Significant changes in DTU's rules for the academic year 2023/2024

1. Removing the possibility of exceeding the limit of ECTS credits

   DTU has decided to remove the current rule that allows the possibility of exceeding the study programme by 4 ½ ECTS credits for 'odd credits’. This decision is based on new knowledge that there is no legal basis for the individual student to exceed the limit of ECTS credits in their study programme. In this context, the rules regarding credit transfer have been adjusted so that it no longer appears in the rules that students in special cases can enroll in a final course, thereby exceeding the limit of ECTS credits in their study programme.

   The change has taken effect for all students.

   Credit transfer during the study programme Students cannot get pre-approved credit above the prescribed total ECTS points for the study programme and must always try to plan their study according to the prescribed total ECTS credits for the programme. Also, see DTU Inside under 'Study rules'/Teaching'/'Course registration'/'Rules for choice of courses'. https://www.inside.dtu.dk/en/undervisning/regler/regler-for-merit/merit-under-uddannelsen

    

2. New rules on course selection for newly admitted BEng and BSc students

   As you were previously informed about in emails of 28 February and 28 June 2023, as a result of a decision by the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science in a student case, DTU has changed the rules for newly admitted (E23) BEng and BSc students' opportunities to follow courses at master’s level. No changes have been made with regard to students enrolled in study programmes valid before September 2023.

   BEng students In the BEng programme, lists of optional courses that the student can freely choose from are available in the individual curricula, and all the courses have already been pre-approved by the head of studies. If a student wants to take a BEng or BSc course that is not on the list, it must be approved in advance by the head of studies. Documentation for the head of study's approval must be sent to the Study Administration. MSc courses may not be taken. Exceptions are master's courses that are pre-approved for inclusion at the bachelor's level in the individual BEng programme. These courses will appear in the curriculum. BSc students enrolled in study programmes/curricula valid before September 2023 In the BSc programme, the student can choose freely from all courses at DTU at bachelor's and master's level. It is also possible to choose from all BEng courses, but these may not exceed 10 ECTS credits in total. BSc students enrolled in study programmes/curricula valid from September 2023 In the BSc programme, the student can choose freely from all courses at DTU at bachelor's level. It is also possible to choose from all BEng courses, but these may not exceed 10 ECTS credits in total. MSc courses may not be taken. Exceptions are master's courses that by the Head of Studies are pre-approved for inclusion at the bachelor's level in the individual BSc programme. These courses will appear in the curriculum. https://www.inside.dtu.dk/en/undervisning/regler/regler-for-undervisning/regler-for-kursustilmelding#Elective

    

3. BEng and BSc student’s option to be released from binding MSc courses

   As a result of the same decision from the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science as mentioned above, the practice that has existed since DTU received the decision has now been written into the regulations.

    

   Both BEng and BSc students, enrolled in study programmes valid before September 2023, who are bound by a master's course they have not passed can request to be released from the course by writing to studiedispensation@adm.dtu.dkvia their student email with a reason and stating which other course they wish to take instead. The student must register for the new course. Read about the general rules on binding courses at DTU Inside under 'Study rules'/'Teaching'/'Binding courses'.

    

   https://www.inside.dtu.dk/undervisning/regler/regler-for-undervisning/bindende-kurser

    

    

4. Use of AI such as ChatGPT in exam papers

   The rule on the use of AI, such as ChatGPT, has been revised. It used to be in a separate section but has now been incorporated into the section on plagiarism.

    

   DTU considers it exam cheating among other things in the following cases:

   1.       Plagiarism
   Plagiarizing means using someone else's text, results, ideas, images, figures, slides (also from teaching), notes, data, etc. as your own without indicating the precise source. Use of AI, such as ChatGPT and similar forms of artificial intelligence, where it is not you, but the program/robot that writes, solves a task, etc., is also plagiarism if you do not cite the source. Refining an assignment's content using grammar or spelling checks is widely accepted and does not require citation. It must be clear from an assignment answer, etc., which parts are the result of one's own thoughts, and which are based on direct copying or processing of other people's knowledge, including from a program/robot. When using texts, images, graphs, etc., which are not your own, whether as a quote, paraphrase, report, translation, or assessment, a reference to the source must be made. A paraphrase is a reformulation of a text. Read more about plagiarism and correct citations and references at www.stopplagiat.nu which is a web tutorial for students about plagiarism.

   
   https://www.inside.dtu.dk/en/undervisning/regler/regler-for-eksamen/snyd-ved-eksamen-og-anden-bedoemmelse#What

    

    

5. Teaching complaints

   On the basis of new knowledge, it has been clarified in the rules on teaching complaints that it is not an administrative decision when a board of studies deals with a complaint from a student about teaching or guidance. Instead, it is what in legal terms is called 'faktisk forvaltningsvirksomhed/actual management activity'. The student therefore does not have the opportunity to complain about the answer he receives from the board of studies. The student can, however, choose to pursue the matter by contacting the head of the department as the person responsible for the department's course offerings. There is thus no longer access to appeal to the dean, which also harmonizes with DTU's general organization of the educational area.

    

   Students dissatisfied with the teaching in a given course or with the supervision received in connection with a project must contact the lecturer/supervisor concerned immediately to try to find a solution to the problem. If this does not solve the problem, the following rules for student complaints regarding teaching/supervision have been established:

   ·         The complaint should be submitted as soon as possible after a possible prior dialogue with the lecturer/supervisor, and as a general rule before the course is offered again.
    

   ·         Complaints must be justified in writing and submitted to the board of studies at the department offering the course. A list of study board chairpersons at the individual departments can be found on DTU Inside under ‘Academic offers and guidance'/'Study board chairmen’.
    

   ·         The department Board of Studies informs the Head of Department/closest manager about the complaint if the complaint concerns personnel issues. All or parts of the complaint will be processed by the Head of Department /closest manager who will decide on any official measures in relation to the teacher/supervisor if the complaint gives rise to it. The student must not be informed of anything other than that the case/parts of the case have been handed over to the Head of Department.
    

   ·         If the complaint does not relate to personnel matters, the department Board of Studies involves the lecturer/supervisor in the case. If the lecturer is not responsible for the course, the course coordinator must always be involved in the case. The Board of Studies is encouraged to anonymize the complainant's identity if it is not important for the processing of the case to know who the complainant is. In cases of a more personal nature, the student cannot remain anonymous to the lecturer/supervisor.
    

   ·         When the Board of Studies has dealt with the complaint, a reply must be sent to the student(s) about how the board has handled the complaint. If the complaint has had a concrete outcome in relation to the course etc., this must also be informed, unless it is a matter of personal issues, cf. above., The Board of Studies sends a copy of the answer to the Head of Department if this is deemed relevant. 
    

   ·         The reply to a teaching/supervision complaint is not considered a decision in legal terms and therefore cannot be appealed.
   
   

   https://www.inside.dtu.dk/en/undervisning/regler/regler-for-undervisning/klage-over-undervisning-og-vejledning

    

6. Extension of the exam registration deadline during the 13-week period

   The students' option to deregister from the exam has been extended by 14 days in the 13-week period. The deadline for exam registration is 15 November in the 13-week period in the autumn semester and 1 May in the 13-week period in the spring semester.
   
   

    

    

    

   https://www.inside.dtu.dk/en/undervisning/regler/regler-for-eksamen/til-og-afmeldingsfrister

    

    

7. Statements from the Head of studies in exemption cases

   It has been clarified in the exemption rules when it is necessary for the student to obtain and attach a statement from the Head of Studies. This measure has been taken to better inform both students and the head of studies about when it is relevant to make a statement, and not least when it is not relevant.
   
   

   Applications for exemption must be justified and accompanied by the necessary documentation. Applications for exemption regarding illness must always be accompanied by medical documentation. The student in question must bear the expenses for the medical certificate. An application must also always be accompanied by a realistic study plan (prepared in the study planner). Documentation must be uploaded as a pdf file, otherwise the file cannot be opened.

    

   Statement from Head of Studies
   A statement from the Head of Studies must be enclosed in the following situations:

   ·         Commencement of the final project before prerequisites are met

   ·         Postponement of the submission deadline for the final project

   ·         If the enclosed study plan has one or more semesters in which the student plans to take more than 30 ECTS credits

   ·         Change of study plan in relation to the student's programme curriculum

   
   In other cases, a statement from the Head of Studies is not necessary. 

    

   https://www.inside.dtu.dk/en/undervisning/regler/dispensation_orlov/regler-for-dispensation#Application

    

    

8. Changed procedure for starting a new master's thesis

   It has previously been a requirement that the department Board of Studies had to approve if the student wanted to start over on a new master's thesis with a new ordinary project period unless the student decided this within one month of the start of the project. It is not deemed necessary for the Board of Studies to approve this action, as the supervisor or the new supervisor approves it and also informs AUS and the Head of Studies about it.
   
   

   Commencement of a new project with a new project period
   If the student wishes to abandon his/her thesis and start over within a different field of study with a new deadline (5, 5½, or 6 months), this must be approved by the (new) supervisor as well as the relevant Board of Studies. However, if the student wishes to abandon his/her thesis within a month after the start of the thesis, approval from the Board of Studies is not necessary. The (new) supervisor must inform the Office for Study Programmes and Student Affairs and the Head of Studies including the approval from the Board of Studies, whereafter a new project agreement must be made within the new field of study and with a new ordinary deadline (5, 5½ or 6 months). However, the student will have used one examination attempt on the abandoned project which will get the registration EM (not met). It is the student's responsibility to inform the former supervisor that he/she abandons the thesis.  

   
   https://www.inside.dtu.dk/en/undervisning/regler/afsluttende-projekter/kandidatspeciale#Project

    

    

9. Exemption for starting the final BEng project before all prerequisites have been met

Previously, the authority to grant exemptions to BEng students who wished to start their final project before all prerequisites were met rested with the Heads of Studies. From 1 September 2023, the competence will be handed over to the Board of Exemptions DMDU, just as the competence in similar cases for BSc and MSc students lies with the Board of Exemptions CMDU.