Rules for conducting traditional credits and exams

Rector's letter to students of the Universiity of Silesia for new academic year 2020/2021
 

Rules for conducting traditional credits and exams

1. A single crediting unit is one semester.
    
2. A semester is credited subject to obtaining credits for all modules in the curriculum and overall achieving at least 30 ECTS points.
    
3. Credit for a module is given based on positive verification of the achievement of all learning outcomes in a given module by a student. The Dean may decide that a previously credited module is credited by the student. The Dean has the right to seek the opinion of the individual responsible for the module implementation.
    
4. Credit for a module can be given during the semester, upon completing classes in a given module, with the Dean’s consent and on the terms resulting from the Rules and Regulations of studies at the University of Silesia – Section 24 Par. 2.
    
5. Final module grade can be determined:

1. on the basis of grades obtained as credits for particular learning outcomes;
2. on the basis of the exam including verification of all learning outcomes in a module;
3. on the basis of the exam including verification of a part of learning outcomes in a module. In the last (third) case, in the decision about the final grade in a module, the grades achieved as part of the learning outcomes that are not covered in this exam should also be taken into consideration.

6. The final grade in a module may include insufficient grades achieved in credits and exams.
    
7. The detailed method of determining the final grade in a particular module is defined in the syllabus of this module.
    
8. In the case of partial studies part or internship abroad, it is permitted to credit a year of study on an annual basis, subject to the Dean’s consent.
    
9. In the case of modules ending with an exam, before taking the exam a student must obtain the other credits obligatory in the module, on the terms specified in the module.
    
10. In the case when a student fails to obtain a credit, they are entitled to an additional credit date.
     
11. Two dates are specified for an exam: first and second (retake). In the case when a student obtains the insufficient grade on the first date, or fails to take the first date without justification, they are entitled to retake the exam.
     
12. The person performing verification of learning outcomes or the Dean, in justified cases, may restitute the credit or exam date for the student. Requests for restitution of the term should be submitted not later than within 7 days from the moment when the reason justifying absence on a particular date ceases to exist.  Any applications submitted after the deadline shall be left unconsidered.
     
13. Verification of learning outcomes is carried out in the language of the module. At the student’s request and with the consent of the teacher, verification can be performed in a different language.
     
14. Dates:

1. Dates of exams and method of announcing their results are determined by the examiner in consultation with the students. It is not allowed to schedule two or more exam dates on the same day for students of the same study programme, major, form, level and year of study. Any disputable issues in this respect shall be resolved by the Dean;
2. The first exam date shall be scheduled for the exam session, not earlier than on the third day after the end of classes in a given module. Retake exam cannot take place earlier than after 14 days from the date of announcing the result of the first exam date.  At the student’s request, the retake exam date can be scheduled earlier;
3. A student can take an exam before the end of classes in a module, and a retake exam before the retake session, subject to the examiner’s consent;
4. At the student’s request, the Dean may consent for the student to take the first exam date during the retake session. The Dean may ask the examiner for an opinion;
5. Credits in the winter semester should be completed not later than until 15 March, and in the summer semester - not later than until 25 September. At the student’s request, in justified cases the Dean can extend these dates. The student is obliged to participate in classes of the following semester from the beginning, regardless of the dates of crediting the previous semester.

15. The student participating in research or implementation work, during which they achieved the learning outcomes consistent with the outcomes for a particular module, can apply for crediting this module or specific learning outcomes within a module. The Dean decides about crediting a semester. For this purpose, the Dean may ask for the opinion of the module coordinator or scientific employee responsible for particular research or implementation work.
     
16. Participation of a student in research camp work can be the grounds for crediting, in whole or in a part, of student professional apprenticeship, if the programme of the research camp corresponds to the learning outcomes provided for a particular type of apprenticeship.
     
17. Grades:

1. The following grade scale is used for credits, exams and final module grade:
   1. very good — 5.0 — A;
   2. good plus — 4.5 — B;
   3. good — 4.0 — C;
   4. sufficient plus — 3.5 — D;
   5. sufficient — 3.0 — E;
   6. insufficient (first exam or credit date) — 2.0 — FX;
   7. insufficient (retake or committee exam or credit) — 2.0 — F.
2. In the case of classes in physical education, OHS training and library training, grades are not used, replaced with the following formulas:
   1. credit given (zal);
   2. credit not given (nzal).
3. A student is obliged to submit the student record book to the Dean with all grades entered within 7 days after the end of the retake session, taking into consideration Section 24 Par. 5 of the Rules and Regulations of studies at the University of Silesia.
    

18. The examiner name is specified in the syllabus of a particular module. In justified cases the Dean may decide to select a different examiner.
     
19. In any matters concerning credits and exams, a student shall have the right to appeal to the Dean within 14 days from the date of announcing the results of verification of learning outcomes.
     
20. Within 14 days from announcing the exam results, a student has the right to access their written paper, if these are the grounds for crediting the learning outcomes in a module.
     
21. The use of disallowed forms of support during verification of learning outcomes (including presentation of work which is plagiarism) results in negative outcome of this verification.
     
22. forms of verification of learning outcomes conducted before an examination board:

1. at the justified student’s request, submitted within 5 working days from the date of announcing the retake exam result or last credit date, the Dean, in justified cases, may order a credit conducted before an examination board or exam conducted before an examination board, which should take place within the shortest possible date;
2. forms of verification conducted before an examination board take place before the committee appointed by the Dean. The committee consists of: Dean, or in special cases an academic authorised by the Dean, at least with the doctoral degree - as chair of the committee, the person who performed the previous verification of learning outcomes, and another specialist in the field of learning outcomes covered by verification;
3. the committee cannot be chaired by the person who performed the previous verification of learning outcomes;
4. the Dean may order that the exam conducted before the examination board is carried out in a different form than orally;
5. at the student’s request, credit or exam conducted before an examination board can be attended by a representative of the Student Government, tutor of the specific year of study or exercise group, as well as the Student and PhD Student Ombudsperson.

23. With reference to the student who did not credit the semester, the Dean shall decide as follows:

1. send the student to resit the module or modules and give a conditional pass for the next semester, if the student did not obtain a credit in more than two modules;
2. send the student to semester retake;
3. expel the student from studies.

Source: Rules and Regulations of studies at the University of Silesia in Katowice