About rules
Green light for changing certain study progress rules
SDU is not facing challenges with average study completion times
Why can we change certain rules at SDU?
In 2019, SAK ADM (SDU’s study administration coordination group, which focuses on student administration) began evaluating the rules that had emerged from the 2016 Study Progress Reform.
The evaluation has shown that the rules for study progress had the desired effect. All faculties saw a drop in the average durations of study. The evaluation has also shown that some elements in the individual codes of practice could benefit from being corrected or removed altogether. In particular, it turned out that on the whole, the code of practice on study activity was not as fit for use as initially thought.
The evaluation and the positive progress figures therefore invites a relaxation of the rules. The COVID-19 pandemic slightly shifted the original schedule, but now four rules have been changed after approval by the UR (SDU’s Council for Education) and are ready to be implemented.
What rules are we changing?
Possibility of leave without grounds for one semester
This rule is effective from 1 January 2024.
It is now possible for students to take an unjustified leave of absence of up to one semester once during their entire course of study, or during a period of 6 years. This applies to students who have changed programmes once or more. Students still need to apply for leave through SPOC as before.
Background: SDU’s previous leave rules only provided limited opportunities for students to stop and take an extended break from their studies. The new rules are expected to improve overall student well-being and reduce dropout rates.
Possibility of administrative enrolment for courses when programmes, tracks and profiles are closed
This rule is effective from 1 January 2024.
Administrative enrolment is now available for courses, programmes and profiles where a decision has been made to close the programme.
Background: In the past, educational programmes etc. were rarely closed. Therefore, there has been no need for regulation in this area. With a desire for strategic development of SDU’s education portfolio in a changing national education landscape, the need has changed, and it is now ensured that students are enrolled and can attend their final classes.
Possibility of cancelling certain course elements in the first three weeks after the start of the semester
This rule comes into effect on 1 September 2024.
Students will be able to de-register from course elements within the first three weeks of the semester. Students will not be required to choose a substitute subject element in the same semester.
Exceptions to this option may include certain workshop and laboratory course elements, clinic stays, or summer school courses, as these course elements are expensive and difficult to plan and, in the case of the summer schools, are organised before the start of the semester. It will be stated in the description of the course element if it is not possible to de-register from a particular course element.
Background: In the future, students are guaranteed greater freedom of choice and flexibility, and thus better opportunities to plan their own course of programme.
Possibility of cancelling registration for re-examination 14 days before the actual re-exam
This rule comes into effect on 1 September 2024.
Students will be able to deregister for re-exams that they have registered for 14 days before the actual exam takes place.
The option will not be available to students who, according to other regulations, have been service-registered for an exam as a result of discontinuation of teaching in a subject element.
Background: Under the current rules, students must register for re-exams before knowing which regular exams have been passed or failed. Therefore, students cannot assess how much of an exam workload they will face during the re-examination period. The new rules give students more freedom to organise their exams, which can have a positive effect on their overall well-being.
Would you like to know more?
If you encounter a student asking for guidance on the changed rules, you can find them at mitsdu.dk/studyregulations.
New rules for enrolment for course elements and exams can be found in the document ‘The University of Southern Denmark’s rules and regulations on study progress’ in the collection of educational legal rules on SDUnet.
New rules for leave of absence can be found in the collection of educational legal regulations on SDUnet.
English versions of the codes of practice will be uploaded to the collection of educational legal regulations, soon.
If you have any questions about the rules or anything else in this article, please contact SDU’s educational legal team at uddannelsesjura@sdu.dk.