At the end of the first year "Bachelor in Psychology", all students receive a Study Advice. A positive Study Advice means that you may continue to the next year. A negative (and binding!) Study Advice means that you will not be allowed to re-register for the Bachelor in Psychology programme at Maastricht University for the next four years.
COVID-19 related changes (BA)
updated 28-02-2022
As in the previous two years, a lower number of ECTS is needed to get a positive BSA: you must have obtained at least 36 of the 60 ECTS of the first year courses. That is 6 ECTS less than normal.
The FPN specific requirement for a positive BSA remains unchanged: you need a pass for PSY1022 Methoden en Technieken/ IPN1022 Methods & Techniques or PSY1024 Statistiek voor Psychologen I / IPN1024 Statistics for Psychologists I .
These adjustments also apply to students who started the Bachelor in Psychology before this academic year, but have been given the opportunity to fulfil the BSA-norm in 2021-2022.
Criteria for a positive study advice
You must obtain at least 42 36 of the 60 ECTS in your first year, and you must have passed at least one (1) of these two (2) modules in your first year.
- PSY1022 Methoden en Technieken/ IPN1022 Methods & Techniques or
- PSY1024 Statistiek voor Psychologen I / IPN1024 Statistics for Psychologists I
If you fulfill these criteria you will receive a positive Study Advice.
Personal and study related circumstances? Contact the Academic advisers right away!
Personal or study related circumstances can be taken into consideration before issuing a negative study advice. It is of great importance to report personal circumstances at the time of their occurrence.Factors that may qualify include illness, special family circumstances, physical, sensory or other functional impairments and pregnancy. In a number of cases, administrative duties may also qualify for recognition as personal circumstances. If any of the these circumstances are applicable, you are required to inform the Academic advisers as soon as possible.
Formal regulation
The formal procedure is described in the 'Onderwijs en Examenregeling ' (OER) and the Education and Examination Regulations (EER).
Procedure
| 2021-2022 Procedure Negative Binding Study Advice | |
Throughout | Academic advisers and mentors invite students based on their study progress. |
| January | First Warning Advice email (to all students) The Board of Examiners will issue, on behalf of the Faculty Board, a warning to all first-year bachelor's students in the months of January and May to highlight the importance of achieving the BSA standard. |
| May | Second Warning Advice email |
| July/August | Intention to issue a Negative Binding Study Advice Certain personal circumstances may be taken into account when issuing a binding study advice. These circumstances will only be taken into account if they were reported to the academic adviser within four weeks after the circumstances were revealed, and if your study results in the periods in which the personal circumstances did not apply give cause for this. See the EER for details >> |
| July/August | nBSA hearings Before we issue an NBSA, you will be given the opportunity to be heard. In this hearing you can bring forward the (documented) personal circumstances on which want to be exempted from receiving a nBSA. The BSA Hearing Committee will test the given grounds on admissibility and decides afterwards if the grounds will be officially recognised. The BSA Hearing Committee will take the advice of the Academic Advisers into account. |
| August | Negative binding study advice issued |
| 6 weeks after publication | Six weeks to appeal If you do not agree with the (negative) binding study advice, you can appeal within six weeks. |
Are you considering to terminate your study?
Always contact the Academic advisers to discuss your intention. Note that terminating your study will not halt the binding study advice procedure. See UM website > Terminating your studies for the administrative steps.The Academic Advisers wrote an extensive document about study planning and the BSA. It includes suggestions on what to do, depending on your progress so far, and several general tips on planning your study to optimise your chances of success.
► May 2020: Tips for your study planning and explanation of the temporary BSA procedure
► Mei 2020: Tips voor je studieplanning en uitleg over de tijdelijke BSA procedure
More information
Early communication is key. Talk to your mentor, the Academic advisers or the Board of Examiners.
See also: UM website >Student Guidance