The board of the Mathematics and Computer Science department

Education and examination regulations for the Master’s

Degree Program Business Information Systems as referred

to in Article 7.13 of the Higher Education and Research Act

Art. 1 through 6

Ch. 2 Structure of the program Art. 7 through 9

Ch. 3 Approval of program units Art. 10

Ch. 4 Interim examinations Art. 11 through 14

Ch. 5 Interim examination results Art. 15 through 17 Ch. 6 Exemption Art. 18 Ch. 7 Final examination Art. 19 and 20 Ch. 8 Admission Art. 21 through 25 Ch. 9 Student counseling Art. 26 Ch. 10 Final provisions Art. 27 through 31

The board of the Mathematics and Computer Science department

taking into consideration: Articles 7.13, 9.15, 9.18, and 9.38 of the Higher Education and Research Act;

given the Departmental Council’s decision dated June 29th, 2005, consenting to the proposed decision to adopt the Education and Examination Regulations for the Business Information Systems Master’s Degree Program;

given the recommendation dated May 23th, 2005, of the Study-program Committee for the Business Information Systems Master’s Degree Program

to adopt the following Education and Examination Regulations for the Business Information Systems Master’s Degree Program:

Chapter 1 General

Article 1 Applicability of the regulations

These regulations apply to the courses and final examination of the Business Information Systems Master’s Degree Program, hereinafter called: the program.

The program will be given within the Mathematics and Computer Science department, hereinafter called: the department.

Article 2 Definitions

1. For the purpose of these regulations, the following definitions apply:

a. the Act: the Higher Education and Research Act (Wet op het Hoger Onderwijs en

Wetenschappelijk Onderzoek).

b. working day: Monday up to Friday, except official holidays.

c. examination period: a period designated by the Executive Board and recorded yearly in the academic agenda, in which interim examinations can be taken.

d. academic holiday: the period between the examination period at the end of the spring trimester and the examination period in August.

e. oral interim examination: an assessment of a program unit only by an interview of the student by one or more examiners; a final discussion in which the student justifies an assignment is not an oral interim examination.

2. Where these regulations refer to ‘students’, this will also include external students (extraneï).

Article 3 Aims of the program The aims of the program are:

- to teach specialized knowledge, insight and skills in the field of constructions and applications for business information systems,

- to prepare students for the profession of an architect or developer of information systems, or as an advisor or leader of the application and introduction of information systems, and

- to prepare students for training as researchers or designers in the field of information systems.

Article 4 Form of the program

The program is full-time but can also be taken part-time. Article 5 Final examination of the program

The program concludes with a final examination. Article 6 Language

1. The courses, the interim examinations and the final examination will all be in English. 2. To participate in the courses, interim examinations and final examination of the program, students must have sufficient command of English. Students with one of the following qualifications are considered to meet the requirements:

a. a VWO (Dutch pre-university education) diploma, which included English as part of the

final examination to obtain that diploma;

b. a secondary education diploma from an English-speaking secondary education institute; c. a pass or exemption from one of the following tests:

- TOEFL (minimum score: paper-based test: 575; computer-based test: 232); - IELTS (minimum score of 6.0 for all units).

Chapter 2 Structure of the program

Article 7 Study load of the program

The program’s study load is 120 credits. One credit is equivalent to 28 hours of study. Article 8 Content of the program

1. The program comprises at least the program units referred to in the annex, with a total study load of 40 credits.

2. Apart from the program units referred to in paragraph 1, the program comprises a number of program units which students choose with the approval of the Examinations Committee. These units together account for 40 credits.

3. In addition, the program comprises a master’s project with a study load of 40 credits. Article 9 Not applicable

Chapter 3 Approval of program units

Article 10 Approval procedure

1. A student must submit a request for approval of the choice of one or more program units, as referred to in Article 8 of these regulations, to the Examinations Committee at least two months before he/she registers for the final examination.

2. A student must submit a request for permission for a flexible program, as referred to in Article 7.3c of the Act, to the Examinations Committee at least two months before he/she registers for the first interim examination of the program.

3. A decision to deny approval or permission is made by the Examinations Committee, stating reasons and after the student has been given the opportunity to be heard.

4. The Examinations Committee will make a decision within 20 working days of receiving the request or, if the request was submitted during an academic holiday, within ten working days of the end of the holiday. The Examinations Committee can postpone the decision for up to ten working days. The student must be notified of the postponement in writing before the end of the period referred to in the first sentence.

5. The student will be notified of the decision immediately and in writing. If the

Examinations Committee has not reached a decision within the period (including a possible postponement) referred to in paragraph 4, the approval or permission may be considered to have been granted.

Chapter 4 Interim examinations

Article 11 Times and frequency of interim examinations

1. Students must be given the opportunity to take interim examinations for the program units referred to in Article 8 at least twice a year, namely during the examination period at the end of the trimester in which the teaching for the program unit concerned ended, and during the examination period in August or another examination period.

2. In derogation of the provisions specified in paragraph 1, if a specific program unit has not been taught in a certain academic year, students will be given at least one opportunity to take the interim examination for that program unit in that year.

3. In special cases, the Examinations Committee may, at the student’s request or otherwise, allow derogations from the provisions in paragraphs 1 and 2.

Article 12 Sequence of interim examinations

1. The interim examinations for the master’s project cannot be taken until the interim examinations of all other program units, with a total study load of 80 credits, have been passed.

2. The Examinations Committee may, in special cases, derogate from the provisions in paragraph 1.

Article 13 Form of the interim examinations

1. The interim examinations for the program units referred to in Article 8 will be taken in writing, with the exception of the interim examinations referred to in the annex, which will be taken in the form as indicated in the annex.

At the student’s request, the Examinations Committee may, in special cases, allow an interim examination to be taken in a form different from that which is prescribed.

2. Physically or sensory impaired students will be given the opportunity to take their interim examinations in a way that is adapted to their individual handicap as much as possible. If necessary, the Examinations Committee will seek expert advice before making a decision. Article 14 Oral interim examinations

1. No more than one person will be given an oral interim examination at a time, unless the Examinations Committee has decided otherwise.

2. Oral interim examinations will be taken publicly unless the Examinations Committee has decided otherwise.

3. An oral interim examination will be taken by two examiners, where one of the examiners is appointed by the Examinations Committee as the first examiner.

Chapter 5 Interim examination results

Article 15 Determination and notification of interim examination results

1. Immediately after an oral interim examination, the examiners will determine the result and provide the student with a written statement to that effect.

2. The examiner will determine the result of a written interim examination as soon as

possible, but within 15 working days after the interim examination. The examiner will provide the department administration with the necessary information. The administration will

immediately notify the student of the result.

3. Interim examinations taken in other than oral or written form are usually taken by delivering a report or an elaboration of exercises, here referred to as a piece of work. In case that several pieces of work need to be delivered, the last piece of work is meant. The examiner will determine the result of such an interim examination as soon as possible, but within 15 working days after the final delivery date that has been determined by the examiner and has been communicated to the student, provided that the piece of work has been delivered by the student to the examiner on this date at the latest. The examiner will provide the department administration with the necessary information.

4. In the statement giving the result of a written interim examination, the student will be notified of the right of perusal, as referred to in Article 17, paragraph 1, the possibility of appeal to the Examination Appeals Board, and the period within which the appeal must be lodged.

Article 16 Period of validity

Successfully passed interim examinations are valid for an unlimited period.

In derogation of this, if a student passed an interim examination in a certain program unit longer than six years previously, the Examinations Committee may require him/her to take a supplementary or substitute interim examination.

Article 17 Right of perusal

1. For a period of at least 20 working days after being notified of the result of a written interim examination, the student will have the right to peruse the assessed work. He/she can also request a photocopy of the work, which will be provided at cost price.

2. The Examinations Committee may decide that perusal takes place at a fixed place and at least two fixed times. If the student in question proves that he/she is or was unable to attend at the specified time and place due to circumstances beyond his/her control, an alternative will be offered, if possible within the period referred to in paragraph 1

3. During the period referred to in paragraph 1, any interested person can obtain the questions and assignments of the interim examination in question, and, if possible, the standards applied in assessing it.

Chapter 6 Exemption

Article 18 Exemption from interim examinations

At the student’s request, the Examinations Committee may, after consultation with the examiner concerned, exempt the student from an interim examination for a program unit referred to in Article 8, if the student meets at least one of the following conditions: 1: he/she has passed the interim examination for a program unit equal in content and study load, from another university program, from the Open University or from a comparable study program in the higher professional education in the Netherlands;

2: he/she has proof of knowledge or experience acquired outside Dutch higher education, or other activities performed in a different context.

Chapter 7 Final examination

Article 19 Registering for a final examination result

At least three times a year, the Examinations Committee will determine the results of a final examination for those students who have registered for the final examination at the Student Service Center.

Article 20 Final examination results and certificates

1. The Examinations Committee will check whether a student has passed the necessary

interim examinations for the program in question. If this is the case, the student has passed the final examination.

2. In derogation of paragraph 1, before determining the result of the final examination, the Examinations Committee may instigate its own assessment of the student’s knowledge, insight and skills in relation to one or more of the program units of the program.

3. The Examinations Committee will issue a certificate as proof that the student has passed the final examination. The certificate will be signed on behalf of the Examinations Committee by the chairman and at least one other member of the Examinations Committee. When the certificate is presented, the student will be informed of the possibility of appealing to the Examination Appeals Board, and the period within which the appeal must be lodged.

4. If a student shows exceptional ability, this can be expressed on the certificate in the words ‘cum laude’.

5. Students who pass the final examination will be awarded the degree of Master of Science. The degree will be specified on the certificate of the final examination, together with the subject of the degree program.

Chapter 8 Admission

Article 21 Admission to the program

The following persons will be admitted to the program:

1. those who have passed the final examination of the Technische Informatica or Technische

Bedrijfskunde Bachelor’s Degree program at the TU/e;

2. those who have proof of admission issued by the Executive Board for the academic year in question.

Article 22 Not applicable Article 23 Flexible intake

1. In derogation of Article 21, paragraph 1, and if there is sufficient teaching capacity for the program, the Examinations Committee may decide that a student who is registered in the

Technische Informatica or Technische Bedrijfskunde Bachelor’s Degree program at the TU/e

may be admitted to the program before he/she has passed the final examination of the Bachelor’s Degree program in question.

2. In any event, admission as referred to in paragraph 1 will be granted if the student has sufficient results for and/or exemption from program units in the Bachelor’s Degree program with a total study load of at least 160 credits, and

3. Students admitted to the program on the basis of the provisions in this article cannot take the interim examination for the master’s project, as specified in Article 12, until they have passed the final examination of the preceding Bachelor’s Degree program.

Article 24 Proof of admission

The following persons are eligible for a proof of admission, as referred to in Article 21, paragraph 2:

a. those who have proved that they have sufficient command of the English language, as specified in Article 6 and

b. have a certificate which is at least equal to the certificate referred to in Article 21, paragraph 1.

Those who have otherwise shown in the opinion of the admissions committee of the program that they are suitably qualified to follow the program are also eligible for a proof of

Article 25 Selection in the event of limited teaching capacity

If the Executive Board has limited the teaching capacity of the program and the number of applicants exceeds this capacity, the Executive Board (or its representatives) will give priority when issuing proof of admission to those students deemed most qualified, on the basis of previously acquired knowledge, insight and skills, in accordance with the selection criteria and the procedure approved by the Executive Board.

Chapter 9 Student counseling

Article 26 Students’ progress and student counseling

1. The Departmental Board will ensure that students’ progress is recorded in such a way that, at least once every trimester, each student can be provided with a summary of his/her results in relation to the education and examination program.

2. The Departmental Board will provide counseling for all students registered in the program, partly for the purpose of informing them of possible study options within and outside the program.

Chapter 10 – Final provisions

Article 27 ‘old style’ interim and final examinations

1. For students who were registered in the Technische Informatica program in the academic year preceding the introduction of these regulations, as well as students who registered for the first time for the shortened program in the academic year 2003- 2004, the education and examination regulations adopted/changed on July 1st, 2002, will continue to apply, on the following condition:

until September 1st, 2009, students who have passed the kandidaats examination of that program will be given the opportunity to take the final examination.

2. The courses preparing for the final examination referred to in paragraph 1 will be taught for the last time in the 2006-2007 academic year.

3. In special cases, the Examinations Committee may give permission to students other than those referred to in paragraph 1 to take interim examinations and final examinations in accordance with the education and examination regulations referred to in paragraph 1. Article 28 Transfer from ‘old style’ to ‘new style’

Students as referred to in Article 27, paragraph 1, who have passed the first-year

(propadeutic) and the kandidaats examinations of the five-year Technische Informatica or

Technische Bedrijfskunde program, can participate in the Master’s Degree program under

these education and examination regulations, on the following conditions:

a. earlier academic results in the post-kandidaats phase can be rated as meriting exemption from similar units in the ‘new style’ program;

b. participation is open, as long as the phased introduction of courses and interim examinations in accordance with these regulations effectively permits it.

Article 29 Changes

1. Changes to these regulations will be adopted by the Departmental Board, in the legally prescribed manner, by a separate decision.

2. No changes will be made that are applicable to the current academic year, unless it can be reasonably assumed that the students’ interests will not be harmed.

3. Furthermore, changes cannot affect the following to the students’ disadvantage: - the approval obtained pursuant to Article 8, paragraph 3;

- any other decision regarding a student made by the Examinations Committee pursuant to these regulations.

Article 30 Publication

1. The Departmental Board will be responsible for the appropriate publication of these regulations, the rules and guidelines adopted by the Examinations Committee, and any changes to these documents.

2. Interested persons can obtain a copy of the documents referred to in paragraph 1 from the department office.

Article 31 Effective Date

These regulations will take effect on September 1st, 2005.

Hereby adopted by decision of the Mathematics and Computer Science Departmental Board, on July 4th, 2005.