Board of Examiners

The Honours College falls under the Honours Academy Board of Examiners. This board decides on the awarding of certificates and ensures the quality of teaching. 

Certification requirements

You receive a certificate for the Honours College when:

• You have completed 20 EC of honours courses.
• You have completed both your bachelor's degree and your honours track within three years (nominality requirement).

Board of Examiners

Each faculty track has a Board of Examiners responsible for the content of that honours programme. This includes decisions on how certain Honours College courses should be structured. If you have a question for this Board of Examiners, please discuss it with your coordinator first. They will be able to advise you on whether and how you can submit your request.

In addition, Honours College programmes fall under the Honours Academy Board of Examiners. This board makes decisions regarding the awarding of certificates and handles requests for deferrals.

Certification requirements

According to the Course Regulations, you receive a certificate for the Honours College if:

• You have completed 30 EC of honours courses, including at least one Bachelor Honours Class (5 EC).
• You have completed both your bachelor's degree and your honours track within three years (nominality requirement).
• The weighted grade average for your bachelor's programme is a 7.0 or higher.

Apply for an exemption

To receive an Honours College certificate, you must meet the nominality requirement. This means that you must complete both your bachelor's programme and your honours track within three years. If you are unable to meet this requirement due to exceptional circumstances, you can ask the Honours Academy Board of Examiners for an exemption from the nominality requirement for one semester or one year. 

You can apply for an exemption if you do not meet the nominality requirement due to:

• personal circumstances (e.g. chronic/long-term illness, mental health issues, death of a family member);
• study-related activities that contribute to your academic development (e.g. studying abroad or an internship);
• sheduling issues caused by taking additional courses;
• administrative activities within a study programme or student association;
• professional athletic endeavours or cultural activities at a high level.

Requirements for an exemption application

• Consult your Honours College coordinator or coach. They can advise you on your request and on the best way to draft it.
• Keep your request short, specific and concise (maximum 1 A4).
• Your request must include the following information:
  • Name, student number and email address
  • Name and year in which you started your Honours programme
  • Name and year in which you started your bachelor’s programme
  • The period for which an exemption is required, with corresponding dates
  • Justification for your request and your proposed study plan
  • Why you wish to complete your Honours programme
  • Which coordinator and which study advisor you have spoken to about your study delay
• Send your request as an attachment to the Board of Examiners via email. Please use your umail address for this and CC your coordinator.

The Board of Examiners will endeavour to respond to your request within three weeks. The decision will be sent to your umail address. If you are granted an exemption and you meet all certification requirements within the exemption period, you will still be eligible for the certificate.