The following rules were adopted by the Faculty Board on June 19, 2006 under the authority as provided by the University of Oslo's Regulations Regarding Study and Exams which was adopted by the University of Oslo's Board on December 20, 2005. The rules are included in the Faculty's course descriptions as authorized by Section 3.4 in the regulations. The rules are to go into effect from August 1, 2006.
Content
Definitions
The
Midterm exam (Deleksamen) is taken during the course and is included in
the grade evaluation. Normally, a midterm exam is worth less than 50% of the
final grade.
The final exam (Avsluttende eksamen) is taken after the
last class of the course and normally is worth 50% or more of the final
grade.
Exam (Eksamen) includes both midterm and final exams.
An excused absence may include sickness or other accepted grounds for
absenteeism; this must be satisfactorily documented.
A Postponed
exam is provided for students who have an excused absence during an exam,
and if a normally scheduled exam is not given in the course every semester. See
sections 4.3 and 5.3.
A new exam may be given to a student who
failed or withdrew from either a midterm or a final exam while it was taking
place. See for further details below.
Compulsory assignments are
not included when evaluating the grade but they do need to be approved in order
for the student to be allowed to take the final exam, and possibly the midterm
as well for those institutes which have chosen to do so. Compulsory assignments
may be transferred to a later semester if the institute decides to allow for
this.
Exams may make use of the exam formats that are provided in the University of Oslo's Regulations Regarding Study and Exams in section 5.1.
Information about the
exam
Important information concerning exams in general and
specific exams in particular is to be provided early in the course description
and/or at the beginning of the course. If nothing else has been specified, this
must be done early enough so that it will not have any negative effect on the
students' exam results.
Prerequisites
The
prerequisites for a course must be satisfied before one can sign up for the
course or the exam in the course. Students with 120 or more credits can,
however, take any course offered by the Faculty without fulfilling the
prerequisites. This does not apply to Pharmacy courses, or other exceptions
which the Faculty has decided upon. Admissions to a course without the required
prerequisites is only possible if all students who have taken the prerequisites
have already been given a place in the course.
4.1 Duration -
time
A written exam given under supervision can last up to 3
hours. The institutes determine the length of other exams. Midterms can take
place at other times during the day then those approved for final exams
(Section 5.1)
4.2 Turning up for
the exam
Students who fail to turn up to a midterm exam will
not be allowed to continue the course unless they are able to document a valid
reason for their absence. The same applies to non-supervised midterms when a
student does not turn in the exam.
It is possible to apply for dispensation from the midterm under special circumstances, with the exception of within the Pharmacy programme. This may be possible, for example if one is called into military service, called in as a witness in a court case, or a sports competition at the national level. The application needs to be sent to the Faculty at least one week before the exam is to take place. If the midterm is postponed or a new exam is given to take the place of the midterm, then the student who applied for dispensation will have to take the exam at this time as long as it is not within the time covered by the dispensation.
Students from University of Oslo programmes who are participating in a bilateral foreign study programme, may take midterm exams at the university where they are studying as long as the host university can guarantee satisfactory conditions concerning the taking of the exam and as long as it does not result in additional costs for the University of Oslo. This is under the conditions that the course is compulsory in the Bachelor or Master's programme or that it is a prerequisite for a Master's programme, and that it has not already been passed. An application needs to be sent to the Faculty at the latest July 1/December 1 the semester before the midterm is to take place.
The Dean has determined "rules for taking written exams."
4.3
Excused absences from a midterm exam
Students who have an
excused absence from a midterm exam are to be offered the possibility of taking
the exam at a later date, that is if the exam is not ordinarily held every
semester. If an exam is normally held every semester, the exam can still be
postponed if the course has an arrangement for the new exam. Exceptions can be
made for exams which include laboratory work, field work, or other resource
demanding criteria and are difficult to reorganize. In these cases, the
institute needs to decide if the material from the midterm can be tested in
some way other than in the laboratory or out in the field. If this possible
then a new midterm is to be offered. If this is not possible then it may be
decided not to offer a postponed exam.
Students may be granted up to a maximum of one dispensation from a midterm exam as long as it is worth less than 35% of the final grade. If it is required that the exam must be taken despite a student having an excused absence from the exam, the student needs to be informed of this in the course description and/or the course's semester web pages. Postponed midterm exams have to be taken before the final exam starts. In cases where a course has more than one midterm exam, it will not be possible for a student to take the final exam if he/she has missed more than one of the midterm exams. This also applies to excused absences.
4.4
Failing a midterm exam - new exam - appealing a midterm exam
grade
Students who fail a midterm exam will be allowed to take any
remaining midterm exams and the final exam, as long as the institute has not
decided that the failed midterm exam must be passed in order to continue with
the course. The institute decides whether individual courses are to provide new
exams for students who fail or withdraw from a midterm exam. Information
concerning this is to be given in the course description at the start of the
course. Concerning the time for new exams, see section 6.
A student can first appeal the grade after all the results from the course have been made known. If a midterm exam needs to be passed in order to continue with the course, a student still has the right to appeal this grade. If such a midterm exam offers a new exam, then any possible appeals are to be decided before the next midterm exam or the final exam.
4.5 Transferring
midterm exams
Midterm exams which have been passed can not be
transferred to a later semester, with the exception of laboratory or field work
midterm exams. This applies even if the student was unable to complete the
course due to valid reasons. Midterm exams which take place in the laboratory
or field may be transferred to a later semester if so decided by the institute.
This can take place at the latest 4 semesters after the work has been
completed.
4.6 Anonymity
A
student's anonymity is to be protected during an exam as much as it is
academically and practically possible.
4.7
Suspected cheating during a midterm exam
Suspected cheating
during a midterm exam will be handled in accordance with the University of
Oslo's guidelines concerning cheating.
The final exam
The final exam may also include material which has already been tested in the
midterm.
5.1 Duration -
Time
Written exams given under supervision can last up to 3
hours. The departments determine the length of other types of exams. Written
exams that are given under supervision are to be taken at the end of the
semester and they are to be arranged by the Faculty. All exams of this kind are
to be held within a given period of time. Exam days have two shifts with exams,
one in the morning and one in the afternoon. Rules concerning the Pharmacy
programme are determined by the Dean.
5.2 Turning up
for the final exam
University of Oslo students who are
participating in a bilateral foreign study programme may take the final exam at
the university where they are studying as long as the host university can
guarantee satisfactory conditions concerning the taking of the exam and as long
as this does not result in any additional costs for the University of Oslo.
This is under the condition that the course is compulsory for either a Bachelor
or Master's programme or is a prerequisite for a Master's programme and that
the student has not already passed the exam. An application needs to be sent to
the Faculty at the latest July 1/Decemberr 1 the semester before the final exam
is to take place.
The Dean has determined the "rules for taking written exams."
5.3
Excused absences from the final exam
Students who have an
excused absence from a final exam are to be offered the possibility of taking
the exam at a later date, that is if the exam is not ordinarily held every
semester. If an exam is normally held every semester, the exam can still be
postponed if the course has an arrangement for the new exam. Exceptions can be
made for exams which include laboratory work, field work, or other resource
demanding criteria and are difficult to reorganize. Students who can document 4
or more weeks of continual sickness during a semester can apply for a postponed
exam. All required work and midterms need to be completed. For details
concerning the timing of postponed exams see section 6.
5.4
Failing the final exam - new exam
A new exam may be offered
to students who have failed or withdrawn from the final exam in a 1000 level
programme defined course within one of the Faculty's Bachelor programmes. In
the case of other types of courses, the institutes can decide independently if
a new exam may be offered or not. As to when new exams are to take place see
section 6.
If it is determined that there will be the possibility to take a new exam in a particular course, then this arrangement must be valid for at least 2 years after it has been initiated. Students are to be warned of the termination of this arrangement in the course description or on the semester web pages at the beginning of the semester when it is to take place, at the latest.
The Dean determines the rules regarding the Pharmacy programme.
5.5 Childbirth
Women that are to give birth and are registered for an exam, have the right to
a postponed exam if the date of birth or the expected date of birth fall within
the 6 week period before or after the date of the scheduled exam. When this is
the case, the student has the right to a postponed exam even when the exam is
normally held twice a year. The postponed exam can take place before or after
the scheduled exam and shall be at least 6 weeks before or after the birth.
Students who would like to postpone their exam due to childbirth need to send in an application to the person responsible for exams and attach documentation from a doctor concerning the expected date of birth. If the expected date of birth is outside of the 6 week period, a postponed exam will still be possible if the actual birth takes place within this period. In this case, the student needs to send a copy of the birth certificate to the person responsible for exams as soon as this is possible.
5.6 Anonymity
A
student's anonymity is to be protected during an exam as much as it is
academically and practically possible.
5.7
Suspected cheating during an exam
Suspected cheating during an
examis handled in accordance with the University of Oslo's guidelines
concerning cheating.
Postponed and new exams
Only students having an excused absence from an exam have
the possibility of taking a postponed exam, see section 5.3. Only students who
have failed or have withdrawn from the midterm or final exam while it was
taking place have the possibility of taking a new exam, see section 5.4.
When it is necessary to have a postponed or new exam for a final exam which takes place at the end of the semester, the new exam is to be held at the beginning of the new semester before courses begin, approximately January 10 and August 10. When the final exam is held earlier in the semester, the postponed and new exam can take place during the same semester. The precise time and place will be announced in the course description and/or the semester web pages for the course at least 3 days before the postponed or new exam is to take place. Postponed and new midterm exams may be held when and where the institute decide. The Dean determines the rules for the Pharmacy programme.
Students who would like to take a postponed or new final exam are responsible for registering for the exam themselves. For postponed or new final exams, registration takes place after the grading for the scheduled final exam is complete. The deadline for registering for a postponed or new exam is the same as the deadline for withdrawing from the postponed or new exam. The deadline is determined and then published in the course description, the course's semester web pages, or the Faculty's exam pages at the latest before the Faculty's central exam period begins at the end of each semester. Institutes are free to determine on their own the deadlines regarding postponed and new midterm exams.
Postponed and new exams may be given in a different manner from the scheduled midterm or final exam. If another exam format is used, then the students are to be informed of this at least 1 week before the postponed or new exam in question. When both a postponed exam and a new exam are to be held for the same midterm or final exam, then the two are to be scheduled together as long as nothing else has been decided. Any midterm exam taken before the final exam counts towards the final grade and their worth is determined in respect to the final exam. A new final exam replaces the scheduled final exam. The final exam can include questions which have already been tested on a midterm exam. Any midterm exam taken before the final exam counts towards the final grade and their worth is determined in respect to the final exam.
A student's anonymity is to be protected during an exam as much as it is academically and practically possible.
Exams - grading
Before a course begins, the institute is to have determined which
exam elements are to count towards the final grade. If the course includes more
than one exam element, then it should be made known to the students how much
each midterm and the final exam are worth in relation to the final grade. If
there are any minimum requirements as to number of passed midterms or as to
whether or not a particular midterm or the final exam must be passed in order
to pass the course, this needs to be determined before the beginning of the
course. This also applies to any other rules concerning grading. Information
about this is to be available in the course description at the beginning of the
semester.
Changes in regards to the exams can only be made after the beginning of the semester in cooperation with the students.
The Dean has determined "The rules concerning appealing a grade."
Number of exam attempts
Normally a student may take an exam 3 times in a course. The
final exam and the new exam count as separate attempts. Within the Natural
Sciences, students can apply for the right to a 4th attempt if the course is
compulsory in a module which is necessary for completing the programme and it
is the last course needed to complete the module. In addition, a 4th attempt
may be granted if there are strong personal or social grounds and these are
documented. The Dean determines the rules for the Pharmacy programme regarding
the 4th exam attempt. The Faculty is responsible for handling the applications
for a 4th exam attempt.
Changes in the study
plan
Changes in the courses offered that may prolong the
amount of time it takes for a student to complete his/her degree, needs to be
accompanied by the possibility of graduating by following the old course plan,
and this possibility should be in place for at least 2 years after the new
course plan has been initiated. If none of the students who are registered for
the final exam in accordance with the old course plan are taking it as a
compulsory course, or have it as recommended from their programme, or can in
any other way justify why it is academically desirable to take the final exam
in accordance with the old course plan, then the institute can refuse to offer
the final exam 1 year after the new course plan has been initiated. If a course
has had midterm exams, then it is necessary to drop midterm exams from other
courses which completely or partially overlap with the old course plan. The
institutes are responsible for deciding whether overlapping midterms are to be
taken or not, and how this should take place. If there is no such midterm exam,
the institute is to offer a final exam which does not require taking any
midterm exams. The final exam may include material already tested in midterms
under the old course plan.
Changes in course modules or programmes that may prolong the amount of time it takes for a student to complete his/her degree needs to be accompanied by the possibility of graduating by following the old course plan for at least 2 years after the new course plan has been initiated.
Changes, dispensation,
transitional rules
The Dean can change these rules and yearly
inform the Board of any significant changes. The Dean can grant dispensation
from these rules and stipulate transitional rules for students who have started
their studies in the spring semester 2006 or earlier.
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