Study Regulations

Tallinn University Study Regulations Tallinn University Senate Regulation No. 7, dated 15 April 2013 Adopted pursuant to Section 3(11), Paragraph 14 of the Universities Act and Section 1(2), Paragraph 16 of the Statutes of Tallinn University and on the basis of a proposal in a motion of the Senate´s Academic Affairs Committee on 11 April 2013.

Chapter 1 General Provisions § 1. Scope of application Tallinn University (hereinafter the “University”) Study Regulations regulate the organization of degree studies at all higher education levels and in all its forms. § 2. Purpose The purpose of these Study Regulations is to: (1) Provide equal treatment for all degree students and transparency in study organization; (2) Establish the rights and obligations of all parties involved in the study process; (3) Create prerequisites for assessment that support study, are objective and are in compliance with learning outcomes; (4) Provide monitoring of progress and support for students. § 3. General principles (1) Degree study takes place in the University at three levels of higher education. (2) Study is based on professional higher education, bachelor´s, master´s and doctoral study programmes or the integrated programmes of bachelor´s and master´s study. (3) A study programme is a source document of study that defines the study objectives and the expected learning outcomes; the nominal period and volume of study; the preconditions for commencing studies; the list of courses and their credit point amounts; short descriptions, options and conditions; the specialization possibilities and conditions for finishing studies. The Study Programme Statute adopted by the Senate establishes the conditions set for a study programme, the procedure for opening, developing, changing and closing them. (4) The language of instruction of the University is Estonian. Upon endorsing a study programme, the TU Senate may decide to use other languages as the language of instruction.

(5) The completion of a study programme takes place in a subject system where a student compiles a study plan with due consideration to the requirements set for the prerequisite courses established for the subjects. (6) The study load is calculated in credit points. A credit point (hereinafter “ECTS credit ”) is a calculated unit of study used for calculating study load. One ECTS credit is equivalent to 26 hours of work done by a student, including up to 13 hours of contact study and at least 13 hours of independent work. The Academic Affairs Committee of the Senate decides upon the specifications of the volumes of the hours of contact study and independent work. (7) Academic units and sub-units are responsible for the study delivery and are accountable for the learning outcomes. (8) The official information exchange environment of the University degree study organization is the Study Information System (ÕIS), in which the study-related data is collected, processed, stored and issued. (9) The Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs establishes the implementation procedure for the Study Regulations by his/her directive.

Chapter 2 University students § 4. Student (1) A student is a person who has been admitted (matriculated) to the University and is pursuing a degree study programme. An international student is a student without Estonian citizenship, a longterm residence permit or a permanent right of residence. (2) Matriculation takes place in accordance with the admission requirements and procedures established by the Senate and the rules for fulfilling vacant student places established in the § 8 of the present Regulations. (3) The Regulations for Doctoral Studies and Defence of Doctoral Theses adopted by the Senate regulate the study organisation of doctoral students, evaluation, compilation and defence of doctoral theses. § 5. Visiting/exchange student A visiting student is a student who has matriculated to another university and who has been granted the right to study at Tallinn University based on a personal standard application. Permission to study as a visiting student is granted for a specific term by a directive of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs. An exchange student is a student who has matriculated to a university in a foreign country. § 6. External student

An external student is a person who has the right to complete a study programme, including taking exams and assessments and/or taking a final examination or defending a thesis. An external student is one who has not matriculated and he/she does not have a student status. § 7. Open University Student A student of the Open University does not have student status and he/she pursues degree study programme modules or course programmes of individual subjects. The study procedure is established under the Regulations for Continuing Education, as adopted by the Senate.

Chapter 3 Student places, nominal period of study, study load and reimbursement of study costs § 8. Student places (1) A student place is a unit of time for measuring study. The Senate decides the formation of student places and their total number based on a study programme. Additional student places can be created for students who are admitted to the University under special conditions. (2) Student places are filled during admission based on the admission conditions and procedures established by the Senate. (3) A student place becomes vacant if a student is deleted from the matriculation register during the nominal period of study. A vacant student place is filled from a ranking list based on the applications submitted to the academic unit by a given deadline as follows: (i) Student places that have become vacant during the autumn semester of the first study year are filled based on the admission ranking list; (ii) The following persons have the right to apply for a vacant student place: (a) A student studying on another study programme and/or form of study during the first year of study; (b) A former student who has not exceeded the nominal period of study; (c) An external student; (d) A student from another university; (e) A student from the Open University; (iii) The candidate must have accumulated at least 75% of the required credit volume for the study place. (4) Matriculation or reinstatement to a vacant student place is granted to a student by a directive of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs, based on the ranking list. (5) After deletion from the matriculation register, a student has the right to apply for a vacant student place, providing at least one semester has elapsed from the date of deletion from the matriculation register. A student who has been deleted from the matriculation register for inappropriate behaviour is not allowed to apply for a vacant student place before at least two semesters have elapsed from the date of deletion from the matriculation register.

(6) The University reserves the right to leave a student place unfilled for a valid reason. § 9. Nominal period of study (1) The nominal period of study is the time given in study years for completing a programme with 60 ECTS credits per study year, 30 ECTS credits per semester. (2) The nominal period may be prolonged by: (i) The amount of time spent on academic leave; (ii) By each semester that a student has studied abroad, provided that: (a) the student studies for at least one semester of three months duration at a foreign educational institution and, (b) the study results achieved at the foreign institution, taken into account at the University, amount to a minimum of 15 ECTS credits for the programme completed in each semester; (iii) For a period of up to one (1) study year in the case of in-depth studies of the state language. The Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs establishes the volume, conditions and procedure for the in-depth state language study based on a proposal from the Institute of the Estonian Language and Culture. § 10. Study load (1) University study takes place in the form of both full-time and part-time study. Upon matriculation, the student determines his/her study load in the first study year. (2) In full-time study, a student shall complete curricular subjects and accumulate a minimum of 22.5 ECTS credits per semester in each study year since the last matriculation or reinstatement. (3) In part-time study, a student shall complete curricular subjects and accumulate a minimum of 15-22 ECTS credits per semester in each study year since the last matriculation or reinstatement. (4) At the end of each study year, the University shall determine the study load of the student for the following study year, based on the results of the previous study period. The recognition of prior learning and work experience is not taken into account when calculating the study load. (5) The study load of a doctoral student is determined at the end of each study year based on the evaluation results. § 11. Reimbursement of study costs (1) The reimbursement of study costs is not demanded from a student who: (i) Studies in a programme in which the language of instruction is Estonian; is within the nominal period of study; is a full-time student; has cumulatively completed the study volume of the study programme in previous semesters (30 ECTS credits per semester) with a shortfall of no more than 6 ECTS credits.

(ii) Studies in a programme in which the University and the Ministry of Education and Research have concluded a performance agreement that has different requirements from those established in Clause (i) of the present Section; (iii) Studies in a doctoral study programme; (iv) Does not fulfil the requirements established for the study load in Clause (i) of the present Section, but continues studying in the same study programme and: (a) has a moderate, severe or profound disability; (b) is a parent or legal guardian of a child under 7 years of age or of a disabled child; (v) Does not correspond to the requirements set for load and volume of study programme completion established in Clause (i) of the present Section, because he/she has studied for at least three months at a foreign educational institution and the University takes into account those studies completed there which accumulate a minimum of 15 ECTS credits as part of completing the programme. Reimbursement of study costs is not demanded for the semester spent in a foreign university, or for the semester following it; (vi) Does not meet the requirements set out in Clause (i) of the present Section for the completion of the study programme because he/she has been elected to the executive board of the Student Union´s Council or to the Student Council during that period. (2) Reimbursement of study costs is demanded from a student who: (i) Studies in a programme in which the language of instruction is Estonian; is within the nominal period of study; is a full-time student; and by the starting semester, has more than 6 ECTS credits uncompleted from the accumulated study volume of the previous semesters’ programme. Reimbursement is demanded in accordance with the uncompleted credit points, calculated at a rate established by the Senate for partial reimbursement of study costs; (ii) Studies in a programme in which the language of instruction is Estonian; is without the nominal period of study; is a full-time student; and by the starting semester, has not cumulatively completed the required volume of study from previous semesters. Reimbursement is demanded in accordance with the uncompleted credit points, calculated at a rate established by the Senate for partial reimbursement of study costs; (iii) Is a part-time student; reimbursement is demanded on the volume of subjects registered for the semester in a programme and based on the credit point price established by the Senate; (iv) Studies in a programme which a foreign language as language of instruction. Reimbursement is demanded based on the semester fee established by the Senate; (v) Has previously studied at the same study level for at least half of the nominal study period without reimbursement of study costs and has re-commenced studies before

three times the nominal study period has elapsed or two times the nominal study period in the case of integrated bachelor´s and master´s curricula. Reimbursement is demanded based on the volume of subjects registered for the semester in programme and based on the credit point price established by the Senate; (vi) Within two years, has been deleted from the matriculation register and re-matriculated to the same study programme. Reimbursement is demanded based on the volume of courses registered for the semester in the programme and based on the credit point price established by the Senate. (3) Reimbursement of study costs given in Clause (i) of Section 2 of the given paragraph is demanded for every semester starting from the end of the second semester. (4) Upon deletion from the matriculation register at the student´s request, the study costs referred to in Section 2 of the given paragraph: (i) In Clauses (i) and (ii) are to be reimbursed in full, if the application for deletion from the matriculation register is submitted after the commencement of the examination session; (ii) In Clauses (iii), (iv), (v) and (vi) are to be reimbursed in proportion to the period of study. (5) A student shall be refunded the reimbursed study costs if he/she has partly reimbursed the study costs established in Clause (i) of Section 2 of the given paragraph and completed the study programme in full during the nominal period of study. (6) External students reimburse the study costs based on the credit point price listed in the study plan of a semester. Full payment for the final thesis gives the right to graduate from the University during two semesters. After the defence deadline, an external student has the right to defend a thesis on the same topic during one study year by paying the price of the final thesis. If a student selects a new topic, the reimbursement of study costs is based on the credit point price. (7) The University Senate establishes the rates for reimbursement of study costs. The reimbursement rates for matriculated students may be increased by a maximum of 10 % in comparison to the previous study year.

Chapter 4 Study organization § 12. Academic calendar The significant dates in the cycle of the study year are fixed in the academic calendar. The Senate approves the calendar for the next academic year during the month of April each year. § 13. Forms of study and forms of conducting study (1) Daytime study is a form of study targeted at students for whom studying is the main activity and where study is conducted regularly every week.

(2) Cyclical study (including distance study) is a form of study where studies take place in study sessions in accordance with the specificity of the study programme and target group, and where more emphasis is placed on independent work in comparison to daytime students, in the achievement of learning outcomes. (3) Daytime study and cyclical study take place in the form of contact study, professional placement and independent work. (4) Contact study may be in the form of lecture, seminar, e-course or practical course, where both the students and teacher participate simultaneously. As a rule, a lecture is aimed at obtaining theoretical knowledge, a seminar and practical course at applying in practice the theoretical knowledge obtained in a lecture and/or developing practical skills. (5) Professional placement is applied work that takes place in a working environment under the guidance of a supervisor. The aim of professional placement is to put into practice the acquired knowledge and skills. Academic units establish the content and organization of professional placement in special guides. (6) Independent work of a student outside of contact study includes independent acquisition and application of knowledge, problem solving, preparation of presentations, specialized reading, compiling written work (paper, essay, research work, etc.) and other similar activities. The requirements for the content and format of independent work are established in the course programme. § 14. Study planning (1) An academic unit organizes study in such a way that every student is able to complete his/her university study during the nominal period of study stipulated in the programme. Studies are planned in such a way that the workload during the period of study is distributed evenly and students are able to take all compulsory courses during the official length of study period in the form of contact study.

(2) A timetable is the basic document in regard to the organization of studies. The Head of the Study programme is responsible for compiling the timetable. The principles of compiling a timetable shall be approved by the Academic Affairs Committee of the Senate and endorsed by a directive of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs. A timetable shall be compiled in the timetable programme ASIO and made public no later than two weeks before the beginning of a semester. § 15. Courses (1) A course is a set of knowledge and skills (competences) treating the issues of a specific discipline or study field or providing a broader overview of these, the acquisition of which is marked by performance. (2) Curricular subjects are divided into:

(i) Compulsory courses; (ii) Elective courses that can be selected from the list of courses provided in the programme; (iii) Open elective courses that can be freely selected from the list of courses/supporting courses of the same level of curricula for different universities. Supportive courses are subjects that support university study, including for example foreign languages, computer studies and the competence of Estonian, the requirements for completion of which are determined by the study programme. The Academic Affairs Committee of the Senate approves the list of supporting courses. (3) Extracurricular courses are subjects that exceed the volume of the study programme and its modules. (4) A course description provides a brief introduction to the course in Estonian and English on the University homepage in the public view of the Study Information System. The purpose of the course description is to inform the learners of the objective, learning outcomes, forms of assessment of learning outcomes of the subject and other data. (5) Realization of a subject based on a target group is called a course. A course programme is a document that defines the content and achievement requirements of a subject, where in addition to the information given in the course description, the responsible teacher also establishes the requirements for participation, independent work, sitting and passing examination/assessment, principles and criteria of assessment; outlines the times, topics and participation requirements for seminar work; lists compulsory and replacement literature; describes the content of the course and presents other information necessary for the participation in and completion of the subject. The course programmes are made public in the Study Information System no later than during the week before the semester begins. § 16. Compiling a study plan (1) A study plan is a list of courses chosen by a student for the next semester in which he/she has registered to undertake study. (2) A student shall compile a study plan for every semester in which he/she participates in study. The study coordinator of an institute has the right to submit study plans that have not been presented by the student by the deadline indicated in the academic calendar. (3) In a study plan, a student shall adhere to and follow the programme, timetable, his/her options and the requirements for development. (4) During the first semester of participation in study, a student is allowed to register an unlimited number of courses in the study plan, providing he/she meets the minimum requirement of 23 ECTS credits in full-time study and 15 ECTS credits in part-time study. (5) From the second semester, the University shall limit the registration of subjects in cases where more than one subject has not been completed during all the previous registrations of the student.

According to the limit, a student is allowed to register subjects to the study plan in an amount that does not exceed 38 ECTS credits. (6) In selecting open electives, the student shall consider his/her development needs and whether his/her foreign and Estonian language proficiency and computer skills correspond to the University requirements. The students, whose proficiency of a foreign language and/or Estonian and/ or computer skills are not in compliance with the study programme requirements, must pass the proficiency exam of a foreign language and/or Estonian and/or computer skills during their studies. (7) A student shall register in courses through the Study Information System (ÖIS). Electronic registration in courses and cancellation of a registration is possible during the preliminary week of a semester and during the first eight calendar days of contact study. (8) A student can register in courses that do not require prerequisite subjects or in courses where the student has passed the prerequisite subjects. (9) The University has the right to not approve the study plan of a student if he/she has unpaid study costs. (10) If the number of participants registered in an elective course is below the minimum level established by the academic unit, the academic unit is not obliged to teach the course in contact study form. (11) A student can register for retaking the course for free after the second negative result of an examination/assessment in the same subject or if he/she has not received a positive result by the end of the intermediate week of the semester following the teaching of the subject. A course may be retaken once. § 17. Studying as a visiting student in another Estonian university (1) A student who wishes to study as a visiting student in another university shall coordinate the selected subjects with the Head of Study Programme and register a transfer paper in the TU Academic Affairs Office. (2) A student shall register in studies pursuant to the regulations of the host university. (3) After completing a subject, a student shall receive a certificate from the host university confirming a pass/fail result in an examination or a pass/fail result in an assessment. The student shall present the certificate issued from the host university to the academic unit of his/her home university. § 18. Studying as an international student in a foreign country (1) A student has the following options for studying abroad: (i) To study under a scholarship from various international organisations, programmes, governments, foundations and universities; (ii) To study under a student exchange programme based on agreements between universities and countries;

(iii) To study on a personal initiative and find his/her own financing if necessary. (2) Studies abroad (including professional placement) shall be formalized on the directive of the Director of the Academic Unit. A student has an obligation to pass exams and assessments valued at a minimum of 7 ECTS credits per semester, in accordance with the period spent at a foreign university. § 19. Studying as a visiting student in Tallinn University (1) A student can study as a visiting student at the University: (i) Under a mutual agreement between Estonian public universities; (ii) As a beneficiary of a scholarship from various international organizations, programmes, governments, foundations and universities; (iii) Through a student exchange programme based on agreements between universities and countries; (iv) On an individual initiative and providing his/her own financing, if necessary. (2) A visiting student must submit the transfer document issued by the student’s home university to the Academic Affairs Office where the agreement of the university and the approval of the student´s home university shall be verified, and the visiting student´s data shall be entered into the Study Information System. Also, students from other universities whose study is aimed at completing the programme are registered as visiting students. (3) A visiting student registers in courses, pursuant to the regulations of Tallinn University. (4) The Academic Affairs Office shall issue a transcript of records for the completed exams/assessments to the visiting student.

Chapter 5 Assessment of learning outcomes § 20. Assessment of learning outcomes (1) The aim of an assessment of learning outcomes is to support studies and give reliable information on the merit of the completed studies. (2) In assessing the achievement of learning outcomes, the level of knowledge and skills acquired by a student during a course is evaluated based on specific assessment criteria and in accordance with the learning outcomes described in the course programme. (3) Assessment can be differentiated (examination) or non-differentiated (pass/fail assessment). (4) In the case of differentiated assessment, the following scale is used to differentiate between the levels of acquisition of learning outcomes:

(i) A (excellent) – an outstanding and excellent level of achievement of learning outcomes characterized by free and creative use of knowledge and skills beyond a very good level; (ii) B (very good) – a very good level of achievement of learning outcomes characterized by purposeful and creative use of knowledge and skills. Might make mistakes, which are not substantive and conceptual, with regard to specific and more detailed knowledge and skills; (iii) C (good) – a good level of achievement of learning outcomes characterized by purposeful use of knowledge and skills. Uncertainty and inaccuracies may occur in regard to more specific and detailed knowledge; (iv) D (satisfactory) – a sufficient level of achievement of learning outcomes by the use of knowledge and skills in typical situations. Deficiencies and uncertainties occur in nonstandard situations; (v) E (poor) – a minimally acceptable level of achievement of learning outcomes characterized by limited use of knowledge and skills in typical situations. Noticeable deficiencies and uncertainties occur in non-standard situations; (vi) F (fail) – a student has acquired knowledge and skills at a level below the required minimum. (5) In case of non-differentiated assessment, the acquisition of learning outcomes is compared to an established level and if the level of learning outcomes of the student is equal or higher, then the result is assessed as sufficient with the word “PASS” and if the level of learning outcomes of a student is lower than the level established, then the result is assessed as insufficient with the word “FAIL” (6) After a positive result of an examination or assessment, the student is considered to have mastered the course. § 21. Examinations and pass/fail assessments (1) All courses of a theoretical nature end with an examination. Exams are taken during the examination session following the study of a particular subject or on the examination day stipulated by the academic unit. There shall be two dates given for the main examination and one additional examination time. (2) Assessment is based on the work done during the semester. An assessment takes place, or is formalised, in the last contact study lesson. There shall be one date given for the main assessment and one additional assessment date. (3) Exams and pass/fail assessments in cyclical study take place during study sessions or at a time agreed with the teacher. (4) A member of the teaching staff who is teaching the course has the right to establish the requirements and preconditions in the course programme for being admitted to an examination or pass/fail assessment at the end of the course.

(5) Participation in lectures may not be a precondition for allowing a student to take an examination or to pass an assessment, or the basis for forming a grade. The obligation to participate in seminars/practical courses is indicated in the course programme by the member of the teaching staff. (6) A student has the right to take an examination and receive a pass/fail evaluation until the end of the intermediate week of the following semester, unless the student has been deleted from the matriculation register. (7) A student who has been absent for the whole examination session period for health reasons shall submit a relevant medical certificate to the study coordinator and he/she shall be given an additional opportunity and time to take an examination. A student who has been absent from the assessment due to illness shall submit a relevant medical certificate to the study coordinator and he/she shall be given an additional opportunity and time for taking the assessment. (8) A student who has received a negative result in the main examination/assessment or has been absent from the main examination/assessment is allowed to retake the examination/assessment once, at a time determined by the member of teaching staff. It is recommended that the member of teaching staff set the date for an additional examination/assessment during the intermediate week of the forthcoming semester or during the examination days determined by the academic unit. Improving a positive result is possible in agreement with the member of teaching staff during the time of the additional examination; the grade of the latest assessment will be considered final. (9) If the student achieves a second negative result for an examination/assessment, or if a student has been absent from an examination/assessment or if the period for taking an examination has expired, then the student shall register for retaking the course. After retaking the course and receiving a negative result at the main examination, the student has a right to apply for the formation of a committee in order to take an examination/assessment. (10) A student shall provide his/her personal identification document when sitting for an examination or taking a pass/fail assessment. (11 The member of the teaching staff responsible for a subject has the right to remove a student from an examination/assessment if he/she accepts help from another person/s or uses information aids that are prohibited, during the examination/assessment. A student who has been removed from an examination/assessment will be considered to have not passed the examination/assessment and the result “F” or “NP” shall be recorded on the evaluation form. (12) The responsible member of teaching staff has 10 working days to enter the results of exams/assessments onto the Study Information System. A student has a right to see his/her examination/assessment paper within 10 working days from the publication of the examination or assessment results.

Chapter 6 Recognition of prior and experiential learning § 22. Principles of Recognition of Prior Learning (hereinafter “RPL”)

(1) The University recognises knowledge acquired during previous degree studies, additional training, work and experience in completing a programme and fulfilling the admission requirements for master´s and doctoral study. (2) RPL is based on the compatibility of the previously acquired knowledge, skills, experience in the objectives and learning outcomes of a specific subject, module of subjects and the study programme. (3) The University provides access to necessary information, counselling and the supervision of services to RPL applicants; it also ensures the uniformity of the RPL procedure and the competence of personnel conducting the assessment and their impartiality towards the results. The RPL applicant is responsible for the authenticity of the submitted documents and other materials. (4) The University Senate may establish an administrative fee for RPL and a procedure for payment. § 23. RPL when entering master´s and doctoral study (1) A person, whose previous education does not correspond to a specialized qualification determined by the preconditions when applying for a master´s or doctoral study programme, shall submit documents that provide proof of previous work experience and education. (2) RPL is individually assessed upon entering the University. In accrediting previous study and work experience, the work of the applicant on the respective specialization, his/her engagement in research or creative work, additional specialization studies, etc. are taken into consideration. (3) The applicant shall submit the written decision of the Head of Study Programme regarding the accreditation of previous studies and/or work experience together with other necessary admission documents to the admission committee. § 24. RPL when completing a study programme (1) Courses, study programme modules and specialized work experience that are suitable in content and in compliance with learning outcomes can be taken into account when completing a programme. RPL may not be used in completing a programme if the specificity of the subject means that the RPL results have expired. (2) RPL is individually assessed based on the documents submitted by the applicant. If necessary, assessors can give practical tasks to assess the prior learning outcomes or specialized work experience or conclude a conversation or assess the knowledge of the applicant in other ways. (3) As a rule, the studies at a previous study level and additional training as well as earlier work experience shall not be accredited for either electives or open electives.

Chapter 7 Defence of final thesis and sitting for a final examination § 25. Requirements for allowing progression to the defence of a final thesis/sitting a final examination

A student is allowed to proceed to the defence of the thesis/sitting a final examination by the order of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs. The admission to the defence of a final thesis or sitting for a final examination is granted if a student has completed the entire study programme and the weighted average grade for the studies is at least 2.00. Also the student must not have any unpaid study costs. § 26. Writing and defence of final thesis (1) Final theses of professional higher education, bachelor´s studies, master´s studies, integrated bachelor´s and master´s study and doctoral theses must be defended. (2) The requirements for a final thesis, (i.e. for volume, format and review), are established by the decision-making body of an academic unit according to international standards. (3) The Head of Study Programme shall coordinate the topic of the final thesis (except for doctoral theses) and the Director of the Academic Unit shall approve this no later than during the penultimate semester of the nominal period of study for the student; for part-time students during the semester preceding the planned semester of graduation. (4) A supervisor/reviewer of a bachelor´s thesis shall have at least a master´s degree or equivalent qualification in the subject field of the thesis or be a recognized expert practitioner in the field. (5) A supervisor/reviewer of a master´s thesis shall have at least one of the following: (i) A doctoral degree or equivalent qualification; (ii) A master´s degree or equivalent qualification and at least five years of research and development experience in the subject field of the master´s thesis; (iii) A master´s degree or equivalent qualification and is a recognized specialist in his/her field of specialization; (iv) A master´s degree or equivalent qualification in the field of arts and have at least five years of experience of creative activity in the subject field of the master´s thesis. (6) The Director of the Academic Unit forms the defence committees of the final theses (except for doctoral theses) for one study year. The committee includes at least three members, including the chairman of the committee who holds a doctoral degree or equivalent qualification. The defence committee of a bachelor´s thesis shall be made up of 50% of lecturers who hold a doctoral degree or equivalent qualification and the defence committee of a master´s thesis shall be made up of at least 75% of lecturers who hold a doctoral degree or equivalent qualification. (7) The decision-making body of an academic unit has the right to determine the date for submitting the final thesis, which can be up to one month before, but not later than two weeks before, the date of defence. (8) A student shall submit a final thesis, signed by the supervisor, to the academic unit and register for the defence in the Study Information System. The supervisor´s signature on the title page is proof that the thesis has been admitted to defence. (9) A written review is needed for the defence, which includes an assessment (not a grade, except in cases where the defence of a thesis does not take place) on the compliance with the requirements

set for the thesis in the academic unit. The written review must be submitted to the academic unit no later than three days before the defence. The student has the right to see the review of his/her final thesis not later than one day before the defence. (10) The Head of Study Programme or the Director of the Academic Unit shall appoint the reviewer. Any conflict of interest shall be avoided. (11) The defence of final theses shall take place in public before a defence committee at the time given in the academic calendar (except doctoral theses). If a thesis contains confidential information, such as information intended for internal use under the Estonian Public Information Act, the defence of the final thesis may be closed. The Director of the Academic Unit shall declare the defence closed and restrict access to the thesis. (12) At least 2/3 of the members of the defence committee shall participate in the defence. The defence committee will determine the final grade, based on the written final paper and the academic discussion that took place at the defence. (13) The decision-making body of the academic unit may decide that at the bachelor’s level, the defence shall not take place. In this case the supervisor and reviewer shall write an assessment and give a recommendation for a grade. The defence committee shall decide the final grade based on the assessments of the supervisor and the reviewer and also on the student´s response. (14) Students shall be informed of the results of the defence of a thesis on the day of defence immediately after preparation of protocols. (15) The grade of the final thesis cannot be improved by retaking. Absence from the defence of a final thesis/sitting for a final examination without a valid reason shall be equal to fail (F). A student who was absent with a valid reason shall have the right to defend his/her final thesis during the examination session on a date given by the Chairman of the Committee. (16) In order to defend the thesis again as an external student, the committee shall demand improvement of the existing thesis or the choice of a new topic and/or supervisor. (17) If any discreditable evidence appears (plagiarism, presentation of falsified data, etc.) before the defence, the defence committee may decide not to allow the student to proceed to the defence. This decision shall be based on written evidence. § 27. Taking a final examination (1) The final examination shall be taken at the time given in the academic calendar. (2) The academic unit shall give the requirements and topics of final exams and the Director of the unit shall approve these. Students shall be informed of the requirements of the final examination during the first month of the last semester. (3) A student shall register in the academic unit for taking the final examination no later than two weeks before the date of the final examination.

(4) The results of a written final examination shall be announced to students within three working days from the examination date. Students shall be informed of the results of an oral final examination on the day of the examination immediately after preparation of protocols. (5) A positive grade of a final examination cannot be improved by retaking the examination. Nonattendance at the final examination without a valid reason will result in a grade of “Fail” (F). (6) A final examination can be retaken no more than twice. If a student fails to pass a final examination on the second attempt, then before a third attempt he/she shall repeat the studies of his/her major or area of specialization in the amount prescribed by the respective academic unit.

Chapter 7 Pausing and terminating study § 28. Academic leave (1) Academic leave means that a student is released from the obligation to undertake study and research work for one or more full semesters based on his/her application. The minimal period for academic leave is one semester. The academic leave ends at the final date of the semester. (2) A student has the right to fulfil a study programme during academic leave if he/she: (i) Has a moderate, severe or profound disability; (ii) Is a parent or legal guardian of a child under 3 years of age or has a disabled child; (iii) Is on academic leave for service in the Estonian Defence Forces. (3) A student’s status is not changed during academic leave. If a student applies for academic leave at the beginning of the autumn semester before the deadline for academic movement indicated in the academic calendar, his/her status shall be determined before the granting of academic leave. (4) A first-year student applying for academic leave at the beginning of the spring semester must have completed curricular subjects worth at least 15 ECTS credits during the autumn semester. (5) A student has the right to apply for academic leave for health reasons, service in the Estonian Defence Forces, parental leave and certain other reasons. (6) Academic leave for health reasons is granted for a maximum period of four semesters.Parents taking parental leave can apply for academic leave until the child reaches three years of age. For the above reasons, the academic leave may be taken in several separate parts. (7) Students applying for academic leave for service in the Estonian Defence Forces are allowed to take academic leave for a maximum period of two semesters. (8) In addition to the reasons indicated above, a student has the right to apply for academic leave during the nominal study period once at every level of study, for a maximum period of two semesters as well as for certain other reasons (difficult financial situation, family problems, working abroad,

etc.). A student can apply for academic leave for certain other reasons starting from the second semester. (9) In cases where the student who is going on academic leave is registered in courses that have not ended with a positive or negative result, these registrations shall be cancelled subsequent to the granting of academic leave. As an exception, a student has a right to continue studies if he/she: (i) Has a moderate, severe or profound disability; (ii) Is a parent or legal guardian of a child under 3 years of age or has a disabled child; (iii) Is on academic leave for service in the Estonian Defence Forces. (10) Academic leave shall not be granted before a student has paid all outstanding study costs. § 29. Deletion from the matriculation register (1) Deletion from the matriculation register means the removal of a student from the list of students. (2) A student shall be deleted from the matriculation register on the order of the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs for the following reasons: (i) At the student´s own request; (ii) At the instigation of the University; (iii) Upon graduation, after completion of the study programme in full. (3) A student may submit an application in the Study Information System, for deletion from the matriculation register at his/her own request. (4) At the instigation of the University and on the basis of a proposal made by the Head of Studies, a student shall be deleted from the matriculation register for the following reasons: (i) Failure to commence studies - if a first year student fails to register for studies worth at least 23 ECTS credit points in the first semester by the deadline set in the academic calendar for electronic registering of courses in full-time study and at least 15 ECTS credit points in part-time study; (ii) Absence from studies (except if a student is on academic leave or studying abroad) when he/she has not compiled a study plan (except doctoral students) by the deadline given in the academic calendar; (iii) Failure to advance in subjects; (iv) Failure to conclude a study agreement or its annex by the deadline; (v) Failure to pay tuition fees by the due date; (vi) Closure of a study programme and the student has not submitted an application to be transferred into another study programme;

(vii) Inappropriate behaviour of the student; (viii) The student has lost their legal capacity; (ix) The death of the student. (5) A student shall be deleted from the matriculation register due to failure to complete courses if he/she: (i) Has not accumulated at least 15 ECTS credits during the first semester; (ii) Has failed to meet the full-time study requirements where the amount of studies per semester is less than 22.5 ECTS credits and has not concluded an appendix of study agreement for continuing as a part-time student; (iii) Has failed to meet the requirements of part-time study where the amount of studies per semester is less than 15 ECTS credits; (iv) Has not obtained a positive result after taking a course for the second time; (v) Has failed to defend his/her final thesis or receive a positive result for a final examination; (vi) Has failed to receive a positive result during evaluation in doctoral studies. (6) The following is considered to be inappropriate behaviour: (i) A student, by reason of a court decision, is found guilty of intentionally committing a crime; (ii) Forgery of documents; (iii) Extreme violation of generally accepted behavioural norms; (iv) Disregard for academic practice. (7) In a case of disregard for academic practice, depending on the seriousness of the violation, the Director of Academic Unit has the right to issue a letter of reprimand to the student or make a proposal to the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs to delete the student from the matriculation register. The following is considered a violation of academic practice: (i) Using additional materials in an assessment/examination not explicitly allowed by the teacher; (ii) Unauthorized exchange of knowledge during an examination/assessment (sharing information with other students or copying answers from others, etc.); (iii) Participating in an examination/assessment on behalf of another student or enabling another person to participate in assessment on his/her behalf; (iv) Submission of someone else´s written work under one´s own name or submitting his/her own previously submitted work repeatedly for evaluation of different learning outcomes;

(v) Plagiarism, i.e. using somebody else´s written work without providing proper academic reference; (vi) Knowingly giving untrue data in papers and applications. (8) The student shall be informed in writing of their deletion from the matriculation register. § 30. Issuing of graduation documents (1) A student who is deleted from the matriculation register after completing a study programme in full shall be issued graduation documents. (2) A diploma and diploma supplement shall be issued as established by the Government of Estonia´s Regulation. (3) The academic unit shall issue graduation documents one month after the date of defence of the final thesis or the date of the final examination. Graduation documents are also awarded to students during a graduation ceremony held annually on a date indicated in the academic calendar. (4) A diploma with distinction (cum laude) shall be issued to a student who has completed a study programme in full (except doctoral studies) and has: (i) Received an A grade in the defence of their final thesis or the final examination; (ii) A weighted average grade of 4.60, inclusive of all the grades entered into their academic record.

Chapter 8 Monitoring progress and counselling § 31. Monitoring a student´s progress (1) The study coordinator of the academic unit shall monitor the following aspects in a student´s progress: (i) Registration in courses and submission of a study plan; (ii) Completion of the requirements of both full-time and part-time study; (iii) The weighted average grade. § 32. Counselling on study organization and informing (1) A student has the right to contact the study coordinator of the academic unit, Head of Study, Head of Study Programme, employees of the Academic Affairs Office, academic counsellor, career counsellor, psychologist, Student Council Office or tutor for information on counselling or problem resolution.

(2) The University employees have the right to contact the Head of Study of the academic unit, Head of Study Programme, employees of the Academic Affairs Office and academic counsellor for information on study organisation, counselling and problem resolution. (3) The procedure for counselling members of the University is established in the implementation regulations of the Study Regulations.

Chapter 10 Challenging decisions § 33. Challenging decisions (1) In order to challenge decisions related to study (with the exception of challenging the result of an assessment of learning outcomes received at the defence of thesis or at a final examination) a student shall contact the person who made the decision and challenge the decision within 10 days from the date on which the decision was announced. (2) If the person who has made the decision decides not to satisfy the application, the student may submit a written appeal to the next decision-making level within 10 days from receiving the decision. If a decision made by the Director of an academic unit is challenged, an appeal shall be submitted to the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs. If a decision made by the Vice- Rector for Academic Affairs is challenged, an appeal shall be submitted to the Rector. (3) The procedural deadline can be extended up to 30 days by requesting this extension in writing. (4) The decision shall be formalised in writing and forwarded to the presenter. (5) Grades of final theses and final examinations and issues related to the defence procedure may be challenged within five working days from the announcement of the results by submitting a respective written challenge to the head of the academic unit. The Director of the Academic Unit shall summon a committee who shall give an assessment of the challenge within 12 days from the submission of the challenge. The Director of the Academic Unit shall make a decision that shall be forwarded in writing to the person who has submitted the challenge.

Chapter 11 Implementing provisions § 34. Transition (1) Full-time and part-time study status shall apply to students admitted to the University since the academic year 2003/2004. (2) Prior to 31 August 2009, study programme completion was calculated in credit points, with 1 credit point corresponding to 40 hours of work or one week of study by a student, including a maximum 20 hours of contact study. (3) Starting with the academic year 2009/2010, a common European credit point system has been used in Estonia; to calculate the volume of studies completed before 2009/2010, the credit points in

the Study Information System are converted into European credit points by automatically multiplying the figure by 1.5. (4) The formation of student places and the total number given in Section 1 of § 8 of the present Regulation is not applicable to students who matriculated prior to the study year of 2013/2014. The student places are divided according to the source of funding for providing educational services as follows: (i) State-funded or free (SF) student places created based on the state educational order; (ii) Non-state funded or paid (NSF) student places or student places created on the basis of an order by a natural and/or legal person, and where the relationship between the University and the customer is determined by a contract. A student studying in an NSF student place in full-time or part-time study shall remunerate the study fee during the nominal period of study. The fee shall be calculated, based on the semester fees approved by the University Senate. (5) Section 3 of § 8 of the present Regulation regarding vacant student places and fulfilment of them, is not applicable to students who have matriculated before the 2013/2014 study year. A vacant statefunded student place occurs when a student is deleted from the matriculation register or a student fails to complete the requirements for full-time study and is transferred to a non-state funded student place with a part-time study load. A non-state funded student place shall become vacant when a student is deleted from the matriculation register. The following students can apply for a vacant student place within the nominal period of study established by the study programme: (i) A full-time NSF student who is applying for a SF student place and has not exceeded the nominal period of study in the same study field and whose estimated year of graduation coincides with the final year of the vacant place; (ii) A student applying for a change of study programme during the first study year, provided that he/she has completed at least the part-time study requirements; (iii) A student applying for re-matriculation. A student cannot apply for re-matriculation before at least one semester has passed from the date of his/her deletion from the matriculation register; a former student deleted from the matriculation register for inappropriate behaviour cannot apply for re-matriculation before at least one year has passed from the date of his/her deletion from the matriculation register; (iv) Persons studying at the Open University who meet the enrolment requirements established in the study programme and have completed curricular subjects at least in the volume of part-time study; (v) Full-time students transferring from other universities, provided that in completing a study programme, the previous study volume completed by him/her can be calculated in ECTS credits, amounting to at least the volume of part-time study.

The application for deletion from matriculation register and re-matriculation shall not be granted if a student has unpaid invoices of tuition fees and also in cases where the University has assigned the claim to a third party. (6) For students who matriculated prior to the study year 2013/2014, the nominal period of study shall not be extended in the event of studying abroad as mentioned in Section 2 of § 9. (7) For students who matriculated prior to the study year 2013/2014, the requirements for the volume of completing a study programme set out in § 10 of the present Regulations are applicable, starting with the study results of the 2013/2014 study-year. The requirements valid until the study year 2013/2014 state that a student shall cumulatively collect curricular courses per each semester of participation in study as follows: (i) 22.5 ECTS credits in full-time study; (ii) 7.5 ECTS credits in part-time study. (8) For students who matriculated prior to the 2013/2014 study-year, the principles of remuneration of study costs established in Sections 1,2,3,4,5, of § 11 shall not be applicable until the end of the study year 2016/2017. Until the end of study year 2015/2016 the following provisions will apply: (i) During the nominal period of study, studying on a SF student place is free of charge if the student complies with the full-time study requirements or is studying under a study programme where the state commission has prescribed part-time studies; (ii) A student studying on a NSF student place shall cover study expenses during the nominal programme period based on the semester fee established by the University Senate; (iii) A student is not required to pay a tuition fee for a period of two semesters after the end of the nominal study programme period. This also applies for NSF students who have paid the tuition fee during the nominal study period as per agreement; (iv) An SF student is transferred to an NSF student place if he/she has exceeded the nominal study period of study programme by more than two semesters; (v) An SF student, who exceeded the nominal period of study by more than one year or who failed to fulfil the requirements of full-time study and has been transferred to part-time study, shall not be transferred to an NSF student place and shall be released from the reimbursement of study costs if the student continues studying under the same study programme and if he/she: has a moderate, severe or profound disability; is a parent or a legal guardian of a child under 7 years of age or a disabled child; is studying in a study field agreed upon in the contract for state-commissioned education or programme, based on which the University has created student places for part-time study; (vi) A student who has exceeded the standard period of study by more than two semesters shall pay a tuition fee for the subjects registered for the semester based on the credit point fee, and/or if the student does not register for subjects (also repeated subjects), he/she shall pay an administrative fee for the semester. The paid amount of the

administrative fee shall be deducted from the amount on the invoice that is issued to the student at the end of the same semester upon declaring the final thesis/final examination. (vii) Discounts amounting up to half of the tuition fee may be granted to students covering their tuition fee. A discount may be granted to a student with excellent academic achievement who: has a moderate, severe of profound disability; is a parent or a legal guardian of a child under 7 years of age or a disabled child; is an orphan; (viii) During the nominal period of study a student has the right to take extracurricular courses according to his/her interests without paying for these. Only the courses included in the programme are taken into consideration in establishing the full-time load and the minimal study load. (9) Chapter 16 of the present Regulations shall be applicable when registering in courses subsequent to the study year 2013/2014. The student has the right to take an examination/assessment in subjects that he/she registered in before the 2013/2014 study-year for a period of one year from the last day of the examination session following contact study of the subject, unless the student has been deleted from the matriculation register. (10) If a student matriculated before the study year 2013/2014, in addition to the provisions of academic leave noted in § 28, the following principle is also applicable: academic leave granted after the nominal period of study does not extend the two-semester period when the student is released from paying a tuition fee (except the period spent in the Estonian Defence Forces). If a student has been granted academic leave before the study year 2013/2014, the following principle, applicable until 2015/2016, allows the student to complete courses pursuant to an individual study plan in the maximum amount of 15 ECTS credits per each year of academic leave. During academic leave, a student shall pay an administrative fee that is based on the credit point price in accordance with the volume of credit points of the subjects registered in the study plan, if he/she does not register for taking subjects (except for students in Defence Forces.) (11) For students matriculated before the study year 2013/2014, instead of Clauses (a) and (b) of Section 5 of § 29, the following reasons for failure to progress shall be applicable until the study year 2015/2016: (i) A student in an SF student place has failed to fulfil the requirements of full-time study and has not concluded a study agreement for continuing on an NSF student place; (ii) A student in an SF student place in part-time study (a working teacher) has failed to fulfil the requirements of part-time study (15 ECTS credits per every semester) until the end of study year 2012/2013 and has not concluded a study agreement for continuing study in an NSF study place; (iii) A student has not fulfilled the requirements of part-time study (since the study year 2013/2014, 15 ECTS credits per semester; in previous study years 7.5 ECTS credits per semester.

§ 35. Repeal The TU Senate Regulation No. 18 of the Tallinn University Study Regulations dated 26 May 2008 shall be repealed when the present Regulations enter into force. § 36. Entry into force These Regulations shall enter into force 26 August 2013. /digitally signed/

/digitally signed/

Mihkel Kangur

Tiit Land

Chairman of the Senate

Rector

/digitally signed/

Hille Erik Secretary of the Senate