OER and Student Regulations Explained

The EER (Education and Examination Regulations) as described by the university is difficult to understand at times, and can raise questions. Therefore we have made a summary to clear up some of the most important articles from the EER and the RRE. RRE means Rules and Regulations Examining.

This summary is based on the EER of college year 2020-2021. The current EER may differ.

Bachelor

Artikel 18 Bachelor’s programmes

The bachelor’s programmes represent a study load of 180 credits.
The programmes include a prescribed component (compulsory and restricted optional courses) representing up to a maximum of 150 credits (the major). A programme may offer a selection of various majors. The prescribed component includes a BSc thesis representing a study load of 12, 15, 18, 21 or 24 credits, depending on the programme.
Each programme also comprises a free-choice component with a minimum study load of 30 credits. The student can use this component to take a BSc minor and/or elective courses from Wageningen University or another institute for higher education
The described BSc minors offered by Wageningen University are mentioned in the Study Handbook and represent a minimum study load of 24 credits and maximum study load of 30 credits. Within these BSc minors, the student can replace one or more courses up to a maximum study load of 6 credits with one or more other relevant courses. This replacement is not permitted in the minor Education.
In the free choice component, the student can also compile an individual minor consisting of a minimum study load of 24 credits and a maximum study load of 30 credits. He must present this individual minor and its proposed title to the Examining Board while requesting approval for the individual examination programme (see Article 20). The proposed title of the minor should not be the same as or similar to a BSc minor already offered by Wageningen University.

This is pretty self-explanatory. A bachelor’s programme at the WUR contains a typical study load of 180 credits, of which 150 are prescribed. A BSc thesis for Plant Sciences normally has a study load of 18 credits. The BSc minor of Plant Sciences has a study load of 30 credits.

Article 33 Requirements with regard to study progress

In elaboration of Article 28 sub i, the following applies:

In order to start with the bachelor thesis, the student must have a study progress of at least 102 credits of the mandatory and restricted optional part of the individual examination programme, including all credits of the first year programme and the credits mandatory prior knowledge as meant in Article 32 sub a.
For an AMC a maximum of 12 credits study progress can be required at the moment the admission decision is taken. A study progress of 24 credits can be recommended in the Study Handbook.
For the master’s thesis and the internship the prescribed study progress in credits will be mentioned in the Study Handbook.

Before you can start your BSc thesis you need to pass all of your first year’s courses and thus have collected 102 credits. Before you can start an AMC in your master you need to collect at least 12 credits.

Article 60 Study advice in the first year of the bachelor’s programme

The first-year bachelor’s student will receive a binding study advice in writing at the end of that academic year.
The first-year student who has earned fewer than 36 credits of courses from the first year’s programme (B1 courses) at the end of that year (last date of results is 31 August), taking in to account his personal circumstances, will be considered to be unsuitable for the programme and therefore receive negative binding study advice.
The enrolment of a student who has received a negative binding study advice as described in section b, will be terminated. The student cannot enrol in this specific bachelor’s programme anymore for the subsequent three years. After this three year’s period has lapsed, the student can only enrol again for this programme if he will have proven to the satisfaction of the Executive Board, that he is capable of successfully completing the programme.
The Executive Board has set down the procedure of this Article in the Binding Study Advice Regulations. These Regulations can be found in Appendix 4 to these EER.
On behalf of the Executive Board, the Examining Boards give the (binding) study advice and execute the Binding Study Advice Regulations.

To pass your binding study advice (BSA) you need to have 36 credits (only applicable to the Bachelor programme). If you don’t pass your BSA, you can’t register for the same bachelor’s degree for three years.

Article 56 Cum laude

If the final examination shows that the student has demonstrated exceptional proficiency, the Examining Board can award the designation ‘cum laude’. To this end, the Examining Board follows the corresponding procedure in the Rules and Regulations.

RRR Artikel 7 Predicaat 'cum laude'

The predicament ‘cum laude’ can be appointed for a bachelor’s degree if:

all of your courses have been passed with a sufficient grade (5,5 or higher) and
your average grade is an 8 or higher and
you passed your BSc thesis with an 8 or higher.

Master

Article 11 Unconditional admissibility of prospective master’s student holding a related bachelor’s degree

The prospective master’s student holding a bachelor’s degree of a bachelor’s programme that is related with the master’s programme is unconditionally admissible to that master’s programme. A bachelor’s programme is related if:
The executive board has determined this, as is presented in the table in Appendix 3, or
It concerns a bachelor’s programme offered by a Dutch university and which programme has the same CROHO-code as the with the prospective master’s programme related bachelor’s programme as shown in the above mentioned table, or
It concerns a bachelor’s programme of a Dutch university which the Master’s Admissions Board has declared to be related to the relevant master’s programme, or d. It concerns a bachelor’s programme of a university funded by and established in an EER country, which the Master’s Admissions Board has declared to be of sufficient academic quality and related to the relevant master’s programme.
Relationship as meant in the above mentioned section will be determined by assessing whether the field of expertise, the level of knowledge and the type of education of a bachelor’s programme is in alignment to the prospective master’s programme in such a way that the person who has finished this bachelor’s programme can reasonably be expected to be able to complete the prospective master’s programme within the nominal study duration.
The prospective master’s student with a diploma of a flexible programme of a related bachelor’s programme is only admissible without further admission requirements if the master’s admissions board has determined that the flexible programme of the candidate is related to the relevant master’s programme as meant in section 2.

The prospective master’s students with a bachelor’s degree of one of the related master’s degrees is unconditionally admissible for those master’s degrees. For the bachelor Plant Sciences, those master’s degrees are:
Master Plant Sciences (MPS)

Master Plant Biotechnology (MPB)

Master Organic Agriculture (MOA)

Master Bioinformatics (MBI)

Master Developmental and Rural Innovation (MDR)

Article 12 Individual pre-master programme

To the prospective master’s student who does not comply with the admission requirements for a master’s programme but, according to the Master’s Admission Board, whose deficiency can be remedied by following an individual pre-master programme, the Master’s Admission Board will offer the opportunity to enrol in a pre-master programme. The pre-master programme will be determined by the programme director of the relevant master’s programme and is tailored to the specific master’s programme and the deficiencies of the prospective student.
Het schakelprogramma wordt vastgesteld door de opleidingsdirecteur van de relevante masteropleiding en is toegesneden op de desbetreffende masteropleiding en op de deficiënties van de aspirantstudent.
The pre-master programme consists of a maximum of 30 credits and must be completed within one study year.
The prospective master’s student enrols in the pre-master programme. d. After completing the pre-master programme, the student is admissible to the master’s programme for which the pre-master programme was intended.

If you aren’t immediately admissible for a master’s programme you can follow a pre-master programme consisting of a maximum of 30 credits, which must be completed within one study year.

Article 19 Master’s programmes

The master’s programmes comprise a study load of 120 credits.
A master’s programme may offer various specialisations.
A master’s programme contains an MSc thesis (representing a minimum study load of 24 credits) and an academic internship, or, if described in the Study Handbook for this specific master’s programme, two MSc theses in which the learning outcomes of the internship are added to the second thesis, together representing a study load of at least 60 credits.
In the electives of a master’s programme the student can compile an individual MSc minor consisting of at least 18 credits. He presents this individual minor to the Examining Board while requesting approval for the individual examination programme (see Article 21).
Each master’s programme contains an Academic Master Cluster representing a minimum study load of 12 credits.

A master’s programme consist of 120 credits, of which a minimum of 60 credits for a MSc thesis and an academic internship (total). There are at least 18 credits for an individual MSc minor.

Article 33 Requirements with regard to study progress

In elaboration of Article 28 sub i, the following applies:

In order to start with the bachelor thesis, the student must have a study progress of at least 102 credits of the mandatory and restricted optional part of the individual examination programme, including all credits of the first year programme and the credits mandatory prior knowledge as meant in Article 32 sub a.
For an AMC a maximum of 12 credits study progress can be required at the moment the admission decision is taken. A study progress of 24 credits can be recommended in the Study Handbook.
For the master’s thesis and the internship the prescribed study progress in credits will be mentioned in the Study Handbook.

As mentioned before, you can start your BSc thesis if you passed all of your first year courses and collected 102 credits. Before you can start your AMC in your master you need to have at least 12 credits.

Article 56 Cum laude

For the master’s degree the predicament of ‘cum laude’ is appointed if:
The average grade of everything is an 8 or higher and

The grade of your MSc thesis of your specialization is an 9 or higher and

If your grade for your MSc internship or your second MSc thesis is above an 8

Courses

Article 22 Extra courses

A student may register for extra courses and interim examinations beside the individual examination programme. These courses do not influence the result of the final examination. Extra courses will be stated on the diploma supplement, if the positive result is registered in the student information system before the examination date.

If you want to follow any courses outside of your prescribed programme, this will not influence your final examination and will not be mentioned on your bachelor’s or master’s degree, but on a diploma supplement.

Article 30 Compulsory attendance for certain teaching methods

In elaboration of Article 28 sub g the following applies:

It is compulsory to attend scheduled course meetings with the following teaching methods: practical (P), fieldwork (F), excursions (EO, ME), group work (G), unless otherwise indicated in the course guide for that particular course.
For all other teaching methods, any compulsory attendance is specified in the Study Handbook or the Course guide for that particular course.

It is compulsory to be present at practicals, fieldwork, excursions and group work. All other compulsory elements of a course are indicated in the course guide or the Study Handbook.

Article 32 Mandatory and assumed prior knowledge

In elaboration of Article 28 sub g the following applies:

Only for the bachelor’s and the master’s thesis mandatory prior knowledge can be required. The quantity of the mandatory prior knowledge, being acquired by passing courses, will be no more than 12 credits and must be described in the Study Handbook. The courses must be part of the prescribed part of the programme.
For the RMC (Research Master Cluster) a finished master’s thesis can be required as mandatory prior knowledge.
For all other courses, prior knowledge can only be assumed. Assumed prior knowledge is knowledge which the student is supposed to have acquired before the start of the course and on the basis of which the lecturer will continue his lectures. The assumed prior knowledge will be described as courses which are supposed to have been passed successfully or as previously acquired learning outcomes. For courses in the prescribed component of the programme, prior knowledge can only be assumed if such courses or learning outcomes are part of the prescribed component of the programme and have been scheduled before this very course.

Prior knowledge with a maximum of 12 credits can be required for a bachelor’s or master’s thesis. This prior knowledge must be present in the prescribed part of the programme. For individual courses no prior knowledge can be compulsory, only assumed.

Article 34 Registering for courses

The student must register for each course through the student information system before the deadline set by the University has passed (see Agenda and calendar Academic year). Deviations from the registration procedure and from the moment of registration are mentioned in the Study Handbook in the course description (see Study Handbook).
Courses with a maximum number of places have an earlier deadline for registration (at least one and two weeks at most) in order to enable the student to register for a different course when he is not admitted. The student for whom this course is a compulsory course will be admitted unconditionally. The student for whom this course is a restricted optional course will have priority over other applicants.
Students who do not have priority as described in the previous paragraph will be drawn by lot to determine who may take part in the course. Students who register after the earlier registration date will be put on the waiting list, but will not have priority over students who registered on time and will not be drawn by lot.
The bachelor’s student who has completed all courses of his individual examination programme but has not yet received the test results and expects to pass the final bachelor examination halfway through1 the education period,, may, prior to his registration for the WU master’s programme for which the student is admissible, register for master’s courses. If the student does not pass the bachelor’s examination, he must withdraw from the interim examination no later than halfway through the education period (no later than Sunday 23:59:59).
The student who withdraws from an interim examination until halfway through the education period in which the course is given will be deregistered and considered never to have taken that course.

If you want to start you master’s programme, but have not yet received the test results of your final bachelor courses, you can already register for master’s courses. If you did not pass the bachelor’s examination, you must withdraw from the master’s programme within two weeks.

You can register for a maximum of 18 credits. If you want to register for more than 18 credits, you need approval of the study coordinator of the extra course, whom can register you.

If you withdraw from a course within two weeks of the beginning of the course, you will be considered to have never taken said course.

Article 35 Scheduling

The courses and corresponding interim examinations and resit examinations of the prescribed component of each programme are scheduled in such a way that reasonably no study delay will occur. However, for the courses chosen by the student for the electives of the programme, feasible scheduling cannot be guaranteed.
Compulsory course-based courses and restricted optional courses will solely be scheduled on working days in the designated education periods between 8:20 AM and 19:00 PM (Fridays 8:20 AM and 17:20 PM). Other courses, like online courses, honours programme, summer courses, excursions, can also be scheduled in different periods and on different moments, e.g. also in the evening, in weekends or during holidays.

Compulsory courses will solely be scheduled between 8:20 AM and 19:00 PM (Fridays from 8:20 AM to 17:20 PM). If this is not the case you can send a complaint to your current Commissioner of Education, or directly to the Student Programme Committee (SPC).

Article 50 Exemption from compulsory practical assignments

The Examining Board can grant exemption from the obligation to take part in certain practical assignments, whether or not subject to other requirements. Such exemption can be awarded on the grounds of conscientious objections or in very exceptional circumstances.

You can get an exemption from courses, if there is a valid reason.

RRR Article 11 Retention period of assignments and completed interim examinations

The Examiner retains the interim examination assignments, the answer keys, the assessment strategy and the course guide for a period of two years from the date of the interim examination.
The Examiner retains the completed interim examinations and the internship reports for a period of two years from the date the results are announced.
The Examiner is responsible for ensuring that the theses (BSc and MSc) are permanently stored with the corresponding signed assessment forms and, if applicable, corresponding materials. For the MSc thesis, this is done by uploading theses to the Thesis Online depot of the Wageningen University central library. For the BSc thesis, the Examiner is responsible for archiving; this can also be done in the Thesis Online depot.

The questions and answers (of the student) are stored for 2 years, starting from the date on which the results are announced. This also goes for the internship reports. Theses are permanently stored by the examiner.

Exams

Article 38 No resits after passing interim examinations

If a student has passed an interim examination, he is not allowed to resit that examination.

You can’t resit a sufficient grade.

Article 40 Examination material for an altered or cancelled course

If the examination material or the type of examination for a particular course are significantly altered (regardless of whether or not the same course code is used) or if the course is cancelled, then the interim examination shall additionally be given in the previous form in the resit periods of the first year of the altered course, or the first year after the course has been cancelled.

If exam material of a course changes, you have one year left to pass the exam with the old exam material. After one year, you have to pass the exam with the new examination material.

Article 41 Written interim examinations (also by digital means)

The student can take an interim examination or a resit examination for a course in the education period in which the particular course is given.
In addition to the foregoing, the student can also take interim examinations in the resit periods, in February and August, unless the situation described in sub c. occurs.
The student is not permitted to resit an interim examination in February for a course taken in the immediately preceding education period (period 3) for which he has already taken an interim examination.
Interim examinations and resits can be scheduled in the evening (6:30-9:30 p.m.). In general, scheduling of interim examinations in the evening hours will be kept to a minimum.
On one day no more than two interim examinations of courses from the prescribed component of the programme (compulsory and restricted optional courses) shall be scheduled
For online courses that are not scheduled in a specific education period, an interim examination can be scheduled at from regular interim examinations differing moments. For these courses, the student will have at least two opportunities to take an interim examination or resit in a period of 13 months.
Interim examinations should always be organized in such a way that the identity of the student can be ascertained and circumstances under which the examinations are taken can be verified. In the Rules and Regulations procedural rules on online proctoring are outlined.

You can resit a course in the period that it is given and in the resit periods. Resits can be scheduled in the evening (18:30 PM to 21:30 PM). A maximum of two prescribed examinations can be scheduled on the same day.

Article 42 Oral interim examinations

An interim examination will be taken orally if such is determined in the Study Handbook for the particular course or if so determined by the Examining Board.
The oral interim examination will be taken by two academic staff members one of which is the examiner.
Oral interim examinations are open to the public, unless, in special circumstances, the Examining Board determines otherwise.
The examiner(s) and the student decide among themselves the date and time on which the oral interim examination shall be taken or resat. e. An online oral interim examination consists of an online conversation. It will not be taken in public, but must be recorded and filed by the examiner or the examining board in conformity with the retention period prescribed for written interim examinations.

Oral examinations are open to the public, unless under special circumstances.

Article 45 Assessment of interim examinations

Interim examinations are assessed by a numeric mark on a scale from 1 to 10. In order to pass an interim examination the student must achieve a mark of 6 or higher. Marks lower than 6 are rounded off to whole marks, marks of 6 and above are rounded off to half marks.
In the case of a partial interim examination, the examiner may award a pass/fail assessment instead of a numeric mark. A final pass/fail assessment for a course is allowed only with consent of the Examining Board. This is outlined per course in the Study Handbook. A pass/fail assessment is not permitted for theses and internships.
The Rules and Regulations provide further information on the assessment methods and standards for interim examinations

Partial interim exams don’t have to be graded. A sufficient or insufficient mark can be enough.

Article 46 Results and announcement of results

The examiner determines the result of a written interim examination within ten working days after the last day of the education- or interim examination period.
The examiner determines the result of an oral interim examination immediately after the examination is taken and provides the student with the result in writing.
In the case of educational units for which no written or oral interim examination is given (such as an internship or thesis), the examiner determines the result within 10 working days after the submission deadline determined by the examiner, on condition that the student has submitted on time. If the student fails to submit on time, the examiner shall determine the result within a reasonable term.
Within the time limits referred to in this Article, the examiner ensures that the results are announced by entering the results in the student information system. The student can find this information in this system.

Examiners need to determine the results of written and oral exams within ten working days. Working days: weekdays Monday to Friday, with the exception of the national holidays recognised by the CAO of the Dutch Universities and the days between Christmas Day and New Year’s Day (27-31 December)

Article 47 Scheduling of review and discussion

Within 20 working days after the last day of the education or resit period, the examiner provides the student with an opportunity to review his assessed work.
The examiner can organize the review at a determined place and time where he arranges a collective discussion or hands out model answers.
During the review, the student has access to his own work, to the questions and assignments of the particular interim examination and to information regarding the standards used for the assessment. Also an examiner or lecturer will be available to give the student an explanation.
If the student is prevented from attending the review and discussion due to circumstances beyond his control, he can request review within 25 working days after the last day of the education or resit period. The examiner decides on the place, time and manner in which the student shall inspect and discuss his work.
Contrary to the provisions stated in subsections c and d the review and discussion for online courses will be organized online.

During a review you are allowed to see the model answers. If you can’t be present at the scheduled review moment, you have 25 days to ask your examiner for a new review moment. Results of online courses will be reviewed online.

Article 48 Validity period for results of interim examinations and partial interim examinations

The validity period for interim examinations results is indefinite. The Executive Board can restrict the period of validity of a successfully completed interim examination only if the knowledge or insight that was examined has become outdated or if the skills that were examined have become outdated. For this situation transitional rules will be stated.
In cases involving a limited period of validity based on the first section, the period of validity shall be extended at least by the duration of the acknowledged delay in studies, based on the Wageningen University Profiling Fund Scheme.
In individual cases involving special circumstances, as described in Article 7.51 paragraph 2c to h WHW respectively Article 3 sub a through e of the WU Profiling Fund Regulation, which have been reported to the student counsellor, the Examining Board can extend periods of validity that have been limited based on the subsection a or further extend periods of validity that have been extended based on the subsection b.
Results of partial interim examinations or other parts of an interim examination are valid until the end of the academic year following the academic year in which the result was attained, unless the Study Handbook states that the validity period is longer.

Exam grades are valid for six years. Results of interim exams are valid for two years, unless stated differently.

Article 49 Exemption from interim examinations

At the written request of the student, the Examining Board can grant an exemption from an interim examination. The Examining Board seeks advice from the relevant examiner.
It is possible that descriptions of knowledge and skills giving grounds for awarding exemptions by the relevant Examining Board are set out in agreements between Wageningen University and other institutes of higher education. In such cases the Examining Board shall base its decisions on these grounds

You can be exempt from examinations.

Article 54 The final examination results and the date of the final examination

The Examining Board determines the final examination results after all interim examinations of the individual examination programme have been passed.
Contrary to the provisions in Article 52 sub c, the Examining Board can decide that it is not necessary to pass all interim examinations in order to pass the final examination. The applicable regulations on this matter can be found in the Rules and Regulations.
The final examination date is the date on which the positive result of the last interim examination of the individual examination programme is entered into the student information system, or, when later: the date of approval of the (altered) individual examination programme.
Until the day before the last interim examination of the individual examination programme is taken or the thesis result is announced, the student can apply to the Examining Board for a postponement of the final examination date, so that additional courses can be added to the individual examination programme. The relevant procedure is outlined in the Rules and Regulations.
After the final examination date, the student can remain enrolled and take courses. He will receive a certificate for such courses that are passed.

The bachelor’s and master’s exams that are connected to the bachelor’s and master’s degrees as stated in article 7.3 section WHW.

Complaint and appeal

Article 61 Right of complaint

Any (current, prospective or past) student or extraneous (“concerned party”) can submit a complaint to the Student Legal Protection desk (legalprotection.students@wur.nl) regarding the manner in which a body, committee or department of Wageningen University or a person employed by or working for Wageningen University has treated him in a particular situation. Before submitting a complaint, the concerned party shall do his utmost to settle a dispute, if desired with the intervention of a student counsellor.

You have the right to file a complaint. Before you file a complaint, try to fix your problem with the course coordinator or the person in question.

Article 62 Right of appeal

A concerned party can appeal: • all decisions of the Examining Board or the examiner; • decisions regarding admission; • decisions taken by the Bachelor’s and Master’s Admission Boards; • a decision regarding disenrollment or refusal of re-enrolment based on negative binding study advice; • In any case all decisions mentioned in Article 7.61 section 1, WHW.
The appeal must be lodged with the Examination Appeals Board (EAB) within six weeks after receipt of the decision. To this end, the concerned party must submit a letter of appeal to the Student Legal Protection Desk (legalprotection.students@wur.nl).

Self-explanatory.

Other information

Article 55 The diploma and the diploma supplement

The Examining Board issues the student with a diploma and a diploma supplement, as proof of successful completion of the final examination.
The bachelor’s diploma states at least the following: the programme, the degree, the final examination date and, if applicable, the specialisation and the cum laude designation.
The master's diploma states at least the following: the programme, the degree, the final examination date and, if applicable: the specialisation, and the cum laude designation.
The diploma supplement contains at least the name of the institute and the name, the content and the study load of the programme and, if applicable, the minor and the teaching credential. The supplement is drawn up in English and is in accordance with the standard European format.