

What if I am lagging behind due to illness
There are a number of rules and regulations that you must be aware of, if you do not study full-time for a period of time. You may be exempt from the following rules and regulations in exceptional circumstances, such as illness:

• The regulations concerning Active Enrolment Requirements and Maximum Duration of Study
• SU Active Enrolment requirement: You may apply for additional monthly grants if your lagging behind is due to illness.

If you cannot live up to these regulations and requirements, you may apply for an exemption. As long as you live up to the regulations and requirements, you need not apply for a dispensation.

May I continue my studies even if I miss an examination?
As a rule, you may continue your programme even if you miss an examination, unless it is a precondition that you pass a particular course in order to continue your programme.

If you are unable to study actively, you must apply for an exemption in order to continue your programme or the mandatory courses within the deadline.

In your curriculum, you can see whether there are precondition subjects on your programme.

You may find yourself in situations that take your focus off of your studies for a period of time. Read more about how to deal with the various situations:

Illness and deaths in your immediate family...
may like your own illness be considered as exceptional circumstances, i.e. circumstances for which you are not to blame or over which you have no control. You may apply for permission to not study actively or to do  fewer subjects, i.e. exemption.

Work...
is not regarded as an exceptional circumstance and therefore does not give you the right to be exempt. If you would like to work more for a period, you must be very clear in your prioritizations. A student counsellor may help you prioritize.

Relationship problems, parents’ divorce, family problems, financial difficulties, difficult living conditions, illness and death of a distant family member...
are all examples of situations that may take up a lot of your time and energy, and therefore affect your studies. At the same time, however, they are also situations that may not necessarily be regarded as exceptional circumstances. I. e. it’s not certain that it’s justification enough to be granted exemption from your studies.

Documentation is needed
If you are able to produce documentation, like e.g. a doctor’s note, to confirm that your situation affects you to such an extent that you are unable to study, you may be eligible for exemption. Attach the documentation to your application for exemption. 

Individual study plan
If you are applying for a dispensation or are lagging behind, it may be a good idea to draw up an individual study plan which reflects how you expect to complete your study. Contact the Student Guidance Service  if you need help in drawing up the plan.

Need help?
You can also get help to deal with your situation from the Counselling Centre or the Student Counselling Service.

Congratulations! Even if you are going to be a mother or a father, you are of course, entitled to parental leave.

What should I do?
From 1 September 2016, you must in general pass courses corresponding to 45 ECTS credits in each academic year, unless there are exceptional circumstances. Childbirth and parental leave are considered exceptional circumstances. When going on parental leave, you will be exempt from the requirements during your leave. However, you are welcome to be active on your programme if you feel you are up to it. You may do courses and pass  exams even though you are on leave. That way you may get a bit ahead, and that may be an advantage for you later on in your programme.

When applying for parental leave

What do I do when I return from parental leave?
When you resume to your study, it may be a good idea to draw up a plan for the remainder of your programme, i.e. what subjects you need to take and when. You can get help to create a study plan by using this study plan template. You may get help to create a study plan from the academic student advisor.

Additional SU
If you have a child while studying, you are entitled to additional SU, so you will be able to go on maternity leave.

Check www.su.dk or get in touch with the people responsible for SU through Student Services, if you need further information or assistance concerning SU.

Read about what you need to be aware of when you fail an examination.

Re-examination
If you fail the first examination attempt (ordinary examination), you must register for the second examination attempt (re-examination) yourself. The type of exam for the re-exam may differ from that of the ordinary exam. Check your curriculum for type of exam or ask your lecturer.

How many examination attempts do I get per course?
You have three examination attempts to pass each course in your programme. If you fail your first examination attempt, two further examination attempts remain. It is important that you use your examination attempts with care. Read about examination rules and regulations.

May I continue my programme even if I’m lagging behind?
In general, you may continue your programme, even though you fail an exam. You must pass the exam at a later time, and you have 3 examination attempts for each subject. However, there are rules and regulations that you need to be aware of, if you lag behind due to failed exams:

• It is a precondition that you pass the subject in order to continue your programme.
• The regulations concerning Active Enrolment Requirements and Maximum Duration of Study.
• SU Active Enrolment Requirements: You may apply for additional monthly grants if your lagging behind is due to illness.

If you cannot live up to these regulations and requirements, you may apply for a exemption. As long as you live up to the regulations and requirements, you need not apply for a dispensation.

If you need help, contact the academic student advisor.

See application forms for the various situations

Get help with the exam
The Counselling Centre offers counselling concerning e.g. exam technique and exam anxiety. 

Good advice for the exams

Is it the right programme for me? Would another programme be better suited in view of my interests? If you have thoughts like these, it may be a good idea to talk to someone and figure out why you are having doubts.

You may contact the Counselling Centre or the academic student advisor if you need to talk to someone about your doubts.

Should you decide that you want to change your programme, you will most likely have to apply again and start over. If you want to start over on a new programme, it may be a good idea to continue your current programme until you know whether you have been admitted to the new programme. This way, you’ll be sure to remain on your current programme, if, for some reason, you are not admitted in the new one.

You must apply for credits
You may apply for credits, and if the new programme has subjects that correlate to the ones you have passed in your previous programme, you’ll get credits. Getting credits means that some or all of the subjects that you have passed in your previous programme, will be transferred to your new programme. That way, you should be able to reduce the completion time on your new programme. If you apply again for a new programme and are admitted, you must apply for starting credit.

SU
Please note, that if you continue on your current programme, until you are admitted at the new one, you ‘ll be using your SU that you cannot retrieve in order to use on your new programme.

Get help and guidance from the Counselling Centre or the academic student advisor.

Do you feel that you are not thriving in your programme? If that is the case, it may be a good idea to find out why and to talk someone about the challenges you are faced with.

Get help and guidance from the Student Counsellors.

Withdrawing from your programme is a big decision and should be considered very carefully. It may be a good idea to talk to your family, friends or a student counsellor about your thoughts. You are welcome to ask for counselling.

Sometimes there may be other and better options than withdrawal available to you. You may e.g. have grounds to apply for exemption or take a leave of  absence.

Important rules concerning withdrawal
Before you finally decide to withdraw, we recommend that you check the rules concerning withdrawal.

Find the withdrawal form here.

I would like to enroll again?
If you have withdrawn from your programme and at some point in time would like to be re-enrolled on the same programme again, you must be aware of the rules for re-enrolment. You may, of course, apply for admission to a completely different programme, too. In that case you must apply through the coordinated admission (KOT).

See the procedure for admission and application form

SU and student accommodation
Please be aware that your SU will cease upon withdrawal. Contact SU at Student Service,if you are uncertain about the deadlines and so on.

To be eligible for student accommodation you are required to be studying actively. Ask your housing association, if you are in doubt about their rules.

Some students need a break from their course of study. There may be any number of reasons for needing a break.

As a rule, we expect you to live up to the Active Enrolment Requirements and Maximum Duration of Study . You must live up to the requirements unless exceptional circumstances apply. Exceptional circumstances could be your being ill or illness/death in the immediate family. This is not an exhaustive list, but generally, they apply to circumstances beyond your control that have a negative effect on your ability to study.

Leave of absence or exemption
If you need a break from your programme due to exceptional circumstances, you have two options: It may be possible to apply for either leave of absence or for exemption (dispensation) to be exempt from the requirements and rules for a (limited) period of time.

How to apply
Apply for leave og absence or exemption via SPOC.

Subjects/courses may phase out and curricula may expire
Regardless of whether you take leave of absence or have been granted exemption, you must be aware that programmes are changed continuously. If you are absent from your studies on a long term basis, you run the risk of your remaining courses and examinations no longer being available – or that you curriculum has expired, in which case you’re required to transfer to the most recent curriculum.

Contact the academic student advisors, if you need to take a break due to exceptional circumstances and need guidance in the process.

You can ‘save up’ for a break
It is also possible to take a break from your programme without being subject to exceptional circumstances. You may actually save up ECTS-points and make use of them on a later semester by registering for fewer or no courses, should you feel the need to slow down. This is an option as long as you live up to the Active Enrolment Requirements and Maximum Duration of Study.

It is not possible to start over on your programme. However, you may attend courses again in subjects that you have previously failed. In other words, you may attend the course when it is available again. Keep in mind, however, that the examination attempts you have already used, count as part of the three examination attempts you have, to pass each exam. Moreover, you cannot sit the exam again in a subject that you have already passed, e.g. in order to get a better grade.

Illness is the reason for my not passing the exams
If you do not pass any exams during your first year due to illness, you may attend the courses again the following year. However, you still need to keep in mind the Active Enrolment Requirements and Maximum Period of Study – and when you may need to apply for exemption from them.

Contact the academic student advisors if you are considering to start over and to hear about your options.