Curricula - common component 2010-11
Content:
Chapter 4 Teaching organisation
Chapter 5 BSc and MSc programmes - organisation and rules
Chapter 6 Study activities for which credits are awarded
Chapter 7 Examination rules
Chapter 8 Forms of examination and assessment
Chapter 9 Admission to the MSc programme
Chapter 10 Exemptions
4.1 Registration
The deadlines for registration are given on www.life.ku.dk.
Late registration for other courses is possible if courses are cancelled.
Registration gives access to the course’s Absalon web page.
All course registrations and withdrawals are made on sb.life.ku.dk unless otherwise specified. First-year students are, however, automatically registered for the courses in the basic module.
4.2 Courses with quotas – ranking of students
If there are more registrations for a course than allowed by the quota, the students who have registered within the ordinary registration period are ranked in the following sequence unless otherwise specified in the curriculum or the course description:
1. If the course is compulsory, the student is guaranteed a place.
2. If the course is compulsory in part.
3. Flexible Master students if the course forms part of an approved study plan.
4. PhD students if the course forms part of an approved study plan.
5. Two reserved places in each course for foreign guest students.
6. If the course is elective.
7. Other external students.
The following applies to the categories 2, 3, 4, 6 and 7:
1. Seniority – students lacking the fewest credits to complete their programme have the highest priority.
2. Drawing of lots among students with the same number of credits.
Study and Students’ Affairs is responsible for the ranking. Students who are not admitted to the course will be advised by Study and Students’ Affairs.
In the late registration period, possible available places are filled on a first-served basis.
The placement of students on the various lines of the MSc in Veterinary Medicine will take place according to a specific set of regulations which are stated in that particular curriculum.
4.3 Cancellation of teaching
A course may be cancelled if there are fewer than 10 registrations at the time of deadline for registration for courses. However, compulsory courses cannot normally be cancelled and semi-compulsory courses (such as elective core module courses, *-courses, core courses etc.) can only be cancelled upon approval by the study board. Study and Students' Affairs will notify the course responsible, if less than 10 students have registered for a course. The department must apply to the study board, if it wishes to cancel a semi-compulsory course. Cancellation of a course must be communicated to Study and Students' Affairs via the department head.
If a department chooses to go through with a course with less than 10 registered students, the department may apply to the study board for permission to conduct the teaching in a manner that differs from the original course description.
If there are 10 or only a few more registrations, the department may cancel the course by agreement with the Study and Students’ Affairs until and including the first day of teaching if the lecturer can clearly demonstrate on the basis of contact with those registered that the actual number of students will be less than 10.
Cancellation should be made immediately after the deadline for registration to enable students to submit a late registration for another course. No re-examination is normally held for a cancelled course.
4.4 Complaints concerning teaching
Complaints about teaching are handled by the relevant study board. Complaints must be made in writing with statement of grounds. Complaints must be sent to the Study and Students’ Affairs.
4.5 Use of computers
The Faculty of Life Sciences will assume that new students have their own laptop computers on commencement of their studies. Teaching at the Faculty of Life Sciences will be organised on the basis of this assumption.
4.6 Group work and individual assignments
The ministerial order states that exams cannot be held in groups. However, group projects can be an integral part of the day to day teaching and the form of this teaching. This also applies in instances where a group assignment is required in order to qualify for exam. The student must, however, always be given the option of handing in an individual assignment if this assignment is included in the assessment, cp. section 7.11.
No more than six students can participate in a group. In BSc and MSc thesis projects no more than three students can participate in a group.
4.7 Access to e-learning courses
Only the following groups have access to e-learning courses where all instruction and examination is conducted 100 per cent electronically:
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Ordinary students registered at the Faculty of Life Sciences
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Ordinary students registered at another university. These are admitted as credit students.
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People who are attached to a project, organisation, partners, etc and with close relations to researchers at the Faculty of Life Sciences. Theses are admitted as non-enrolled single-subject students.
5.1 The BSc programme – organisation
The BSc programmes have a common structure with a basic module and a core module. There are also a BSc project worth 15 credits and electives worth 45 credits, in some BSc programmes electives, however, only total 30 credits.
Basic module: Each BSc programme has its own compulsory basic 60-credit first-year module. The basic module takes place during the first year. In certain cases, however, a basic module course block four of the first year can be postponed till the second year, thereby giving place to a core module course.
Core modules: Each BSc programme has one or more 60-credit core modules in the second and third years. In certain cases, the core module can be commenced in block four of the first year. A core module is compulsory. The core modules consist of a 15- or 30-credit core module thematic course and a number of individual core courses. A particular core module qualifies the BSc graduate for admission to one or more master’s programmes.
There may be deviations from the BSc programme structure in individual cases. These are given in the curricula for the individual degree programmes.
The veterinary science curriculum does not contain basic and core modules, and the BSc project is worth 10 credits.
5.1.1 The first year examination
Sections 15-17 of the Examination Executive Order specify the rules for the first year examination. Students must have taken the first year examination courses before the end of the first year of study in the BSc programme, and must have passed the first year examination courses before the end of the second year of study in order to continue the degree programme. Registration for exams in first year examination courses cannot be cancelled.
The curriculum for the individual BSc programme specifies the courses, which are included in the first year examination.
5.1.2 Registration for core modules
Students must register in writing for the desired core module in BSc programmes, which offer more than one such module. In some BSc programmes, certain core modules are only open for registration to a limited number of students. This is stated in the curriculum of the individual programmes. The deadline for registration can be found on www.life.ku.dk. If a student wishes to change core module within the same degree programme during the second or third year of study, a written request must be submitted. If a student wishes to attend a core module which is only open to a limited number of students, this will only be possible if the course is not fully booked. In the BSc programme in Natural Resources, special rules, however, apply for choosing and changing core module, please refer to the curriculum in question.
If the student has more than 105 credits in his or her BSc programme, the change of core module must be approved by the study board. When changing core module, the student must ensure that the credit limits are not exceeded (cf. 5.4).
Courses passed in the previous core module, which are not included in the new module, will be transferred as elective courses.
5.2 Structure of the master’s programme
All master’s programmes contain a 30, 45 or 60 credit thesis. The extent of the thesis has been determined in the curriculum for the individual programmes. In addition, other compulsory study activities may also be included, i.a. a 15 to 30 credit thematic master’s course.
According to the executive order the MSc programme must include basic subject elements worth at least 90 credits. Basic subject elements include the thesis, compulsory courses and core module courses listed in the individual curricula. A master’s programme must include at least 10 elective credits.
5.2.1 Structure of the Erasmus Mundus MSc programmes
All Erasmus Mundus MSc programmes at LIFE are built up in such a way that the student attends one year at LIFE and one year at another university as agreed by the universities. It will appear from the curriculum for the individual Erasmus Mundus MSc programme where each year of study takes place.
The Erasmus Mundus MSc programmes consist of thesis, compulsory courses and core module courses and do not include elective credits.
5.2.2 Registration for specialisation in the MSc programme
In MSc programmes which offer specialisations, the student must register for the desired specialisation in writing before the start of the degree programme. A written request must be submitted if the student wishes to change specialisation.
Special rules apply to registration for differentiations in the MSc programme in Veterinary Medicine (cf. the curriculum).
5.3 Elective credits
All courses and other study activities at the Faculty of Life Sciences as well as transferred credits (cf. 6.6) can normally be included in the elective credits. Veterinary courses (course group 30, (cf. 6.1)), however, are only available for students of veterinary medicine.
5.4 Credit limits
The BSc programme is set at 180 credits. The Msc programme is set at 120 credits. The MSc programme in Veterinary Medicine is, however, set at 150 credits.
According to the executive order a programme cannot be set at more credits than listed above. The Faculty of Life Sciences does, however, permit up to seven additional credits for students who cannot exactly match the stipulated number of credits because of “lopsided” credit totals resulting from transfers of credit etc.
If a student shows course activities exceeding these limits, credits transferred from other educational institutions will be disregarded first. After this, non-compulsory study activities will be disregarded in a latest first order.
This rule applies to students who have been admitted to a BSs or MSc programme in September 2005 or later. Students who were admitted before September 2005 are subject to the credit limits in the 2004/05 curricula.
5.5 Maximum time for registration
Students admitted to the BSc programme from September 2001 to February 2005 must complete their studies within six years of the date of admission. Students admitted in September 2005 or later must complete the BSc programme within five years of the date of admission.
Students admitted to the MSc programme in September 2001 or later must complete the programme within four years of the date of admission.
Veterinary science students admitted from September 2001 to February 2005 must complete their studies within 10 years of the date of admission. Veterinary science students admitted in September 2005 and later must complete the BSc programme within five years of the date of admission and the MSc programme within five years of the date of admission.
Any periods of leave of absence will not be included in the stipulated time of study.
The deadline is extended accordingly for students of food engineering taking the six months of compulsory practical training during their period of studies.
Enrolment is terminated if the student has not completed his or her studies within the specified time limit.
5.6 Demands concerning the level of study activity
Enrolment will be terminated if the student has not passed any study activities corresponding to 30 credits within a period of two years. This rule applies to all students from 2009 which means that they cannot be terminated on the basis of the requirements concerning the level of study activity until in 2011 at the earliest.
Until 2011, students admitted in 2005 or later will still be subject to the rule that enrolment will be terminated if the student has not passed any study activities within a period of two years.
Any periods of leave of absence and periods with payment of monthly grant portions from the State Education Grant and Loan Scheme (SU) in connection with childbirth, whether single or double monthly grants (not mixed grants), are not included.
5.7 Leave of absence
The rules governing leave of absence are specified in the Executive Order on Admission. Students on leave of absence may not receive supervision or teaching or sit for examinations. It is, however, possible to resit examinations in courses taken in previous blocks, provided the student has been registered for the ordinary examination. Students on leave of absence are, furthermore, are not eligible for the university board, study board or academic council.
A student who chooses to discontinue his/her leave of absence after the start of a block should note that it is not possible to register for examination in this block.
A leave of absence cannot be granted when the first year of a BSc programme (60 credits), including the first-year examination has been passed. I.e. when the tests specified in the curriculum as belonging to the first year of study have been passed. With regard to maternity leave, leave in relation to adoption or conscription, this requirement will be waived. It should be noted that the student does not need to apply if the maternity leave is financed by the State Education Grant and Loan Scheme (SU-fødselsklip). As regards the MSc programme, a leave of absence can be granted when the first six month of the master's programme (30 credits) have been passed.
Students cannot be granted leave of absence in the thesis period. The thesis period is defined as the time frame fixed in connection with the conclusion of the thesis contract and the time frame fixed in connection with the second and third examination attempts.
Students can be granted leave totalling one year of absence on both BSc and MSc programmes. Normally, leave of absence will only be granted for full blocks or years. If an application is received after the commencement of a block, leave of absence can be granted for the remaining part of the block if this period is two months or more.
If the student is receiving State Education Grant and Loan Scheme (SU) grants, the SU Agency is advised automatically and it will stop grant payments in the period of leave and demand repayment of any support which has already been paid.
When calculating time limits in the study programme, leave of absence periods and periods with payment of State Education and Loan Scheme grants in connection with childbirth (fødselsklip) as single or double grants (not mixed grants), will not be included.
5.8 Teaching and examination language
In English-language degree programmes, all compulsory study activities that are part of the official programme must be carried out in English. However, the bachelor’s project and the thesis may be written in Danish or English by agreement with the supervisor (cf. 6.3 and 6.4). Semi-compulsory courses (elective core module courses, *-courses, core courses etc.) are primarily taught in English, but some courses may be taught in Danish if the curriculum of the individual programme allows this. Elective courses can be in English or in Danish. Through the curricula and the range of courses offered, the Study Board must make sure that foreign students have the opportunity to complete a full English-language programme without any lack of English-language courses within central subject areas.
In courses offered in Danish, teaching and examinations are primarily in Danish. Norwegian or Swedish speaking students may choose to take the examination in Norwegian or Swedish. Theses, BSc projects and other written assignments may also be submitted in Norwegian or Swedish.
In courses offered in English, all teaching and examinations are in English. Project reports and similar must also be submitted in English. If special academic reasons exist, minor parts of the course can be taught in Danish. If part of the teaching is in Danish, this must be stated in the course description. If teaching or literature in Danish is part of an English-language programme, the person responsible for the course must ensure that English-language students have the opportunity to acquire the corresponding knowledge.
If other study activities (theses, BSc projects and written assignments) are submitted in written English, the oral defense may be conducted in Danish or English (cf. 6.3 and 6.4).
Students can expect to be reading texts in English, Swedish and Norwegian in all Danish language degree programmes, courses and other study activities at the Faculty of Life Sciences.
It will appear from the diploma whether a study activity has been carried out in English.
5.9 Prerequisite courses
Prerequisite courses may be optional or compulsory. This will be indicated in the course description.
Optional prerequisite courses are recommended to enable the academic level in the course to be followed.
A student is not eligible for exam in a course before all compulsory prerequisite courses have been passed.
5.10 Special teaching and learning support (SPS)
Students at the Faculty of Life Sciences with documented physical or mental disabilities which make it difficult for them to complete their degree programmes on an equal footing with other students may apply for special teaching and learning support (SPS). This support is available to Danish citizens and others on the same footing. The support is provided in the form of compensating aids for completion of the degree programme. At the Faculty of Life Sciences a student and careers advisor in Student Service is the contact and advisor in matters concerning SPS. Counselling in relation to SPS applications and administrative procedures is handled by the SPS unit of the University of Copenhagen student administration, Fiolstræde 22, DK-1171 København K.
6.1 Courses
The Faculty of Life Sciences offers the following types of course:
15 credit courses: The se courses span one nine week block of full-time studies or two blocks of half-time. If the course runs over two blocks it will be placed in a week module.
7.5 credit courses: Occupy one nine-week block on half time. The courses are placed in a week module.
The number of credits may deviate in rare cases, e.g. in connection with intensive summer courses. As from the 2009/10 study year, courses on the veterinary science degree programme will be 7.5 and 15 credit courses; however, this does not apply to courses offered according to curricula from before 2009.
The courses are classified into the following three types, which specify the level at which the individual course can be taken:
B = BSc course
F = Common course
K = MSc course
Course types B and F may be included in the BSc programmes.
Course types K and F may be included in the MSc programmes.
The individual courses’ scope, content, relationship, form of assessment etc. are given in a course description which can be found on http://www.courseinfo.life.ku.dk.
The course number indicates the subject group placing. Courses are divided into the following subject groups:
21 Mathematics
22 Physics
23 Chemistry
24 Biology
25 Plants
26 Animal husbandry
27 Foods
28 Technology
29 Economics and law
30 Veterinary science
31 Nature, environment and landscape
40 Others
6.1.1 Thematic courses
Thematic courses are interdisciplinary project-oriented courses worth 15 or 30 credits. The study board determines the size of the thematic courses within the individual course.
The teaching is problem-oriented with organisation in groups and projects. Thematic courses are external examinations assessed on a 7-point scale.
The BSc programme offers core module thematic courses, where the number and subject content of the courses are determined by the range of core modules available.
The MSc programme offers MSc thematic courses. The range of MSc thematic courses is determined by the curriculum for the individual MSc programmes.
6.2 Written assignments
Written assignments are an independent and optional study activity in which students consider a problem/topic of their own choice, preferably involving several subject areas. The main supervisor is always an employee at the Faculty of Life Sciences. External lecturers and assistant professors/lecturers at the Faculty of Life Sciences may also act as main supervisors. Written assignments worth 2.5, 7.5 or 15 credits can be done.
Notes regarding 7.5 and 15 credit assignments
Written assignments worth 7.5 and 15 credits can be written individually or in groups. Written assignments are internal examinations (cf. 8.6.1) assessed on the 7-point scale. An oral defence is held in connection with the assessment.
If the assignment is written by a group of students the oral defence must be individual and the student may only attend the examination of the remaining students in the group if his or her examination has been concluded (cf. 7.11).
If a written group assignment has been organised in a way that allows the examiners to assess the contribution of the individual student, the written project will be considered directly in the assessment.
If a written group assignment has been organised in a way that does not allows the examiners to assess the contribution of the individual student, the written project will be considered indirectly in the assessment, i.e. the oral defence will have the group assignment as its point of departure (cf. 7.11).
In the assessment of 15 credit assignments, emphasis is also placed on the students’ literacy in addition to the subject content irrespective of the language in which the assignment is written, i.e. the ability to communicate the substance of the findings is included in the overall assessment.
Notes on 2.5 credit assignments
Written assignments worth 2.5 credit assignments are individual assignments. The assignments are internal examinations assessed on a pass/fail basis. No oral defence is given in connection with 2.5 credit assignments.
The student can only submit one 2.5 credit assignment in the course of his/her programme. 2.5 credit assignments are normally placed towards the conclusion of the programme in order to make up for uneven credit totals in connection with credit transfers etc. The problem of the assignment must be connected with a subject considered during a passed course.
Descriptions of aims
15 credit assignment:
A student who has passed a 15 credit assignment is able to:
Knowledge:
- describe a problem and relevant methods and theory
- give arguments as to how a problem is treated within a given academic context focusing on formulation of the problem, problem analysis and action plans
Skills:
- carry out problem analysis on the basis of methods and theory and assess the significance of the used methods and theory
- present a lucid formulation of a problem and communicate the consideration of the problem in a concise and well-planned manner
Competences:
- to make clear conclusions in relation to a problem formulation and more generally in relation to an entire subject area
- to perform criticism and independent reflections on the assignment subject and its importance to the scientific milieu and society in general
- discuss the problem’s importance to the scientific milieu and society in general
7.5 credit assignment:
A student who has passed a 7.5 credit assignment is able to:
Knowledge:
- describe the subject area
- explain the connection between problem formulation and problem analysis within a given academic context
Skills:
- present a lucid formulation of a problem and communicate the consideration of the problem in a concise and well-planned manner
- assess alternative approaches in terms of theory/methodology in relation to the problem formulation
Competences:
- reflect on and put his/her considerations into perspective in relation to other problem complexes within the subject area
- demonstrate independent problem solving
2.5 credit assignment:
A student who has passed a 2.5 credit assignment is able to:
- describe a problem and its relation to the subject/subject area
- present a lucid formulation of a problem and communicate the consideration of the problem in a concise and well-planned manner
- reflect on other problems within the subject area
6.3 BSc project
The BSc programme is concluded with a 15 credit BSc project. The project is, however, only 10 credits in the veterinary medicine programme. The BSc project is carried out primarily on the basis of studies of existing literature. However, data from the student’s personal experiments, other kinds of individually attained data/personal scientific work or, by agreement, data from others – may be included. The ability to assess the quality of the used data and a discussion of choices as what to include and not include is included in the assessment of the assignment. The actual quality of any experimental data used is not included in the assessment.
Supervisor
The main supervisor is always an employee at the Faculty of Life Sciences and must as a minimum be an assistant professor or a postdoctoral fellow. In degree programmes where there is a formalised working relationship with one or more other faculties or universities, the main supervisor may, however, also be from these faculties/universities. This will be specified in the curriculum for the degree programme in question. External lecturers and assistant professors/lecturers at the Faculty of Life Sciences may also act as main supervisors.
The agreement
Before the BSc project commences, there must be a written agreement (contract) between the student and the supervisor(s). The agreement template can be found on http://www.life.ku.dk/English/Maalgruppe/Employees/Teaching_and_examination/BSc_Projects_MSc_theses/Forms.aspx. The agreement is kept by the relevant department. The student and supervisor(s) must also meet to discuss mutual expectations, appointments etc.
Time limit
The time limit for carrying out the BSc project is determined in accordance with its credit value with consideration for concurrent study activities. The project is normally carried out during one block. The main supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the project is of a scope which can be completed within the specified time frame.
The time limit specified in the agreement is binding, and if exceeded, a new project must be carried out with a new time limit. In extraordinary circumstances, the student may, however, apply for an extension to the time limit for submission. Extension of the time limit must be approved by the head of department on the recommendation of the main supervisor.
Counselling
Supervision is based on the agreement in question and on the student’s individual needs. The supervisor acts as a sparring partner and primarily provides guidance with respect to the structuring of the assignment, the method of analysis, important sources etc.
In general the supervisor must approve:
- the subject area
- the problem formulation
- major limitations
- the provisional outline
In general the supervisor will not:
- read major parts of the assignment
- provide detailed supervision
- be responsible for the content etc. of the final product
Submission and the examination
The project report is submitted to the supervisor in (at least) three copies for the supervisor and one for each co-supervisor, one for the external examiner and one for the department files. The report handed in is the property of the Faculty of Life Sciences and will not be returned to the student. The student specifies in the agreement whether the project report may be published after the examination. This decision can be changed at the time of submission if the student so wishes.
The BSc project may be written in Danish or English as agreed with the supervisor. Norwegian or Swedish speaking students may choose to write the thesis in Norwegian or Swedish, (cf. 5.8.) In English-language BSc projects the oral defence may be conducted in Danish or English.
The project must have an abstract in English. If the project is written in English, it can also be provided with an abstract in Danish. The abstract must be one A4 page. The abstract is included in the full assessment of the BSc project.
In the assessment of the BSc project, emphasis is placed on the student’s literacy in addition to the subject content irrespective of the language in which the assignment is written, i.e., the ability to communicate the substance of the findings is included in the full assessment.
The project must be concluded with an examination seminar. The seminar is held at the Faculty of Life Sciences. A seminar may also be held when the project starts, or mid-way through it. The examination seminar is public, and the supervisor announces the time and place by agreement with the student.
If the BSc project includes a confidential component, a closed meeting on this part may be held in association with the examination seminar. The student, the examiner and the external examiner will attend this meeting. The entire BSc project may not be presented at a closed meeting. In exceptional cases, the dean may, however, grant a dispensation from the provision that the entire bachelor’s project cannot be presented at a closed meeting. After the presentation, which may last no longer than 20 minutes, the examiner and the external examiner can ask questions and make comments. An external supervisor may not act as external examiner.
The BSc project is always an external examination assessment is on the 7-point scale. One total mark is given for the project report and the seminar with main emphasis on the project report. The subject and methodological components are weighted equally in the assessment.
The assessment must be concluded not later than six weeks after the project report is submitted. If the student so wishes, the main supervisor and the external examiner will prepare a written subject and methodological evaluation in connection with the assessment, which will be given to the student not later than seven days after announcement of the mark and within six weeks of submission of the BSc project.
The title of the BSc project (in Danish and English) is given on the diploma. If the BSc project is written in English, only the English title will appear on the diploma.
Description of aims
A student who has concluded a BSc project will be able to:
Knowledge:
- give arguments as to how a problem is treated within a given academic context focusing on formulation of the problem and problem analysis
- search for, prioritize and make references to relevant literature
Skills:
- identify and work with existing or new knowledge within one of the programme’s subjects areas
- choose appropriate theory and methods in working with the problem formulation
- communicate his or her work with the problem formulation in a lucid and concise manner – orally as well as in writing – to the relevant target group(s)
If personal experimental work/data production is included, the students will also be able to:
- describe and discuss the production of data and relate this data to the data of others within the subject area in a manner that allows the data in combination with the relevant methods to be reproduced
Competences:
- assume a critical approach to literature, theory/models and data
- discuss the problem’s importance to the scientific milieu and society in general
- independently develop his/her knowledge and skills in relation to the subject area and the industrial area(s) related to the programme
Notes on group BSc projects
BSc projects can be done in groups of no more than three. Any group work must be approved by the supervisor when the agreement is entered into, and the full assignment must be of a scope which corresponds to its total credit value.
If the Bsc project is written by a group of students the oral defence must be individual and the student may only attend the examination of the remaining students in the group if his or her examination has been concluded (cf. 7.11).
If a BSc project has been organised in a way that allows the examiners to assess the contribution of the individual student, this will be considered directly in the assessment.
If the BSc project has been organised in a way that does not allows the examiners to assess the contribution of the individual student, the individual student’s contribution will be considered indirectly in the assessment, i.e. the oral defense will have the group assignment as its point of departure (cf. 7.11). Accordingly, a separate mark for the written project cannot be given, since the oral defence will form the sole basis of assessment of the individual student. However, the abstract as well as the student’s literacy and communication skills as described above, shall be included in the assessment.
6.4 Thesis
The MSc programme is concluded with a thesis, where the student works independently with a problem which is an important part of the individual student’s academic profile.
The thesis can carry 30, 45 or 60 credits. The size of the thesis in the individual programme is specified in the curriculum. The thesis must include independent experimental and/or analytical work. 45 and 60 credit theses must have an experimental character, i.e. they must contain experimental work or the student’s own scientific production in the form of the production of original data/original material.
Supervisor
Students are entitled to supervision by the most relevant academic department, provided that the student meets the academic requirements for the subject area in question. In cases of doubt, the head of department will decide whether a thesis topic should be placed in the department in question. This decision can be submitted to the relevant study board.
The main supervisor must be an employee at the Faculty of Life Sciences and must as a minimum be an assistant professor or a postdoctoral fellow. In degree programmes where there is a formalised working relationship with one or more other faculties or universities, the main supervisor may, however, also be from these faculties/universities. This will be specified in the curriculum for the degree programme in question. External lecturers and assistant professors/lecturers at the Faculty of Life Sciences may also act as main supervisors. A PhD student cannot be a main supervisor.
The project agreement
Before the thesis commences, there must be a written agreement (contract) between the student and the supervisor(s). The agreement template can be found on http://www.life.ku.dk/English/Maalgruppe/Employees/Teaching_and_examination/BSc_Projects_MSc_theses/Forms.aspx. The agreement is kept by the relevant department.
The agreement must include a formulation of the topic that is approved by the supervisor(s).
The student and supervisor(s) must also meet to discuss and formulate a plan for supervision concerning mutual expectations, appointments, the gathering of primary data/experimental work etc.
Submission deadline
The deadline for submission of the thesis is determined in accordance with its credit value. If the agreement specifically indicates that the student is only working part-time on the thesis because of concurrent studies, account may be taken of this when the submission deadline is set. The main supervisor is responsible for ensuring that the thesis project is of a scope that can be completed within the specified time frame.
The submission deadline specified in the thesis agreement is binding. When the agreement has been entered and the submission deadline is set, cancellation is not possible and the student will have used one examination attempt if the thesis is not submitted before deadline. The supervisor must report the used examination attempt to Study and Students' Affairs. In extraordinary circumstances, the student may, however, apply for an extension of the submission deadline. Extension of the submission deadline must be approved by the head of department on the recommendation of the main supervisor. Students may not be granted leave of absence in the thesis period (cp 5.7).
If the student does not submit the thesis in due time according to the deadline (including potential postponement), a modified topic must be formulated within the same subject area, and a new time limit of 3 months duration is set. A new topic must be formulated and approved by the supervisor(s). The change must correspond to a work load of an additional three months disregarding the ECTS credit value of the thesis. The student should as far as possible not start from the beginning with experimental/analytical work.
Notes on theses that take the form of an article
The thesis can be submitted in form of an article/articles. However, the requirement to show an ability to identify, analyse and work through problems scientifically must be met regardless of the form of the thesis. The supervisor cannot be the co-author of articles included in the thesis. However, after submission of the thesis individual articles may be elaborated on in a cooperation between the student and the supervisor and handed in for publishing. In such cases the supervisor may also assume the role of co-author.
Supervision
Supervision is based on the mutual agreement and on the student’s individual needs. The supervisor acts as a sparring partner and primarily provides guidance with respect to the structuring of the assignment, the method of analysis, important sources etc.
In general the supervisor must approve:
- the subject area
- the problem formulation
- major limitations
- the provisional outline
In general the supervisor will not:
- read major parts of the assignment
- provide detailed supervision
- be responsible for the content etc. of the final product
Submission and examination
The thesis is submitted to the supervisor in at least four copies, including at least three paper copies for the supervisor and one for each co-supervisor, one for the external examiner and one for the department files as well as one digital copy for the Faculty of Life Sciences Library. The digital copy must be identical with the paper copies and must be submitted electronically at the same time as the submission of paper copies. The student is responsible for uploading the digital copy in CURIS and the department approves the digital copy (for instructions see http://www.bvfb.life.ku.dk/English/guidance/student_theses.aspx).
The thesis is the property of the Faculty of Life Sciences and will not be returned to the student. The student specifies in the thesis agreement whether the thesis report may be published after the examination. This decision can be changed at the time of submission if the student so wishes. The digital copy will be available to the public at the Faculty of Life Sciences Library or will be held without publication, depending on the student’s choice.
The thesis may be written in Danish or English by agreement with the supervisor. Norwegian or Swedish speaking students may choose to write the thesis in Norwegian or Swedish, (cf. 5.8.) In English-language theses the oral defense may be conducted in Danish or English.
All theses must have an abstract in English. Theses written in Danish can, furthermore, be provided with an abstract in Danish. The abstract must be one A4 page. The abstract is included in the full assessment of the thesis.
In the assessment of the thesis, emphasis is placed on the student’s literacy in addition to the subject content irrespective of the language in which the assignment is written, i.e., the ability to communicate the substance of the findings is included in the full assessment.
The project must be concluded with an examination seminar. The examination seminar is held at the Faculty of Life Sciences. The examination seminar will have a duration of approx. one hour of which approx. 30 minutes are allocated to the oral presentation. A seminar may also be held when the project starts. For theses worth 45 or 60 credits a mid-way seminar must be held if the student or the supervisor so wishes. The examination seminar is public, and the supervisor announces the time and place by agreement with the student.
If the thesis includes a confidential component, a closed meeting on this part may be held in association with the thesis seminar. The student, the examiner and the external examiner will attend this meeting. The entire thesis may not be presented at a closed meeting. In exceptional cases, the dean may, however, grant a dispensation from the provision that the entire thesis cannot be presented at a closed meeting. After the presentation, the examiner and the external examiner may ask questions and make comments. An external supervisor may not act as external examiner.
The thesis is always an external examination assessed on the 7-point scale. One total mark is given for the thesis and the seminar with the main emphasis on the written component.
An external examiner and the examination date must be fixed at least four weeks before the submission of hte thesis. The assessment must be concluded no later than four weeks after the thesis is submitted. If the student so wishes, the main supervisor and the external examiner will prepare a written subject and methodological evaluation in connection with the assessment, which will be given to the student no later than seven days after the announcement of the mark and within four weeks of submission of the thesis.
The title of the thesis (in Danish and English) is given on the diploma. If the thesis is written in English, only the English title will appear on the diploma.
Description of aims
A student who has concluded a thesis will be able to:
Knowledge:
- identify scientic problems within the degree programme’s subject areas
- use an appropriate set of methods and theory based on international research in his/her work with the problem formulation
Skills:
- utilise and assume a critical stance towards theories and methods and their applicability and limitations
- assess the extent to which the production and interpretation of results/material depends on the selected theory/method and the selected delimitation
- discuss matters of relevance to the scientific and industrial milieus raised by the thesis
If the thesis includes experimental content/personal data production, the student will also be able to:
- substantiate the idea of conducting experimental work/produce one’s own data in order to cast light on the problem as formulated in the problem formulation
- handle data through a choice of methods of scientific analysis and present results objectively and in a concise manner
- assess the credibility of the results based on a relevant handling of data
Competences:
- make clear and scientifically based conclusions in relation to the problem formulation and more generally in relation to the overall problem and the subject area
- discuss theories/models from the basis of an organised set of values and with a high level of independence
- assess the thesis’ scientific and societal impact from an ethical viewpoint
- start up and complete scientific work in a research setting
- solve complex problems and carry out development assignments in a work context
Notes on group theses
Theses can be done in groups of no more than three. Any group work must be approved by the supervisor when the agreement is entered into, and the full assignment must be of a scope which corresponds to its total credit value.
If the thesis is written by a group of students the oral defence must be individual and the student may only attend the examination of the remaining students in the group if his or her examination has been concluded (cf. 7.11).
If the thesis has been organised in a way that allows the examiners to assess the contribution of the individual student, this will be considered directly in the assessment.
If the thesis has been organised in a way that does not allows the examiners to assess the contribution of the individual student, the individual student’s contribution will be considered indirectly in the assessment, i.e. the oral defence will have the group assignment as its point of departure (cf. 7.11). Accordingly, a separate mark for the written project cannot be given, since the oral defence will form the sole basis of assessment of the individual student. However, the abstract as well as the student’s literacy and communication skills as described above, shall be included in the assessment.
6.5 Project in Practice
Project in Practice (400040) is a study activity of 15 credits. It can only form part of the master´s programme and the activity may only be taken once. Project in practice takes place with a project in practice host and is concluded with the submission of a project report. The project report is an internal examination assessed as passed/failed.
The work involved must be on a full-time basis (37 hours/ week) for one block or on a part-time basis (18.5 hours/week) for two consecutive blocks. The project in practice work must be of such a nature as to allow the student to be able to use his/her professional skills in a practical industrial context and contributes to developing the theoretical and practical knowledge of the student in relation to the studies. The work is unpaid but the project in practice host may choose to provide a subsidy for transport, rent, etc. The project in practice may not form part of all MSc programmes, and it will appear from the curriculum for the individual programme whether project in practice may form part of it.
The project in practice is registered at sb.life.ku.dk. At the registration, the student chooses which department is to provide the supervision. The student himself/herself is responsible for concluding a collaboration agreement with the project in practice host. Immediately after registration, the coordinator responsible for projects in practice must preapprove the project work. The student must hand in a midway-status in the middle of the project period. The final report must be submitted at the end of the block in which the project in practice work has taken place.
More information about Project in Practice as well as the requirements, etc, appear from the course description and the associated presentation page in the Course Information.
6.5.1 Practical training
Special provisions apply for practical training in the BSc programme in Food Science. These are specified in the curriculum.
6.6 Credit transfer
Upon approval, study activities passed while attending a different higher education degree programme may enter into the degree programme in the place of LIFE courses or as elective credits. The courses must be within the subject areas of the Faculty of Life Sciences.
Applications for credit transfer or advance approval are handled by Study and Students’ Affairs on the basis of a statement from the contact person in the department in question. Complicated cases or cases of principle are submitted to the study board for decision. Applications must be made on a special form available on www.life.ku.dk, where the rules governing transfers of credits and marks are also available.
No more than half of the credits in a degree programme may be obtained by credit transfer. According to the Education Executive Order, theses cannot be credit transferred. The Faculty of Life Sciences has decided that BSc projects cannot be transferred either.
The provision in the Examination Executive Order that two thirds of the degree programme must be assessed on the 7-point scale (cf. 8.6) does not apply to credit transfer credits, i.e. these credits are subtracted before the two thirds-calculation.
Note that the stipulated number of monthly grants and loans (SU-klip) for the degree programme is reduced by one for each five credits of study activities completed before commencement of the actual programme and transferred to the actual programme. Further details can be found on www.life.ku.dk.
6.7 ECTS
The academic weight of study units at the Faculty of Life Sciences is measured in ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) according to which one year of full-time study equals 60 credits. This corresponds to a student work load of 1650 hours, i.e. 27½ hours per credit.
7.1 Registration and cancellation
Two weeks into each block, Study and Students’ Affairs will automatically register for exam all students who are still registered for teaching. Late registration and cancellation will then be made possible. The deadlines are announced on www.life.ku.dk. Late registration and cancellation is done via sb.life.ku.dk (cf. 4.1). Students must always check whether a registration has been accepted. If a registration is denied, Study and Students’ Affairs will send an e-mail the student's dsr e-mail about the cause of the denial.
If the student wishes to participate in an examination without preceding participation in the teaching, the student alone is responsible for asking the course responsible if this is possible in practice. It is not possible to be registered for examination in a block in which the student has been fully or partially on leave of absence. The same applies if the student discontinues his/her leave of absence in the middle of a block, see 5.7.
7.2 Sickness
Students who are sick on the day of the examination must document their sickness with a medical certificate which specifies the first and last days of sickness. The medical certificate must be sent to Study and Students' Affairs as soon as possible after the examination. Sickness in the event of an oral examination must be reported to the lecturer/department before commencement of the examination on the day in question. If an examination is interrupted because of sickness, the student must advise the invigilator. Partially completed papers may not be submitted for assessment in such events.
The examination attempt will be disregarded if the student subsequently sends medical documentation/friattest to Study and Students’ Affairs. The doctor must be contacted no later than on the day of the examination. The Faculty of Life Sciences will not reimburse expenses for the medical certificate/friattest.
7.3 Aids
It may be specified for examinations held in lecture halls that no aids are allowed, or that only certain aids are allowed. This will be indicated in the course description. Unless otherwise specified, textbooks, reference books, notes, etc. may be brought to the examination. Computers may not be brought along as aids.
Language dictionaries and pocket calculators may be brought to examinations where aids are not otherwise permitted.
7.4 Use of computers
Where relevant and practically possible, computers will be used in the examination. This will be indicated in the examination plan.
7.5 Weighting
The course description indicates whether an examination consists of several exam components. If an examination consists of several exam components, one total mark is given. However, all individual exam components must be passed, i.e. receive at least the mark ‘02’.
Component marks may carry different weights and the weighting will be indicated in the course description. If component exams have independent course numbers, the result will be calculated from the stated weighting. If the components do not have independent course numbers, a general assessment of the whole examination may be given in addition to the simple calculation.
A written examination may consist of several examination questions. Unless otherwise specified, the questions are of equal value. A general assessment of the answers to all questions will normally also be made.
7.6 Extended examination time
In the case of written examinations held in lecture halls, Study and Students’ Affairs may grant extended examination time in the event of pregnancy, language difficulties and dyslexia. The deadline for application is given on www.life.ku.dk.
Pregnancy
Depending on the duration of the examination, in the last three months before the expected date of birth, an extension of up to 30 minutes may be granted. A relevant extract of the medical records (vandrejournal) must be appended to the application.
Language difficulties
Depending on the duration of the examination, an extension of up to 30 minutes may be granted for examinations in Danish in the first year of study to
- foreign nationals without a Danish qualifying examination (this does not include Norwegian or Swedish speaking students who may sit the examination in Norwegian or Swedish)
- Danish nationals with a foreign qualifying examination, who have grown up abroad and have taken their education in a non-Danish-language school
No extension because of language difficulties will be given for examinations in English.
Dyslexia
Apart from extended examination time of up to one hour in the case of written examinations in lecture halls, Study and Students’ Affairs may approve special examinations e.g. projects, oral examinations and reading aloud of examination questions. Documentation for dyslexia and a statement and proposal from the lecturer for the form of examination must be appended to the application. The student will make an agreement with the course responsible on how any extension to the examination time can be arranged for the examination in question. The agreement must be submitted to Study and Students’ Affairs not later than one week before the examination.
Educational Centre of Social Sciences in cooperation with the dyslexia school “Hovedstadens Ordblindeskole” offers a screening for dyslexia. The offer applies to alle students at University of Copenhagen. More information is available at : www.samf.ku.dk/pcs/english and at the Danish pages at: www.samf.ku.dk/
Other causes
Study and Students’ Affairs can grant an up to 30 minute extension of the examination time to students who cannot sit the exam on an equal footing with other students due to sickness etc. The extension is granted in the individual case on the basis of an evaluation of the student’s limitations. In the evaluation care will be taken that the extension does not bring the student in a more favourable position than his/her fellow students.
7.7 Appeal about the examination
An appeal about the examination may be submitted under Section 32-35 of the Examination Executive Order. The appeal may concern:
- legal questions
- the examination basis
- the examination procedure
- the assessment
The appeal, which must be addressed to the dean and submitted to Study and Students’ Affairs, must be in writing and state concrete reasons, and it must be submitted no later than two weeks after the examination result has been announced. The deadline will, however, be calculated at the earliest from the date on which announcement has been notified.
The outcom of an appeal may result in:
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offer of re-assessment (however not in the case of oral examinations)
- offer of re-examination
- a rejection of the appeal
Re-assessment and re-examination may result in a lower grade. The result of a re-assessment or a re-examination cannot be appealed.
7.8 Exemption for the number of examination attempts
Under Section 13 of the Examination Executive Order, a student has a maximum of three attempts to pass an examination. The study board may grant an exemption for this if there are exceptional circumstances. The question of suitability for studies may not be included when assessing whether there are exceptional circumstances. Applications for additional sittings for examinations must be submitted as soon as the need occurs.
7.9 The examination basis
The examination requirements for courses must be described in a list of requirements. The requirements may consist of a common component and an individual component. The latter is of special relevance in connection with projects. Each course has its own examination requirements, consisting of a common component and possibly an individual component, in accordance with guidelines described under the individual course.
The examination basis consists of the examination requirements with the described learning outcome for the course. Exam questions must be answerable on the basis of the framework constituted by the list of examination requirements and the learning outcome.
The requirements list is produced by the course responsible. The requirements list must be made available on the course’s Absalon page by the beginning of the course and may be revised no later than four weeks ahead of the exam. The individual list of requirements must be approved by the course responsible and submitted to the latter by a specified date.
In the case of courses with continuous assessment, there must be clarity concerning which sections of the examination requirements/learning outcome are being tested in each individual examination component.
7.10 Re-examination
The re-examination is held for students who were sick or who did not pass the immediately preceding ordinary examination in the course, i.e. the re-examination assumes that the student has followed the teaching in the course.
Re-examinations are held in the following weeks:
Re-examination for block 1 is held in week 9
Re-examination for block 2 is held in week 26
Re-examination for block 3 is held in week 26
Re-examination for block 4 is held in week 45.
For individual courses of the BSc programmes, re-examinations will be conducted at alternative dates. It will appear from the course descriptions for these courses in which weeks re-examinations will be conducted.
Re-examination for the first-year courses placed in block 4 will be held in week 34.
The examination and grading method in connection with the resitting of examinations may differ from the method used in the ordinary examination. The form of the examination is published on www.life.ku.dk.
If five or fewer students have registered for a re-examination for which the ordinary examination was a written examination, the examination will automatically be changed to an oral examination unless the course coordinator has indicated in advance that it will remain a written examination.
Deadlines for registration and cancellation for the re-examination are available on sb.life.ku.dk. Registration is on sb.life.ku.dk. Students must actively register for re-examination.
7.11 Individual assessment
Section 3 of the Examination Executive Order states that all tests must be organised as individual tests. This means that the examination and the writing of papers must be conducted individually, that there must be an individual assessment and that individual marks must be given.
All examination must be conducted on an individual basis, i.e. a group cannot be examined as a group. If an individual oral examination has a group assignment as its basis, the individual student can only be present at the examination of the remaining members of the group if his/her examination has been concluded.
Group assignments where it is not possible to discern the individual’s contribution to the whole cannot be included as a separate component in the assessment. Group assignments can be included indirectly in the assessment by letting the individual oral examination have the assignment as its starting point.
Joint project reports in which the contribution of the individual student is marked can be included directly in the assessment by assessing the individual student’s written project material as an independent component.
If a project report or similar is included directly or indirectly in the assessment, the student must be given the option of submitting an individual paper. Students can be asked to enter into group projects during the teaching (cf. 4.6).
Written assignments, BSc projects and theses can be written in groups but the oral seminar must be conducted on an individual basis (cf. 6.2, 6.3 and 6.4)
A joint presentation of a group project can be made prior to the individual examination. This joint presentation cannot be included in the assessment, and only internal examiners, i.e. teachers and supervisors attached to the study activity, may participate in the presentation. Joint presentations cannot be made in connection with group BSc projects and theses.
7.12 Cheating at exams and plagiarism
In case of cheating at exams, this is handled according to ‘Disciplinary actions towards students at the University of Copenhagen’ (Disciplinære foranstaltninger over for studerende ved Københavns Universitet). Plagiarism (from e.g. the Internet) also constitutes cheating.
If cheating/plagiarism at an exam is determined, the punishment of the student will depend on the extent and seriousness of the offence. The student may receive an oral or a written reprimand, the mark awarded to the student may be withdrawn (or the assignment will not be evaluated) and one examination attempt has thus been used. The student may also be expelled from the university for a period of time (e.g. six months) or permanently.
8.1 Continuous assessment and final examination
Continuous assessment is made up of a number of examinations during the course. The examination requirements are in several parts, each of which is finalised during the block. There is no final examination. The course responsible awards a composite grade/assessment on the basis of the individual examinations. See also 7.5 for weighting.
Final examination is held at the end of the course and all examination requirements are covered in this examination.
A course always has either continuous assessment or a final examination. It is not possible to have both continuous assessment and a final examination in the same course.
8.2 Requirements for attending exam
Some courses have requirements which must be met before the student may sit the examination, e.g. submission of assignments or attendance at lectures and practical work. These requirements are not a part of the examination and do not enter into the assessment. The coordinator responsible for the course records whether students comply with the requirements and informs Study and Students Affairs if there are students who do not comply with the requirements. The coordinator responsible for the course at the same time ensures that these students are aware that they will not be allowed to sit the exam. The course coordinator determines whether a student complying with the requirements in a previous year will be sufficient to grant him /her permission to sit the examination in the current year.
8.3 Written and oral examinations
An examination is either written or oral, or both, e.g. if there is an oral defence of a written assignment which has been submitted.
The written examination can take any form, including submission of project reports, examinations via the internet etc.
8.4 Practical examination
A practical examination is an examination in which the student carries out a practical task, i.e., the examination tests for an element of proficiency which must be demonstrated.
8.5 Portfolio examination
Where other types of examination only weight the result, both process and result are weighted in a portfolio examination. Several elements will often be included in the examination, e.g. submission of the student’s own project report and presentation of critique of fellow students’ works, or mid-way assessments where the assessment counts towards the final result.
8.6 Forms of assessment
All study activities at the Faculty of Life Sciences are internal or external examinations assessed either on the 7-point scale or as passed/failed.
Under Section 23(2) of the Examination Executive Order, the 7-point scale is used for a number of examinations which together cover two thirds of the credits in the degree programme. The curricula ensure compliance with the two thirds-rule. The values in the 7-point scale are defined in the Executive Order on Marking.
Under Section 20(4) of the Examination Executive Order, at least one third of the credits in a degree programme must come from exams that have been assessed by an external examiner. The curriculum ensures compliance with the one third-rule.
8.6.1 Internal examination
An internal examination is assessed
a) solely by one or more teachers/supervisors attached to the study activity (internal examiners)
b) both by one or more teachers/supervisors attached to the study activity and by one or more other examiners appointed from teaching staff at the Faculty of Life Sciences. The head of department decides which of the department’s teaching staff may act as internal examiners in their own or other departments.
8.6.2 External examination
An external examination is assessed by one or more internal examiners (cf. 8.6.1a) and by one or more external examiners appointed by the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation on the recommendation of the chairman of the board of external examiners.
8.7 Anonymous assessment
All courses, in which only a written examination held in a lecture hall is given, are assessed anonymously. If a course consists of two or three exam components (with separate course numbers), these examinations are, however, also assessed anonymously if the individual exam component is a written examination held in a lecture hall only. The course description does not indicate whether an examination is assessed anonymously.
Anonymous assessment means that the examiners do not know the student’s identity when assessing performance. Both internal and external exams can be assessed anonymously. Anonymity is ensured via the use of randomly generated examination numbers when the student’s examination registration is made. One number per student per examination is generated within the individual examination period. Only Study and Students’ Affairs and the student him- or herself knows the relationship between the student’s identity (civil registration number) and the student’s examination number.
The examination number is given on sb.life.ku.dk. The student must bring the correct examination number to the examination.
8.8 Description of aims
According to the Executive Order on Marking individual courses or course elements that are concluded with an examination must have a clear definition of aims and set of criteria as how to measure the fulfilment of these aims. The description of aims for the individual course corresponds to the student obtaining a mark of 12 if the aims are fulfilled satisfactorily.
9.1 Admission to the MSc programme
Under Section 8 of the Executive Order on Admission, admission to a MSc programme requires possession by the student of a relevant BSc degree or equivalent. Admission to a MSc programme is not possible if the BSc programme has not been completed.
The student may, however, register for subject elements and tests of a total of 30 credits if it is assessed that the student has the necessary academic qualifications to complete and pass the BSc programme while at the same time completing subject elements from the MSc programme, see 9.6.
As from 2006 according to act no. 337 regarding changes in the Universities Act, the Faculty of Life Sciences must charge full tuition fee from students from countries outside EU/EØS, further details on www.life.ku.dk.
9.2 Date of admission
Admission to MSc programmes may occur once a year on 1 September or twice a year on 1 September and 1 February. The curriculum for the individual MSc programme specifies whether admission is once or twice a year.
BSc graduates from the Faculty of Life Sciences may also apply through a 1 February deadline for MSc programmes where admission is normally once a year if the programme has available places (see: www.life.ku.dk).
9.3 Language requirements for admission to Danish-language MSc programmes
All applicants who do not have a full Danish qualifying examination must document their abilities in Danish in connection with the application for admission to the Danish-language degree programmes. The minimum level corresponds to the Study Examination which must have been passed with a mark of at least 02 in each examination.
In Danish-language MSc programmes where essential parts of the study activities take place in English, the applicants must provide documentation that they have English skills equivalent to English B level.
9.4 Language requirements for admission to English-language MSc programmes
Applicants whose native language is not English must provide documentation that they have English skills equivalent to:
1) International Language Testing System (IELTS) with a mark of 6.0 or above, or
2) The TOEFL® Test - Test of English as a Foreign Language™,, with a score of at least 83 in the internet-based test (IBT) and a minimum of 560 in the paper-based TOEFL test. The computer-based TOEFL test is not accepted by LIFE.
All language tests must have been taken within the last 24 months before the time of application.
Applicants from Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland and Iceland must provide documentation for English-language skills corresponding to English at B level. Applicants who can document that they have completed an English-langauge bachelor programme is exempt from the language test requirement.
Applicants who have not previously followed a long-term programme at an educational institution in Denmark, Norway, Sweden, Finland or Iceland are expected to complete the International Graduate Orientation Programme at the Faculty of Life Sciences.
9.5 Completion of the BSc programme in relation to admission to the MSc programme
If the student has submitted the final version of his/her BSc project to the supervisor no later than 31 August (or 31 January) but is not sitting the examination related to his/her BSc project until after 31 August (or 31 January), the student may be admitted to a MSc programme as of 1 September (or 1 February), if all other requirements concerning the BSc programme have been met. Documentation for submission of the BSc project must be sent to Study and Students’ Affairs (relevant form can be found on www.life.ku.dk) If the student does not pass the examination he or she will be automatically retransferred to the BSc programme.
The basis for admission to MSc programmes are those examinations in the BSc placed before 1 September and 1 February regardless of when the results of these examinations are available.
9.6 Transfer of study activities from BSc to MSc programme
It is possible for students studying BSc programmes to register for MSc or common courses which are transferred to the MSc programme if the student
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as at 1 February (or 1 September), is 15 credits or less (Veterinary Medicine however 20 credits) short of completing the BSc programme and
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commences the MSc programme on the next 1 September (or 1 February)
The student may, however, not register for courses of and transfer more than 30 credits, see 9.1.
Students who complete the BSc programme after block 3 (or block 1) may register for MSc or common courses in block 4 (or block 2) and transfer these to the MSc programme if the student commences the MSc programme on next 1 September (or 1 February).
To register for summer courses, the student may only be 15 credits short of completing his/her BSc programme at the time of registration.
The student must ask Study and Students’ Affairs to transfer the credits when registering at www.sb.life.ku.dk. The form used to request the transfer of credits can be found at www.life.ku.dk.
If the student is not admitted to the MSc programme on the date stated on the form the courses cannot be transferred. The courses will then be deleted from the transcript.
Please note that the stipulated number of monthly grants and loans (SU-klip) for the degree programme is reduced by one grant for each five credits of study activities completed before commencement of the actual programme and transferred to the actual programme.
Please also note that students who complete their BSc programme more than two months before admission to the MSc programme will not be entitled to Danish State Educational Grants (SU) until their admission to the MSc programme as on 1 February (or 1 September). Students who complete their BSc programme after block 2 or 4 are not comprehended by this rule. Read more about the Danish State Educational Grants (SU) in relation to changing from BSc to MSc programme at www.life.ku.dk.
9.7 Conditional time limit on the BSc programme in relation to admission to the MSc programme
If the student’s BSc programme was concluded more than three years before application for admission to a MSc programme, the study board will assess in each individual case whether the BSc programme is out of date with respect to admission to the MSc programme.
Exceptional circumstances permitting, the study board may grant exemptions from the rules in the curriculum specified solely by the Faculty of Life Sciences.
Lotte Lynggaard-Johansen, - siden er sidst opdateret d.14. november 2011