The following regulations were adopted on June 19, 2006 by the Faculty Board under the authority provided in Section 3.3 in the University of Oslo's Study and Examination Regulations, which were adopted by the University of Oslo Board on December 20, 2005. These regulations are included in the Faculty's programme plans, as authorized in Section 3.3 in the regulations. These regulations are to go into affect from August 1, 2006. They do not apply to the PhD degree.
Content
The course codes are to correspond to the subject being offered. Courses with prefixes connected to more than one subject or which are interdisciplinary can be taken if the course is a part of a formalized cooperation. The first number in the course code is to refer to the level of the course, as long as this is appropriate. Bachelor level courses will have course codes beginning in 1, 2, or 3. Master level courses begin with either 5 or 6, and PhD course codes begin with 9. 0 is normally used to indicate introductory courses outside one's subject, for continuing and further education courses for example.
Courses that are often taken by both Bachelor and Master degree students due to differences in individual study plans are offered at both levels and are normally at the 3 or 4000 level. Courses that are often taken by both Master and PhD students due to differences in individual study plans are also offered at both levels and normally at the 4/5 and 9000 level.
Bachelor level courses are normally worth 10 credits. Master level courses are preferably 10 credits but they can also be 5, 15, or 20.
Within the Master's programme it is possible to design special syllabi that cover areas not normally covered by the courses at within the Master's programme. Special syllabi courses are normally used for individually formulated courses or if it is desirable to offer a course for a limited period of time without creating a new standard course. Special syllabi courses can also be used for other purposes if it is so decided after closer assessment.
When a student has passed two of the Faculty's courses that have overlapping subject matter, then the number of credits per course will have to be reduced if the overlap is 3 credits or more. If the overlap is less than 3 credits then normally the number of credits earned by the student will not be reduced. When there is an overlap of subject matter with a course a student has taken at another educational institution and the overlap is 3 credits or more, the number of credits earned will have to be reduced. Students who have taken courses at another educational institution shall be given credit for these courses in whole credits.
Courses that do not overlap completely should also be viewed as a whole when deciding the number of examination attempts allowed for a student in a particular course.
The institute which offers a module will also be responsible for handling individual applications requesting the approval of alternative combinations, for example an 80 credit module being approved for the lecturer and teacher programme (LAP). A 60 credit module approved for LAP satisfies the normal requirement of a 40 credit module for the non-programme Bachelor degree.
The 80 credit module and the 40 credit module for the non-programme Bachelor degree need to be chosen from different departments. If these overlap in such a way that the total credits are less than 120 then the student will have to supplement this with elective courses within either the 80 or 40 credit module's departments. If one of the 40 credit modules in one of the departments can be combined without overlapping with the 80 credit module, then these two modules can be combined in a non-programme Bachelor degree.
The Bachelor programme includes the philosophy exam course, courses defined by the programme, and free electives. Programme defined courses constitute at least 120 credits and consist of courses required of all students within the programme, as well as courses that are electives within a given subject or subject area and which the students can choose from a limited selection of courses. Free electives are courses the students are completely free to choose themselves. A Bachelor programme will normally provide room for some free electives.
The three first semesters in the Bachelor programmes will, for the most part, consist of courses required of all the participating students. If necessary the programme can offer elective courses but preferably not in the first semester.
Students can apply to take up to 20 credits of Master level courses. Master courses that are also offered as Bachelor courses do not apply here. For degrees connected to a specific programme, this will be decided by the programme board, but the Faculty will decide cases connected to non-programme degrees.
OThe student graduates the semester that the last exam is passed. If the last exam is postponed to the beginning of the following semester, the diploma will be issued the semester of the original examination date.
The programme diploma is issued when a student, who has been accepted into the programme, has satisfied all the programme defined course requirements.
Teaching
Teaching is provided in connection to courses, special syllabi, and through
individual supervisors. The programme board appoints the supervisors and
determines the role distribution if there is more than one. In these cases
the programme board will appoint one of them as the principle supervisor.
If the supervisor/principle supervisor does not hold a permanent academic
post or a shared post (Professor II appointment) within the Faculty, the
programme board will also appoint an internal supervisor who holds a permanent
academic post or a shared Professor II appointment. Permanent staff members at
the University museums of Natural History and the Botanical Gardens may be
regarded, in this context, as internal supervisors. In regards to
interdisciplinary programmes, the Dean determines the rules.
Module size and course level
The Master curriculum consists of courses at the 4 and 5000 level. Up to
20 credits from Bachelor courses may be included in exceptional circumstances.
An application, which must be recommended by a contact person/supervisor,
is decided by the programme board. The programme board may issue rules in
regards to the use of the special syllabi.
The departments may - in cooperation with the involved programme boards - design courses for providing necessary or desirable training in laboratory work and the handling of instruments, record keeping techniques, writing techniques, and in academic publishing. This depends on the individual elements not being isolated but that a package is created including a number of elements.
The Master's degree programme
The Master degree programme is comprised of a Master's thesis and a
theoretical syllabus. The Master's thesis is an independent scientific
project, completed under supervision. The theoretical syllabus may
consist of courses and a special syllabus, also including courses
from non-scientific fields. Methodological training may be included
in the syllabus.
The Faculty offers 30 and 60 credit Master degree theses for the 2-year Master programme and the 5-year Masters in computers. The programme board determines if the programme (and the individual subjects) will offer either both variations or only one of them. The 5-year Masters in Pharmacy offers a 45 credit thesis.
A 30 credit Master's thesis corresponds to 17 weeks of full-time study. The remaining 3 weeks are to be used for the student's preparation for the Master degree's final examination, for the marking of Master's thesis, and for the actual final examination. This may mean that students who complete their thesis in the autumn semester may not be able to take their final examination until the beginning of spring semester, however this should be no later than the end of January. If so desired, the programme board in cooperation with the student may deviate from the rule requiring 3 weeks between turning in the thesis and the final examination.
A 60 credit Master's thesis corresponds to 36 weeks full-time study. After handing in the thesis the remaining 4 weeks are to be used by the student to prepare for the Master's degree final examination, for evaluating and grading the Master thesis, and for the actual Master's degree final examination. If so desired, the programme board in cooperation with the student may deviate from the rule requiring 4 weeks between submitting the thesis and the final examination.
A 45 credit Master's thesis corresponds to 30 weeks full time study, which includes the final examination. The Dean is responsible for determining the rules under these circumstances.
Students completing a 60 credit thesis are recommended to take at least 40 of the remaining credits in science courses and a maximum of 20 credits in non-science related courses, interdisciplinary courses, and methodology courses. Students completing a 30 credit thesis are recommended to take at least 50 credits in science courses and a maximum of 40 credits in non-science related courses, interdisciplinary courses, and methodology courses. The programme board is responsible for determining the final credit distribution within this framework. The Dean is responsible for determining the rules concerning the 5-year Masters in Pharmacy programme and for the interdisciplinary programmes in consultation with the individual programme boards.
A 2-year fulltime programme that begins in August/January shall take 4 semesters to complete and will normally terminate at the end of the spring/autumn semester- however, refer to section 7. The 1½ year fulltime pharmacy programme that begins in August/January shall take 3 semesters to complete and will normally terminate at the end of the spring/autumn semester. Exceptions can be made by the programme board.
The Thesis
The programme board and the involved departments are responsible for ensuring
that there are thesis projects available so that students accepted into the
programme can begin work on their thesis when it is suitable for the individual.
The thesis project is to be approved by the programme board before the project
begins. As a basis for approval the supervisor is to write up a project
description that establishes whether it is possible to complete the thesis
within the given amount of time. Any changes that are subsequently made in
the project description also need to be approved by the programme board.
The availability of any necessary experimental equipment, computer programmes,
data, and financing is to be documented. If the student, in cooperation
with his/her supervisor is to commence work on the thesis project before
it has been approved by the programme board, it is important that the
supervisor has beforehand assessed whether it is possible to complete the
project within the given time frame. If the student begins the project on
his/her own initiative, this is then the student's own responsibility.
Master's degree agreement
In the admissions letter to the Master's degree programme, or at the latest
at the beginning of the programme, the student is to be assigned a contact
person. This contact person is selected by the programme board and should
normally be a member of the academic staff and is to help the student agree
upon and get started with a suitable course plan. The contact person should
also help the student find a supervisor and thesis project as soon as this
is appropriate and at the latest within the applicable deadlines. The contract
between the student and contact person is to be signed by both parties and
is a part of the Master's degree agreement. When a supervisor has been
assigned, he/she will take over the responsibilities of the contact person.
If a supervisor is assigned already at the beginning of the student's course
of study then there will be no need for a contact person. The programme board
is responsible for ensuring that the contact person and the supervisor perform
their appointed duties. In cases where such follow-up is not sufficient, this
will be looked into by the institute where the supervisor is employed.
A Master's degree agreement should be agreed upon as soon as possible and no later than the end of the second semester of the student's Master's programme. This deadline also applies to part-time students. When necessary the programme board can decide to extend the deadline for some parts of the agreement, however, the agreement is to be complete no later than the end of the third semester. Pharmacy students are to have a Master's degree agreement within a month of starting their Master's specialisation. The agreement is to include the contents of the student's theoretical syllabus and whether the thesis is going to be worth 60 or 30 credits. Pharmacy students have a 45 credit thesis. A plan for study progression is also to be included in the agreement. The progress plan is to include a timeline for the student's course of study and any agreements concerning part-time study or leaves of absence.
The agreement is to be signed by the student, all supervisors, the programme board, and if necessary the institute or institutes which are contributing important resources. The programme board determines the deadlines for when the agreement needs to be completed within the above stated framework. They are also responsible for following up the agreement process up until the agreement has been signed by all parties. If the student chooses not to follow up his/her part of the process, the student's right to admission may be withdrawn.
In cases where a student has been admitted to a Master's degree programme before all course requirements have been fulfilled, the time of study may be prolonged. Similarly, the time for completing the degree is to be prolonged if some courses still remain before the student can receive his/her Bachelor degree. If when admitted to the Master's degree programme the student has already been given credit for exams taken earlier, then the student's time of study may be reduced. Any prolonging or shortening of the course of study is to use the normal amount of time used for the courses as a point of reference.
The programme board may decide that students are to submit progress reports. Such progress reports can be the basis for the programme boards monitoring of the individual student's progression. In the event of delays in relation to the study agreement, the programme board may consider withdrawing the student's right to admission.
Project description
The project description, which is the basis for the programme board's approval
of the Master degree thesis project - seesection 4
- is to be a part of the Master degree agreement. For 45 credit (pharmacy students)
and 60 credit thesis projects, the project description is to be approved together
with the rest of the Master's degree agreement, as long as the programme board has
not decide upon any other procedure. 30 credit thesis projects are to be approved
before the student begins working on the project.
Completion and submission of the Master thesis. Completion of the theoretical syllabus.
30 credit thesis projects are to be completed in the final semester
unless otherwise decided by the programme board and the submission deadline is
to be 17 weeks after the semester start. 60 credit thesis projects are also to
have a submission deadline. In cases of full-time students the thesis should
normally be submitted towards the end of the fourth semester unless the programme
board has decided otherwise. The programme board may introduce fixed submission
deadlines when this is appropriate. Otherwise individual deadlines are to be
agreed upon. This also applies to pharmacy students but their submission deadline
is towards the end of the tenth semester.
A thesis or a part of a thesis which has been submitted earlier for a Master's degree at either a Norwegian or foreign university/college can not be accepted even if it has been revised. An exception is the submission of revised thesis projects as outlined in section 11.
The theoretical syllabus should normally be completed and passed by the end of the second to last semester. The last ordinary exam may be taken at the very latest in the middle of the last semester. If an ordinary exam in the last semester is postponed, the exam is to be taken as soon as possible and at the latest at the same time as the Master's degree final examination. New times for postponed exams are to be agreed upon together with the student.
The programme board can make exceptions to this rule if they have decided that thesis submission is to take place earlier in the course of study.
Regulations concerning delays - theoretical syllabus, part-time study, leaves of absence, and deferred thesis submission.
If necessary the Faculty is to prepare more detailed rules regarding the
issues in this section, always trying to create a uniform system within the
Faculty. The programme board is responsible for processing applications.
Decisions regarding section 8 are to be incorporated into the Master's
degree agreement.
8.1
Part-time study
Examples of valid reasons for applying for
part-time study are: teaching responsibilities, subject related work or
work in general, problems with the project that are beyond one's control,
care of a family member, organized student activities, military service,
sickness, etc. Written documentation and an explanation are required. The
programme board may call a meeting with the student, where a representative
from the board is present along with the contact person or supervisor.
An application for part-time study should be submitted as soon as the
grounds for such an application become clear, at the latest the end of
the semester before the semester when the student would like to study part-time.
Part-time study for the whole of the Master's degree programme may be granted when a student has chosen the 60 credit thesis project. Students completing a 30 credit thesis can only study part-time during the theoretical part of their programme.
One can apply to study between 50 and 80% if no other option is approved by the programme board.
8.2 Leave of absence
Valid reasons for applying for a leave of absence include: teaching obligations,
subject related work or other work, problems with the project that are beyond
one's control, organised student activities, care of a family member, military
service, sickness, etc. Written documentation and an explanation are required.
The programme board can call a meeting with the student, where a representative
from the programme board is present together with the contact person or
supervisor. An application for part-time study should be submitted as soon
as the grounds for such an application become clear, at the latest the end
of the semester before the semester when the student would like to have a
leave of absence. The programme board, in cooperation with the supervisor
and the student will determine whether the leave of absence makes it necessary
for the student to find a new thesis project. Leave of absences are not granted
to students completing a 30 credit thesis project.
8.3 Delay - theoretical syllabus
If the student does not manage to follow the time schedule
as specified by the Master's degree agreement, the programme board shall
in cooperation with the student and the contact person/supervisor consider
the possibility of amending the planned course of study. This applies
accordingly to any remaining courses needed in order for a student to
complete a Bachelor degree or admission requirements for the Master's
degree programme.
8.4 Deferred thesis submission
Valid reasons for applying for deferred thesis submission may
include: problems with the project that are beyond one's control, sickness,
etc. Documentation and an explanation are required and the application needs
to include a plan for completing the thesis. In the case of a lengthy absence
or when circumstances make this natural, the programme board will in
cooperation with the supervisor and the student consider whether it is necessary
to change the thesis project. In cases where deferred submission has been
granted, this is not in any way to influence the evaluation of the thesis
project.
The final Master's degree examination
All requirements for the Bachelor degree or its equivalent,
as well as all Master's degree admission requirements must be fulfilled
at the latest the semester before the final examination. The exam in the
theoretical syllabus needs to be passed before, or at the latest, at the
same time as the Master's degree final examination.
After the thesis has been submitted, the student's study programme concludes with an oral Master's degree examination. This exam consists of a minimum 30 minute presentation, in which the student provides an overview of his/her thesis. The presentation is to be open to the public and those responsible for grading the thesis are to be present, if necessary by telephone or video conferencing. After the presentation there will follow an oral exam/conversation about the thesis led by those responsible for evaluating the thesis.
The presentation, together with the following oral examination/conversation may be used to adjust the grade of the thesis. If the thesis has been given the grade F/Fail and it is determined that the oral exam will be unable to change this, then no final Master's degree examination will take place.
If it is decided to change the grade of a thesis due to a complaint, the public presentation with the following examination/conversation is to be repeated for the new commission before a final grade is determined.
A given number of copies of the thesis are to be submitted as decided by the programme board, including 2 copies for the Faculty's library.
The programme board may issue further rules.
Evaluation of the thesis
The programme board is responsible for deciding who can participate in
the grading of thesis projects and appoints these persons in each individual
case. Normally the principle supervisor participates. The submitted thesis
is the basis for the evaluation, however the supervisor may provide
information as to how independently the student performed his/her work.
The Faculty decides whether letter grades are to be used or pass/fail.
Theses given the grade A - E can not be submitted again. Theses given
the grade F/fail can submit a new revised version, see section 11. When
grading a reworked thesis, the fact that more time than normal was used
will be taken into consideration.
If a thesis is not handed in by the submission deadline and no application for deferment has be submitted, normally the student's right to study will be withdrawn. If an application for deferment has been submitted but is denied, normally the student's right to study will be withdrawn. The student will then need to apply to admissions again. If the student is again accepted into the Master's degree programme, he/she will need to choose a thesis project which is different from the thesis which was never submitted. The theoretical syllabus corresponding to the original thesis project will be re-evaluated in regards to the student's new thesis project. The student should count on the theoretical syllabus being adjusted even if the new thesis project is within the same field as the first.
New examination
Thesis projects given the grade F/Fail may resubmit the thesis in a revised form.
This must be done within 6 weeks for a 30 credit thesis, 9 weeks for a 45
credit thesis, and within 3 months for a 60 credit thesis. The programme board
together with the supervisor(s) must determine if there is a strong enough
foundation for a resubmission. If this is the case, the student and the
supervisor(s) will need to have a written agreement about this and it needs
to be approved by the programme board. The agreement needs to be signed by
the student and all the supervisors. The programme board will determine a
submission date, and if appropriate some midway goals, as well any other
conditions of any importance. This agreement will be attached to the original
Master's degree agreement.
After the student has received the grade, the student has 3 days to decide whether or not he/she would like to revise the thesis. If the student decides to revise the thesis, the 6 week/9 week/3 month time limit begins at this point. The agreement concerning the revision is to be worked out immediately. Any midway goals can be added to the agreement at a later time, but as soon as it is possible.
If the submitted thesis receives the grade F/fail and it is not revised and resubmitted, or if the revised thesis also receives a failing grade, the student must apply for readmission in order to get a new thesis project.
If the student is readmitted to a Master's degree programme, the student will then need to choose a thesis project which is about a different topic from the thesis that was submitted earlier and received a failing grade. The theoretical syllabus corresponding to the original thesis will be re-evaluated in connection with the new project that is chosen.
The exam in the theoretical syllabus must be passed before the Master's degree final examination, see section 7. The Faculty's rules regarding taking exams more than once apply to retaking the exams in the theoretical syllabus courses. Any grade improvements earned after the Master's degree final examination will have no influence on the Master's degree diploma, but it will be documented on the student's transcript in the normal manner.
Diploma
Graduation takes place the semester when the last exam is passed. If the last
exam is postponed until the beginning of the next semester, the diploma will be
issued from the semester of the original examination date. Students who complete
a 30 credit thesis project in the autumn semester will also be issued their
diploma autumn semester, as long as the Master's degree final examination takes
place within the deadline as explained in
section 7.
Leaving the Institute
The Institute can create regulations concerning routines for Master students
after they have completed their course of study. This may include clearing out
their work space, removing material, returning books and keys, etc. In any case,
the programme board should make certain that students are not given their diploma
before these tasks have been completed.
The Dean can change these rules and is to inform the board yearly of any significant changes. The Dean has the authority to grant dispensation from these regulations and create transitional rules for students who started their studies the spring semester 2006 or earlier.
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