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Applying the ‘Educational Landscape’ Decree to all students since the 2015-16 academic year has entailed replacing the practice of allowing students to spread one year of study over two years with the practice of planning students’ annual programmes. Students authorised to take on a reduced course load register for fewer than 60 credits over the entire academic year. Authorisation to do so is granted for one academic year. If students desire a reduced course load for the following year as well, they must submit a new application; if they fail to do so or are no longer eligible for a reduced course load, they resume an annual programme of at least 60 credits. |
For all students (at the time of enrolment)
Regulatory framework and calendar
Article 45 of the Academic Rules and Regulations: Without prejudice to Articles 53 through 58, by individual and reasoned decision, the faculty may exceptionally authorise a student to undertake a reduced annual course load. The authorisation is subject to a student-faculty agreement established at the time of enrolment.
A reduced course load may be granted only for duly attested professional, academic, social or medical reasons. For instance, students may apply if they anticipate difficulties in accommodating both full-time academic work and extracurricular activities related to their student status, thus requiring pursuit of the former on an at least part-time basis.
Any request for a reduced course load must be justified and submitted at the time of registration. It must contain a reduced course load proposal based on faculty guidelines. The faculty must respond within 15 days of registration and in time for the student’s annual course load to be validated.
If the faculty does not grant an exemption, the student may appeal the decision to the vice-rector for student affairs, by following the instructions that accompany the faculty’s decision. The appeal is a precise statement of the grounds on which it is based. It must be sent within five days of the student’s notification of the faculty’s decision. It is sent to the vice-rector for student affairs by registered letter or submitted to its secretariat in exchange for an acknowledgment of receipt. The vice-rector for student affairs shall notify the student of his or her decision within 30 days of the date of notification of the faculty’s original decision.
Procedure
Students wishing to reduce their annual course load are requested to:
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• Inform the Enrolment Office (SIC) at the time of registration;
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• Apply to the faculty via the faculty authorisation procedure.
The reduced course load request must include the following documents:
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The completed reduced course load application form;
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A letter of motivation stating the reason for the request;
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A supporting document (e.g. certificate of dual degree or professional activity);
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Transcript of prior year higher education;
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Reduced course load agreement signed by the programme jury secretary.
Reduced course load authorisation is granted by the vice dean of the Faculty of Philosophy, Arts and Letters and must be submitted to the Enrolment Office (SIC).
For first year bachelor’s degree students (following January exam session)
Regulatory framework and calendar
Article 46: First-year bachelor’s degree students who did not pass their first-term exams may choose, before 15 February, to reduce their course load in the second term. The reduced course load is established in consultation with the select jury or, failing that, with the full jury and may include specific remediation activities.
Procedure
First-year bachelor’s degree students wishing to reduce their course load should contact the academic advisor of the Faculty of Philosophy, Arts and Letters.