Curricula - common component

In case of discrepancies due to translation between the Danish and English version of the curricula – common component, the Danish original will have legal status.

Chapter 4 – Teaching organisation

4.1 Registration

The deadlines for registration are given on www.kvl.dk. Late registration for other courses is possible if courses are cancelled.

Registration gives access to the course’s CampusNet web page.

All course registrations and withdrawals are made on sb.kvl.dk unless otherwise specified. First-year students are, however, automatically registered for the courses in the basic module.

4.2 Courses with quotas – ranking of students

If there are more registrations for a course than allowed by the quota, applicants are ranked in the following sequence unless otherwise specified in the curriculum or the course description:

1) If the course is compulsory, the student is guaranteed a place.

2) If the course is compulsory in part.

3) Seniority – students lacking the fewest credits to complete their programme have the highest priority.

4) Drawing of lots among students with the same number of credits.

5) Two reserved places in each course for foreign guest students.

6) Other external students.

The Registrar’s Office is responsible for the ranking, and up to 10 students are placed on a waiting list. Students who are not admitted to the course but who are placed on the waiting list or who have been excluded will be advised by the Registrar’s Office.

In order to keep the place in the course, the student has to give a personal appearance on the first day or other notification to the lecturer. In the event of failure to appear or provide notification as above, the places will be given to students on the waiting list in their sequence on the list. The Registrar’s Office is advised not later than the third day of the module of who has failed to appear and who has been accepted from the waiting list.

4.3 Cancellation

A course may be cancelled if there are fewer than 10 registrations at the time of deadline for registration for courses. Compulsory courses cannot, however, normally be cancelled. The Registrar’s Office will inform the course responsible if fewer than a total of 10 students have registered. The Registrar’s Office must be advised of course cancellations via the head of department.

If there are only 10 or slightly more registrations, the department may cancel the course by agreement with the Registrar’s Office until and including the first day of teaching if the lecturer can clearly demonstrate on the basis of contact with those registered that the actual number of students will be less than 10.

Cancellation should be made immediately after the deadline for registration to enable students to submit a late registration for another course. No re-examination is normally held for a cancelled course.

4.4 Complaints concerning teaching

Complaints concerning teaching are handled by the relevant study board under Section 33(4) of KVL’s statutes. Complaints must be made in writing with statement of grounds. Complaints must be sent to the Registrar’s Office.

4.5 Use of computers

KVL will assume that new students have their own laptop computers on commencement of their studies. Teaching at KVL will be organised on the basis of this assumption.

Chapter 5 – Bachelor’s and master’s programmes – organisation and rules

5.1 The bachelor’s programme – organisation

The bachelor’s programmes have a common structure with a basic module and a core module. There are also a bachelor’s project worth 15 credits and electives worth 45 credits.

Basic module: each bachelor’s programme has its own compulsory basic 60-credit first-year module.

Core modules: each bachelor’s programme has one or more 60-credit core modules in the second and third years. A core module is compulsory. The core modules consist of a 15- or 30-credit core module thematic course and a number of core courses. A core module qualifies the student for admission to one or more master’s programmes.

There may be deviations from the bachelor’s programme structure in individual cases. These are given in the curricula for the individual degree programmes.

The veterinary science curriculum does not contain basic and core modules.

5.1.1 The first year examination

Sections 22-25 of the Examination Executive Order specify the rules for the first year examination. Students must have taken the first year examination courses before the end of the first year of study in the bachelor’s programme, and must have passed the first year examination courses before the end of the second year of study in order to continue the degree programme.

The curriculum for the individual bachelor’s programme specifies the courses, which are included in the first year examination.

5.1.2 Registration for core modules

Students must register in writing for the desired core module in bachelor’s programmes, which offer more than one such module. The deadline for registration can be found on www.kvl.dk. If a student wishes to change core module within the same degree programme during the second or third year of study, a written request must be submitted.

If the student has more than 160 credits in his or her bachelor’s programme, the change of core module must be approved by the study board. When changing core module, the student must ensure that the credit limits are not exceeded (cf. 5.4). Courses passed in the previous core module, which are not included in the new module, will be transferred as elective courses.

5.2 Structure of the master’s programme

All master’s programmes contain a 15- or 30-credit master’s thematic course and a 30-, 45- or 60-credit thesis. Other compulsory study activities may also be included. The extent of the master’s thematic course and the thesis is specified in the curriculum for the individual degree programme.

There may be deviations from the master’s programme structure in individual cases. These are given in the curricula for the individual degree programmes.

The veterinary science curriculum does not include a master’s thematic course.

5.2.1 Registration for specialisation in the master’s programme

In master’s programmes which offer specialisations, the student must register for the desired specialisation in writing before the start of the degree programme. A written request must be submitted if the student wishes to change specialisation.

Special rules apply to registration for differentiations in the master’s programme in Veterinary Medicine (cf. the curriculum).

5.3 Elective credits

The elective credits can normally include all courses and other study activities at KVL (but the veterinary science courses are only available to veterinary science students) and courses for which credit has been transferred. The veterinary medicine programmes may only include courses which are already approved for inclusion under the curricula.

5.4 Credit limits

The bachelor’s programme is set at 180 credits. The master’s programme is set at 120 credits. The master’s programme in Veterinary Medicine is, however, set at 150 credits.

Under the Education Executive Order, a degree programme may not contain more than the stipulated number of credits. KVL does, however, permit up to seven additional credits for students who cannot exactly match the stipulated number of credits because of “lopsided” credit totals resulting from transfers of credit etc.

This rule applies to students who have been admitted to a bachelor’s or master’s programme in September 2005 or later. Students who were admitted before September 2005 are subject to the credit limits in the 2004/05 curricula.

5.5 Maximum time for registration

Students admitted to the bachelor’s programme from September 2001 to February 2005 must complete their studies within six years of the date of admission. Students admitted in September 2005 or later must complete the bachelor’s programme within five years of the date of admission.

Students admitted to the master’s programme in September 2001 or later must complete the programme within four years of the date of admission.

Veterinary science students admitted from September 2001 to February 2005 must complete their studies within 10 years of the date of admission. Veterinary science students admitted in September 2005 and later must complete the bachelor’s programme within five years of the date of admission and the master’s programme within five years of the date of admission.

Any periods of leave of absence will not be included.

Periods of practical training before the commencement of studies are not included in the period of enrolment. The deadline is extended accordingly for students of food engineering taking the six months of compulsory practical training during their period of studies.

Enrolment is terminated if the student has not completed his or her studies within the specified time limit.

5.6 Demands concerning study activities

Enrolment will be terminated if the student has not passed any study activities within a period of two years. This rule applies to students admitted in 2005 or later.

Any periods of leave of absence are not included.

5.7 Leave of absence

The rules governing leave of absence are specified in the Executive Order on Admission. Students on leave of absence may not receive supervision or teaching or sit for examinations. Apart from maternity leave and adoption leave, leave of absence is not granted during the first year of studies.

Leave of absence is normally granted for six months (autumn or spring) or a full teaching year. Leave of absence can normally be granted for up to two years of the total period of enrolment at KVL. The period of leave is not included in calculations of deadlines for teaching.

Applications for leave must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office in writing before commencement of module 1 or module 3. Leave of absence for late applications can only be granted from the date of application to and including the remaining part of the six months if the period of leave is at least two months.

If the student is receiving State Education Grant and Loan Scheme (SU) support, the SU Agency is advised automatically and it will stop support payments in the period of leave and demand repayment of any support which has already been paid.

5.8 Teaching and examination language

In English-language degree programmes, all study activities must be carried out in English. Up to 15 credits may, however, be carried out in Danish. This rule applies to students admitted in 2005 or later.

In courses offered in Danish, teaching and examinations are in Danish. Norwegian or Swedish speaking students may choose to take the examination in Norwegian or Swedish. Theses, bachelor’s projects and other written assignments may also be submitted in Norwegian or Swedish.

In courses offered in English, all teaching and examinations are in English. Project reports and similar must also be submitted in English.

The title of the course/study activity on the Danish-language diploma will indicate whether the course/study activity was given in Danish or English.

Students can expect to be reading texts in English, Swedish and Norwegian in all Danish language degree programmes, courses and other study activities at KVL.

5.9 Prerequisite courses

Prerequisite courses may be optional or compulsory. This will be indicated in the course description.

Optional prerequisite courses are recommended to enable the academic level in the course to be followed.

Compulsory prerequisite courses must be passed before the desired course can be commenced.

5.10 Special teaching and learning support (SPS)

KVL students with documented physical or mental disabilities which make it difficult for them to complete their degree programmes on an equal footing with other students may apply for special teaching and learning support (SPS). This support is available to Danish citizens and others on the same footing. The support is provided in the form of compensating aids for completion of the degree programme. At KVL, the scheme is administered by the central student counsellor.

Chapter 6 – Study activities for which credits are awarded

6.1 Courses

KVL offers the following types of course:

15-credit courses: occupy a nine-week block full-time. In the basic modules, 15-credit courses can also occupy two blocks on half time and will be placed in a week module.

7.5-credit courses: occupy a nine-week block on half time. The courses are placed in a week module.

Short courses: block 4 can be divided into two 4.5-week periods (blocks 4a and 4b). Short courses are full-time 7.5-credit courses for 4.5 weeks.

There may be deviations from the credit totals in individual cases.

The courses are classified into the following three types, which specify the level at which the individual course can be taken:

B = Bachelor’s course

F = Common course

K = Master’s course

Course types B and F may be included in the bachelor’s degree programmes.

Course types K and F may be included in the master’s degree programmes.

The individual courses’ scope, content, relationship, form of assessment etc. are given in a course description at www.kvl.dk.

The course number indicates the subject group placing. Courses are divided into the following subject groups:

21 Mathematics

22 Physics

23 Chemistry

24 Biology

25 Plants

26 Animal husbandry

27 Foods

28 Technology

29 Economics and law

30 Veterinary science

31 Nature, environment and landscape

40 Others

6.1.1 Thematic courses

Thematic courses are interdisciplinary project-oriented courses of 15 or 30 credits. The study board determines the size of the thematic courses within the individual course. 15-credit thematic courses run over a block. 30-credit thematic courses run over two blocks.

The teaching is problem-oriented with organisation in groups and projects. Thematic courses are assessed on a 13-point scale by an external examiner.

The bachelor’s degree programme offers core module thematic courses, where the number and subject content of the courses are determined by the range of core modules available.

The master’s degree programme offers master’s thematic courses. The study board determines the range of thematic courses within the individual programme.

6.2 Written assignments

Written assignments are an independent and optional study activity in which students, individually or in groups, consider a problem/topic of their own choice, preferably involving several subject areas. The main supervisor is always a KVL employee. External lecturers and assistant professors/lecturers at KVL may also act as main supervisors. Written assignments worth 7.5 or 15 credits can be done. Written assignments are assessed on the 13-point scale under internal examination. An oral defence is held in connection with the assessment.

If the oral defence is held later than 31 August 2007 the examination must be conducted individually, cf. chapter 7.12

In assessments of 15-credit assignments, emphasis is placed on the students’ literacy in addition to the subject content irrespective of the language in which the assignment is written, i.e., the ability to communicate the substance of the findings is included in the full assessment.

6.3 Bachelor’s project

Purpose and size

The bachelor’s degree programme concludes with a 15-credit bachelor’s project. The project is, however, only 10 credits in the veterinary medicine programme. The purpose of the project is:

- to document the ability to identify and analyse problems and process existing or new knowledge within the degree programme’s central subject areas, and

- to provide a clear comprehensible written presentation of the subject.

The bachelor’s project is carried out primarily on the basis of a literature review, but experimental work can be included to a minor extent.

The agreement

Before the bachelor’s project commences, there must be a written agreement (contract) between the student and the supervisor(s). The main supervisor is always a KVL employee. External lecturers and assistant professors/lecturers at KVL may also act as main supervisors. The relevant form is available on www.kvl.dk.

The agreement will be kept at the department.

Time limit

The time limit for carrying out the bachelor’s project is determined in accordance with its credit value, possibly with consideration for concurrent study activities. The project is normally carried out during one block. The main supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the project is of a scope which can be completed within the specified time frame.

The time limit specified in the agreement is binding, and if exceeded, a new project must be carried out with a new time limit. In extraordinary circumstances, the student may, however, apply for an extension to the time limit for submission. Extension of the time limit must be approved by the head of the department on the recommendation of the main supervisor.

Form

The bachelor’s project may be carried out individually or in groups of max. three persons. Any group work must be approved by the supervisor when the agreement is entered into, and the full assignment must be of a scope which corresponds to its total credit value.

Supervision

Supervision is based on the agreement in question and on the student’s individual needs. The supervisor acts as a sparring partner and primarily provides guidance with respect to the structuring of the assignment, the method of analysis, important sources etc.

In general the supervisor must approve:

- the subject area

- the problem formulation

- major limitations

- the provisional outline.

In general the supervisor will not:

- read major parts of the assignment

- provide detailed supervision

- be responsible for the content etc. of the final product.

Submission and the examination

The project report is submitted to the supervisor in four copies (one for the supervisor and one for each prospective co-supervisor, one for the external examiner, one for The Danish Veterinary and Agricultural Library and one for the department’s/group’s files). The assignment is KVL’s property and will not be returned to the student. The student specifies in the agreement whether the project report may be published after the examination. This decision can be changed at the time of submission if the student so wishes.

The department is required to submit one copy to KVL’s central library, where it will either be available to the public or held without publication.

The bachelor’s project may be written in Danish or English by agreement with the supervisor. Norwegian or Swedish speaking students may also choose to write the project in Norwegian or Swedish, cf. chapter 5.8. In English-language degree programmes, the project must be written in English (in the case of students admitted to the bachelor’s course in 2005 or later).

The project must have an abstract in English. If the project is written in English, the abstract may be written in Danish. The abstract must be one A4 page. The abstract is included in the full assessment of the bachelor’s project.

In the assessment of the bachelor’s project, emphasis is placed on the students’ literacy in addition to the subject content irrespective of the language in which the assignment is written, i.e., the ability to communicate the substance of the findings is included in the full assessment.

The project concludes with an examination seminar. The seminar is held at KVL. A seminar may also be held when the project starts, or mid-way through it. The examination seminar is public, and the supervisor announces the time and place by agreement with the student(s).

If the bachelor’s project includes a confidential component, a closed meeting on this part may be held in association with the examination seminar. The student, the examiner and the external examiner will be at the meeting. The entire bachelor’s project may not be presented at a closed meeting. In exceptional cases, rector may, however, grant a dispensation from the provision that the entire bachelor’s project cannot be presented at a closed meeting.

There is always an external examiner. An external supervisor may not act as external examiner.

After presentation, which may be max. 15-20 minutes (per student), the examiner and the external examiner ask questions and make comments. If the report was prepared jointly by several students, the oral presentation and the examination will form the basis for the individual assessment.

If the bachelor’s seminar is held later than 31 August 2007 the examination must be conducted individually, cf. chapter 7.12.

Assessment is on the 13-point scale, and one total mark is given for the project report and the seminar with the main emphasis on the project report. The subject and methodological components are weighted equally in the assessment. If there are several authors the written part will be part of the assessment at the following oral defence. The assessment must be concluded not later than six weeks after the project report is submitted. If the student so wishes, the main supervisor and the external examiner will prepare a written subject and methodological evaluation in connection with the assessment, which evaluation will be given to the student not later than seven days after publication of the mark and within six weeks of submission of the bachelor's project.

The title of the bachelor’s project (in Danish and English) is given on the diploma.

6.4. Thesis

Purpose and size

The master’s degree programme concludes with a thesis, where the student works independently with a problem which is an important part of the individual student’s academic profile. The purpose of the thesis is:

- to document the ability to identify, analyse and work through problems scientifically within the degree programme's subject areas, and

- to provide a written scientific presentation of the material.

The thesis can carry 30, 45 or 60 credits. The size of the thesis in the individual programme is specified in the curriculum. The thesis must include independent experimental and/or analytical work. Theses of 45 and 60 credits must based on the student’s own collection of primary data.

Students are entitled to supervision in the most relevant department if the student meets the academic requirements for the subject area in question. In cases of doubt, the head of department decides whether a thesis topic should be placed in the department in question. This decision can be submitted to the relevant study board.

The main supervisor must be a KVL employee. In degree programmes where there is a formalised working relationship with one or more other universities, the main supervisor may, however, also be from these universities. This will be specified in the curriculum for the degree programme in question. External lecturers and assistant professors/lecturers at KVL may also act as main supervisors.

The agreement

Before the thesis project commences, there must be a written agreement (contract) between the student and the supervisor(s). The relevant form is available on www.kvl.dk. The agreement will be kept at the department.

Time limit

The time limit for submission of the thesis is determined in accordance with its credit value. If the agreement specifically indicates that the student is only a part-time employee for the thesis work because of concurrent studies, account may be taken of this when the time limit is set. The main supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the thesis project is of a scope which can be completed within the specified time frame.

The time limit specified in the thesis agreement is binding, and if exceeded, a new project must be carried out with a new time limit. In extraordinary circumstances, the student may, however, apply for an extension to the time limit for submission. Extension of the time limit must be approved by the head of department on the recommendation of the main supervisor.

Form

The thesis may be written individually or in groups of no more than three persons. All group work must be approved by the supervisor when the agreement is made, and the work must have a scope corresponding to the credit value of the total amount of students in the group.

The thesis can be submitted in form of an article/articles. However, the requirement to document the ability to identify, analyse and work through problems scientifically must be met regardless of the form of the thesis. The supervisor cannot be the co-author of articles included in the thesis. However, after submission of the thesis individual articles may be elaborated on in a cooperation between the student and the supervisor and handed in for publishing. In such cases the supervisor may also assume the role of co-author.

Supervision

In general the supervisor must approve:

- the subject area

- the problem formulation

- major limitations

- the provisional outline.

In general the supervisor will not:

- read major parts of the assignment

- provide detailed supervision

- be responsible for the content etc. of the final product.

Submission and the examination

The thesis is submitted to the supervisor in four copies (one for the supervisor and one for each prospective co-supervisor, one for the external examiner, one for The Danish Veterinary and Agricultural Library and one for the department’s/group’s files). The thesis is KVL’s property and will not be returned to the student. The student specifies in the thesis agreement whether the thesis report may be published after the examination. This decision can be changed at the time of submission if the student so wishes. The department is required to submit one copy to KVL’s central library, where it will either be available to the public or held without publication.

The thesis may be written in Danish or English by agreement with the supervisor. Norwegian or Swedish speaking students may choose to write the thesis in Norwegian or Swedish, cf. chapter 5.8. In English-language degree programmes, the thesis must be written in English (in the case of students admitted to the master’s course in 2005 or later).

The thesis must have an abstract in English. If the thesis is written in English, it may also be provided with an abstract in Danish. The abstract must be one A4 page. The abstract is included in the full assessment of the thesis.

In the assessment of the thesis, emphasis is placed on the students’ literacy in addition to the subject content irrespective of the language in which the assignment is written, i.e., the ability to communicate the substance of the findings is included in the full assessment.

The thesis concludes with an examination seminar. The examination seminar is held at KVL. The seminar lasts about one hour (per student), about 30 minutes of which is for the oral presentation. A seminar may also be held when the project starts, or mid-way through it. The examination seminar is public, and the supervisor announces the time and place by agreement with the student.

If the thesis includes a confidential component, a closed meeting on this part may be held in association with the thesis seminar. The student, the examiner and the external examiner will be at the meeting. The entire thesis may not be presented at a closed meeting. In exceptional cases, rector may, however, grant a dispensation from the provision that the entire thesis cannot be presented at a closed meeting.

There is always an external examiner. An external supervisor may not act as external examiner.

After presentation, the examiner and the external examiner may ask questions and make comments. If the report was prepared jointly by several students, the oral presentation and the examination may form the basis for the individual assessment.

If the thesis seminar is held later than 31 August 2007 the examination must be conducted individually, cf. chapter 7.12.

Assessment is on the 13-point scale, and one total mark is given for the thesis and the seminar with the main emphasis on the written component. If there are several authors the written part will be part of the assessment at the following oral defence. The assessment must be concluded not later than six weeks after the thesis is submitted. If the student so wishes, the main supervisor and the external examiner will prepare a written subject and methodological evaluation in connection with the assessment, which evaluation will be given to the student not later than seven days after publication of the mark and within six weeks of submission of the thesis.

The title of the thesis (in Danish and English) is given on the diploma.

6.5 Practical training, vocational school, trainee service and study trips

There may be a maximum of a total of 15 credits for practical work, vocational school, trainee service and study trips in the bachelor's degree programme, and there may be a maximum of 15 credits for trainee service and study trips in the master's degree programme. No credits are allowed for practical training and vocational school in the master’s degree programme.

When practical training, vocational school, trainee service and study trips can be included, it will be specified in the degree programme curricula.

Applications for approval of credits allocated for practical training, vocational school, trainee service and study trip are handled by the Registrar’s Office, but submitted to the study board for decision in cases of doubt. When the application has been handled – normally within two weeks of receipt if the application is to be handled only by the Registrar’s Office – the credits awarded will be registered. A letter is only sent to the student if the application is denied.

Note that the stipulated number of monthly grants and loans for the degree programme is reduced by one for each five credits of study activities completed before commencement of the actual programme and transferred to the actual programme. Further details on www.kvl.dk.

6.5.1 Practical training

Practical training is work, the object of which is to gain an insight into practical work within the area relevant to the studies. The practical training may be acquired before studies are commenced. Practical training/work experience gained more than five years before the studies cannot, however, be approved. The practical training must be documented and relevant to the individual field of study.

Practical training is included in the bachelor’s degree programme at a minimum of 7.5 and a maximum of 15 credits. The options are:

- 7.5 credits for 5-6 months of practical training

- 10 credits for 7 months of practical training

- 12.5 credits for 8-9 months of practical training

- 15 credits for 10 or more months of practical training

The work must be full-time.

There are special provisions for practical training in the food degree programme. These are specified in the curriculum.

6.5.2 Vocational school

Vocational school of at least six months duration before commencement of studies may be included in the bachelor’s degree programme at 15 credits.

6.5.3 Trainee service

Trainee service is work in a graduate-like position. The work must be of a nature such that it contributes to development of the student’s theoretical and practical knowledge in relation to the studies themselves. Trainee service may be done with advantage during the later stages of the degree programme. Trainee service cannot be acquired before the programme.

Trainee service must be approved by a subject supervisor before commencement and it must conclude with a report documenting the academic expertise which was obtained. The supervisor’s approval is submitted to the Registrar’s Office together with the report.

Trainee service may enter into the bachelor’s and/or master’s degree programmes at minimum of 7.5 and a maximum of 15 credits per programme. The options are:

- 7.5 credits for 10-13 weeks of trainee service

- 10 credits for 14-17 weeks of trainee service

- 12.5 credits for 18-21 weeks of trainee service

- 15 credits for 22 or more weeks of trainee service.

Part-time work can be converted to the equivalent full-time work. The credits awarded enter into that component of the programme (bachelor’s or master’s programme) which the student has reached when he or she does the trainee service.

6.5.4 Study trips

Study trips, individually or in groups, may enter into the study activity when there is compliance with the following terms:

A description of the academic purpose of the trip is prepared and approved by a subject supervisor before departure. A travel report is subsequently submitted with an account of the academic expertise which was gained.

The supervisor advises the Registrar’s Office of the credits awarded for the study trip.

Study trips may enter into the bachelor’s and/or master’s degree programmes at minimum 7.5 and maximum 15 credits per programme. The options are:

- 7.5 credits for a 10-13 week study trip

- 10 credits for a 14-17 week study trip

- 12.5 credits for an 18-21 week study trip

- 15 credits for a study trip of 22 or more weeks.

6.6 Credit transfer

After approval, study activities passed during a different higher education course may enter into the degree programme in place of KVL’s courses or as elective credits.

Applications for credit transfer or prior approval are handled by the Registrar’s Office on the basis of a statement from the contact person in the department in question. Complicated cases or cases of principle are submitted to the study board for decision. Applications must be made on a special form available at www.kvl.dk, where the rules governing transfers of credits and marks are also available.

A maximum of half the credits in the degree programme may be obtained by credit transfer. According to the Education Executive Order, theses cannot be credit transferred. Further, KVL has decided that bachelor’s projects cannot be transferred either.

The provision in the Examination Executive Order that two thirds of the degree programme must be assessed on the 13-point scale (cf. 8.6) does not apply to credit transfer credits, i.e., these credits are subtracted before the two thirds-calculation.

6.7 ECTS

KVL’s course units are calculated in credits. Since 1998, KVL has used the ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System), in which a year of full time study equals 60 credits. This corresponds to a student’s working 1650 hours, i.e., 27.5 hours per credit.

Chapter 7 – Examination rules

7.1 Registration and cancellation

Two weeks into each block, the Registrar’s Office registers all students who are still registered for the course for exam. Late registration and cancellation is then possible. The deadlines are given on www.kvl.dk. Late registration and cancellation is done via sb.kvl.dk. Students must always check whether a registration has been accepted. The Registrar’s Office must be contacted if the registration is denied.

If the student wishes to participate in an examination without preceding participation in the block lectures, the student is responsible for asking the course responsible if this is possible in practice.

7.2 Sickness

Students who are sick on the day of the examination must document their sickness with a medical certificate which specifies the first and last days of sickness. The medical certificate must be sent to the Registrar's Office as soon as possible after the examination. Sickness in the event of an oral examination must be reported to the lecturer/department before commencement of the examination on the day in question. If an examination is interrupted because of sickness, the student must advise the invigilator. Partially completed papers may not be submitted for assessment in such event.

You may send a medical certificate to the Registrar’s Office.after which the examination attempt will be cancelled. The doctor must be contacted no later than on the day of the examination. KVL refunds the expense of the medical certificate which must be sent to the Registrar’s Office with the form “Repayment of expenses for medical certificate”(available at www.kvl.dk) along with the receipt of the expense.

7.3 Aids

It may be specified for examinations held in lecture halls that no aids are allowed, or that only certain aids are allowed. This will be indicated in the course description. Unless otherwise specified, textbooks, reference books, notes, pocket calculators etc. may be brought to the examination. Computers may not be brought.

Language dictionaries may be brought to examinations where aids are not otherwise permitted.

7.4 Use of computers

Where relevant and practically possible, computers will be used in the examination. This will be indicated in the examination plan.

7.5 Weighting

The course description indicates whether an examination consists of several exam components. If an examination consists of several exam components, one total mark is given. The separate marks may be combined with different weightings, and the weightings are given in the course description If the exam components have independent course numbers, the result is calculated on the basis of the specified weighting. If the components do not have independent course numbers, a general assessment of the whole examination may be given in addition to the simple calculation.

When combining the marks for a number of exam components, the average must be at least 6 without rounding up, and no mark may be below 5. The course description indicates whether the exam components must be passed individually i.e. with at least 6 in each exam component.

A written examination may consist of several examination questions. Unless otherwise specified, the questions are of equal value. A general assessment of the answers to all questions will normally also be made.

7.6 Extended examination time

In the case of written examinations held in lecture halls, the Registrar’s Office may grant extended examination time in the event of pregnancy, language difficulties and dyslexia. The deadline for application is given on www.kvl.dk.

Pregnancy

Depending on the duration of the examination, an extension of up to 30 minutes may be granted in the last three month until the expected date of birth. A relevant extract of the medical records (vandrejournal) must be appended to the application.

Language difficulties

Depending on the duration of the examination, an extension of up to 30 minutes may be granted for examinations in Danish in the first year of study to

- foreign nationals without a Danish qualifying examination (this does not include Norwegian or Swedish speaking students who may sit the examination in Norwegian or Swedish)

- Danish nationals with a foreign qualifying examination, who have grown up abroad and have taken their education in a non-Danish-language school.

No extension because of language difficulties will be given for examinations in English.

Dyslexia

Apart from extended examination time of up to one hour in the case of written examinations in lecture halls, the Registrar’s Office may approve special examinations e.g. projects, oral examinations and reading aloud of examination questions. Documentation for dyslexia and a statement and proposal from the lecturer for the form of examination must be appended to the application. The student will agree with the course responsible on how any extension to the examination time can be arranged for the examination in question. The agreement must be submitted to the Registrar’s Office not later than one week before the examination.

7.7 Complaints about the examination

A complaint about the examination may be submitted under the Examination Executive Order. The complaint may concern legal questions or:

1) the examination basis

2) the examination procedure

3) the assessment.

The complaint, which must be addressed to rector and submitted to the Registrar’s Office, must be in writing giving reasons, and must be submitted not later than two weeks after the examination result has been published. The deadline will, however, be calculated at the earliest from the date on which publication has been notified.

7.8 Dispensation for the number of times an examination may be sat

Under Section 26 of the Examination Executive Order, a student has a maximum of three attempts to pass an examination. The study board may grant a dispensation for a fourth and a fifth sitting for an examination if there are exceptional circumstances. The question of suitability for studies may not be included when assessing whether there are exceptional circumstances. In exceptional cases, the study board may also grant a dispensation for more than five sittings of an examination, especially when the student needs only a single examination to complete the degree programme. Applications for additional sittings for examinations must be submitted as soon as the need is known.

7.9 The examination basis

The examination requirements for courses must be described in a list of requirements. The requirements may consist of a common component and an individual component. The latter is of special relevance in connection with projects. Each course has its own examination requirements, consisting of a common component and possibly an individual component, in accordance with guidelines described under the individual course.

The examination basis consists of the examination requirements with the described competence objectives for the course. Questions raised about the examination must be able to be answered on the basis of the list of examination requirements and the competence objectives.

The list of requirements is prepared by the course responsible and it must be available on the course’s CampusNet web page four weeks before the examination. The individual list of requirements must be approved by the course responsible and submitted to the latter by a specified date.

In the case of courses with continuous assessment, there must be clarity concerning which sections of the examination requirements/competence goals are being tested in each individual examination.

7.10 Recording

Under Section 21 of the Examination Executive Order, the student may tape record his or her own oral examination.

7.11 Re-examination

The re-examination will be held in the interim week after the subsequent block (cf. the structure of the academic year). The re-examination is held for students who were sick or who did not pass the immediately preceding ordinary examination in the course, i.e. the re-examination assumes that the student has followed the teaching in the course.

The form of examination/external examination in the re-examination may differ from that of the ordinary examination. The form of the examination is published on www.kvl.dk.

If five or fewer students have registered for a re-examination for which the ordinary examination was a written examination, the examination will automatically be changed to an oral examination unless the lecturer has indicated in advance that it will remain a written examination.

The re-examination for first-year courses in block 4 will be held in the last week of August.

The deadlines for registration and cancellation for the re-examination are available on www.kvl.dk. Registration is on sb.kvl.dk. Registration is required to sit the re-examination.

7.12 Group examinations and individual assessment

The chosen form of examination in a course must always ensure that there is an individual assessment of the students’ performances. Examinations may be arranged as individual or group examinations. The maximum number of students in a group examination is six. Each individual student must be examined to ensure that there is an individual assessment. In a written group examination which is not followed up by an oral group examination, the individual student’s contribution must be noted to ensure that there is an individual assessment.

The new change of the examination executive order (Executive Order no. 231 of 22 March 2006) which became effective as from 1 April 2006 states that all examinations as from 31 August 2007 must be arranged as individual examinations which means that the examination must be conducted individually and that individual assessment and grading must be carried out. KVL has decided that exams in the academic year 2006-07 may be held as group examinations. For group projects examined after 31 August 2007, the oral part must be done individually. This also applies to bachelor’s projects and theses.

Chapter 8 – Forms of examination and assessment

8.1 Continuous assessment and final examination

Continuous assessment is by a number of examinations during the course. The examination requirements are in several parts, each of which is finalised during the block. There is no final examination. The course responsible awards a composite grade/assessment on the basis of the individual examinations. See also 7.5 for weighting.

Final examination is held at the end of the course and all examination requirements are covered in this examination.

A course always has either continuous assessment or a final examination. It is not possible to have both continuous assessment and a final examination in the same course.

8.2 Requirements for attending exam

Some courses have requirements which must be satisfied before the student may sit the examination, e.g. submission of assignments or attendance at lectures and practical work. These requirements are not a part of the examination and do not enter into the assessment. The course responsible records whether students have complied with the requirements.

8.3 Written and oral examinations

An examination is either written or oral, or both, e.g. if there is an oral defence of a written assignment which has been submitted.

The written examination can be in any form, including submission of project reports, examinations via the internet etc.

8.4 Practical examination

A practical examination is an examination in which the student carries out a practical task, i.e., the examination tests for an element of proficiency which must be demonstrated.

8.5 Portfolio examination

Where other types of examination only weight the result, both process and result are weighted in a portfolio examination. Several elements will often be included in the examination, e.g. submission of the student’s own project report and presenting critiques of fellow students’ works, or mid-way assessments where the assessment counts towards the final result.

8.6 Form of assessment

All study activities at KVL are assessed either on the 13-point scale or as passed/failed. Practical training, vocational school, trainee service and study trips are, however, assessed as approved/not approved.

Under Section 10(2) of the Examination Executive Order, the 13-point scale is used for a number of examinations which together cover two thirds of the credits in the degree programme. The curricula ensure compliance with the two thirds-rule.

The values in the 13-point scale are defined in the Executive Order on Marking.

8.7 Examiners

All study activities at KVL are assessed either by an internal and an external examiner, two internal examiners or an internal examiner only.

Under Section 6(4) of the Examination Executive Order, at least one third of the credits in a degree programme must come from exams that have been assessed by an external examiner. The curriculum ensures compliance with the one third-rule.

The student may demand a second examiner for his or her third, fourth and fifth sitting of an examination with one examiner only.

8.7.1 External examiners

External examiners are appointed by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Development on the recommendation of the chairman of the board of external examiners.

8.7.2 Internal examiners

Internal examiners are appointed from KVL’s teaching staff. The head of department decides which of the department’s teaching staff may act as internal examiners in their own or other departments.

8.7.3 Anonymous assessment

Anonymous grading means that the examiners do not know the student’s identity when assessing performance. Both internal and external exams can be assessed anonymously. Anonymity is ensured via the use of randomly generated examination numbers when the student’s examination registration is made. One number per student per examination is generated within the individual examination period. Only the Registrar’s Office and the student him- or herself knows the relationship between the student’s identity (civil registration number) and the student’s examination number.

The examination number is given on sb.kvl.dk > Examination > Registrations and cancellations. The student must bring the correct examination number to the examination.

All courses, in which only a written examination held in a lecture hall is given, are assessed anonymously. If a course consists of two or three exam components (with separate course numbers), these examinations are, however, also assessed anonymously if the individual exam component is a written examination held in a lecture hall only. The course description does not indicate whether an examination is assessed anonymously.

Chapter 9 – Admission to the master’s degree programme

9.1 Admission to the master’s degree programme

Under Section 9 of the Executive Order on Admission, admission to a master's degree programme requires possession by the student of a relevant bachelor’s degree or equivalent. Admission to a master’s degree programme is not possible if the bachelor’s programme has not been completed.

As from 2006 according to act no. 337 regarding changes in the Universities Act, KVL must charge full tuition fee from students from countries outside EU/EØS, further details on www.kvl.dk.

9.2 Date of admission

Admission to master’s degree programmes may occur once a year on 1 September or twice a year on 1 September and 1 February. The curriculum for the individual master’s degree programme specifies whether admission is once or twice a year.

Admission is on 1 September only for English-language master’s degree programme. Any exceptions are given in the curricula for the individual programme.

9.3 Language requirements for admission to Danish-language master's degree programmes

All applicants who do not have a full Danish qualifying examination must document their abilities in Danish in connection with the application for admission to the Danish-language degree programmes. The minimum level corresponds to the Study Examination or “Danish Level 2”, and these must have been passed with a mark of at least 6 in each of the four examinations.

9.4 Language requirements for admission to English-language master's degree programmes

Applicants whose native language is not English must document their abilities in English equivalent to British Council International Language Testing System (IELTS) with a mark of 6.0 or above. This provision does not, however, apply to applicants from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland. Applicants with an English-language bachelor’s degree from Ghana, Nigeria and Cameroon are also exempt from the requirement that an English test be passed.

Applicants who have not previously followed a long-term programme in an educational institution in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland or Iceland are expected to complete KVL’s International Graduate Orientation Programme.

9.5 Completion of the bachelor’s degree programme in relation to admission to the master’s degree programme

The bachelor’s project is considered completed in relation to admission to the master’s degree programme if there is preliminary approval of the final submitted version of the project. The preliminary approval must provide documentation that the bachelor’s project can be passed with a mark of at least 6. The preliminary approval must be signed by the examiner and the external examiner and dated 31 August or earlier for admission on 1 September and 31 January or earlier for admission on 1 February.

The basis for admission to MSc degrees are those exams in the BSc degree placed before 1 September and 1 February regardless of when the results of these exams are available. Reexaminations for block 1 (in interim week 2) may also form part of the admission basis of 1 February, regardless of whether the time of examination is after 1. February.

9.6 Transfer of courses from the bachelor’s to the master’s degree programme

If the student lacks 15 or fewer credits to conclude the bachelor’s degree programme on 1 February (or 1 September), he or she may register for master’s or common courses which are transferred to the master’s degree programme when it commences on the next 1 September (or 1 February). When registering for the courses, the student must apply to the Registrar’s Office to have the courses transferred to the master’s programme. If the student cannot be admitted to the master’s programme on the date in question, the option of transferring the courses will lapse and they will be deleted from the transcript.

If the student finishes the bachelor’s degree programme after block 3 (or block 1) the student may enroll for master’s or common courses in block 4 (or block 2) which will be transferred to the master’s degree programme when this is commenced the first coming 1 September (or 1 February).

9.7 Conditional time limit on the bachelor’s degree programme in relation to admission to the master’s degree programme

If the student’s bachelor’s degree programme was concluded more than three years before application for admission to a master’s programme, the study board will assess in each individual case whether the bachelor’s programme is out of date with respect to admission to the master’s programme.

Chapter 10 – Dispensations

Exceptional circumstances permitting, the study board may grant dispensations from the rules in the curriculum specified solely by KVL.

Ingelise Lundgaard, - last update:15 January 2007