Overview of the Examining Boards at WUR.

Wageningen University & Research has four Examining Boards. Each of the boards is responsible for the examination arrangements for one of the four groups of study programmes. Joint degrees have their own specific Examining Boards. 

The four examining boards of Wageningen University & Research are:

The Examining Board approves the study programmes of individual students, grants exemptions and checks whether graduates meet all requirements. The Examining Board is also involved in assuring the quality of interim and final examinations. The secretary is the contact person for an Examining Board.

The Examining Boards are established by law (Higher Education and Research Act) and have independent decision-making authority. The decisions of the Examining Board are subject to appeal.

Tasks and competencies of the Examining Boards

The sphere of activity and working method of the Examining Boards is described in the Rules and Regulations, see Student Charter.

The Examining Boards of Wageningen University & Research are responsible for making decisions about:

• the Binding Study Advice (BSA)
• awarding bachelor's and master's degrees
• approval of individual study programmes (see: approval procedure for electives)
• requests for inclusion and recognition of courses from outside WU (see: Approval of external courses)
• exemption requests (see below for procedure)
• requests for flexible bachelor's or master's programmes (see below for procedure)
• requests for changes to the exam programme (see below for procedure)
• extending the validity period of partial course results (see: EER 51d.)
• approval requests for a 2nd BSc programme/diploma (see below for procedure)
• approval requests for a 2nd MSc programme/diploma/specialisation (see below for procedure)
• cases of fraud

Some of these responsibilities are prepared by the study advisers; this information is shown in the details of each topic.

The sphere of activity of the Examining Boards also includes:

• preparing changes in the Education and Examination Regulations (EER)
• appointing and advising Examiners
• providing guidelines for Examiners in relation to assessments and determining the results
• assuring the quality of interim examinations

The general rights and obligations regarding education, interim examinations, and final evaluations are outlined in the Student Charter and the Education and Examination Regulations (EER).

Examination Appeals Board

E-mail: legalprotection.students@wur.nl

Determining final examinations

At Wageningen University, graduations are processed monthly. The Examining Board also determines whether candidates qualify for a “cum laude” distinction. 

Approval procedure for a set of study components

Approximately six months before graduation, a student has to submit his/her individual study programme to the Examining Board for approval.  Elective courses are reviewed by the study adviser and subsequently submitted to the Examining Board for approval.

Approval of external courses

External courses require approval from the study advisor and the Examining Board in order to be taken up as part of your study programme. See “How to plan electives from another university?” for the procedure.

Conversion and recognition of external credits

With prior approval of the Examining Board, courses provided by foreign institutes of higher education can be included in the individual Wageningen University study programme. Credits obtained during an exchange are included on the Wageningen diploma supplement with the initial grade of the foreign university. Only for courses that are part of a double degree, the grades of the partner university will be converted according to predefined conversion tables. See “Recognition of external credits” for more information on the procedures and the transitional arrangements.

Exemption from courses 

A student can request exemption from an interim examination if he/she previously acquired knowledge and competencies that essentially correspond with the learning outcomes of a course in his/her study programme. Granting exemptions is restricted to the Examining Board. The advice of the examiner of the course or Internship is taken into account before granting an exemption. 

Flexible bachelor's or flexible master's programmes

Students can request approval for a self-compiled flexible bachelor's or master's programme. Such a programme must be approved in advance by the Examining Board. For the procedure, refer to the “Rules for Flexible Programmes”. 

Transferring from old programmes to new ones

In cases of study delay, it can be desirable to transfer to a later study programme (in the new Study Handbook). Previously passed courses can be transferred, and new courses can be added. This type of composite programme must always be compiled in consultation with the study adviser, and must submitted with his/her recommendation to the Examining Board for approval. Requests must be submitted in the Osiris PlanApp. The same procedure applies if a student wants to transfer to a different, usually related study programme.

Approval requests for 2nd BSc programme, 2nd MSc programme or 2nd specialisation

In certain cases, students can complete 2nd BSc programme, a 2nd MSc programme or a 2nd specialisation within a MSc programme where there is a certain overlap between the parallel study programmes or specialisations. Approval for these second programmes or specialisations can be requested (upon recommendation of the study adviser) by submitting a substantiated request with the two sets of study components, where the overlapping and unique components are clearly shown (EER, Chapter 3, Section 5).

Cases of fraud

Fraud (including plagiarism) is taken very seriously. If an examiner suspects fraud, he/she will inform the student in question and report this to the secretary of the examining board. After hearing both sides, the examining board can establish fraud. Depending on the seriousness of the fraud committed, sanctions will be imposed by the examining board (See also: Rules & Regulations of the examining board, chapter 'Fraud'). 

Examining board Life Sciences

Examining board Social Sciences

Examining board Environment and Landscape

Examining board Technology and Nutrition

Examining board Joint Degree Water Technology (MWT)

Examining board Joint Degree Bachelor Tourism

Examining board Joint Degree Master Metropolitan Analysis, Design and Engineering (MADE)

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