Study path exceptions

You can request an exception only for one of the reasons listed below. Select your reason in the left-hand menu for more details and instructions.

• Applying or enrolling in a programme after the deadline of September 23
  This option is only available to students who started a new bachelor's programme at the VUB this academic year and wish to switch to a different VUB programme. The final deadline for this is 1 December. Students transferring from another educational institution (where they started a new programme this academic year) who want to transfer to VUB, should first contact the study path counselor of the concerned programme.
   
• Registering or deregistering from courses after the deadline of October 8 (1st semester and year courses) or February 28 (2nd semester). The deadline for this application is 1 December for 1st semester courses and 15 March for 2nd semester and year courses. 
  (not applicable for 1st Bachelor year students)
   
• Exceeding the maximum amount of ECTS credits => You want to take more than 72 ECTS credits.
  Only applicable for student who can graduate in their master's programme. 
   
• Deviating from binding pre- and corequisites - deadline: October 8 or February 15 (for 2nd semester courses only) 
  (not applicable for advisory pre- and corequisites)
   
• Withdrawing from failed compulsory courses 
  You are automatically enrolled in mandatory courses you took last year but did not pass. If you are in exceptional circumstances and wish not to include these courses in your program this year, you can request an exception.
   
• Deviating from course load 1st Bachelor 
  Students enrolling for the first time in a new bachelor program are automatically registered for all courses in the model program (1st year). Deviations from this compulsory course load are only possible under specific conditions.

You can request an exception to apply and enrol for a programme after the deadline.

Check the application deadlines
If the deadline has not yet passed, there is no need to request an exception.

For whom?

This exception can only be requested by students who are enrolled for the first time in the current academic year in a specific bachelor's programme at the VUB and who wish to switch to a different programme. Students who are enrolled for the first time in a bachelor's programme at another educational institution and wish to transfer to the VUB must first contact the study path counselor for the VUB programme to determine whether a transfer is possible

Deadline

You must apply for the exception before 1 December. After this date, no exception is possible, even with the dean’s approval.

Attention

If approved, you will need to catch up on missed weeks. The later you start, the lower your chances of success. Consider alternatives such as starting in the second semester.

Requesting an exception

If you wish to deviate from the current VUB regulations, you must submit a motivated exception request. The dean of your faculty will review your request and decide whether or not to grant the deviation. Once a decision has been made, you will be informed by email.
Online application form

You can request an exception to register or deregister courses after the deadline.
 

Check the course registration deadline

If the deadline has not yet passed, you do not need to request an exception. You can manage your courses yourself (register or deregister) until the deadline.

Not applicable to 1st Bachelor

If you are starting a Bachelor’s programme, all first-year courses are registered for you automatically.

Something wrong with your automatic registration? 
Contact your faculty’s study path counsellor

Want to deviate from the compulsory first-year curriculum? 
More about deviating from the standard course load of the first bachelor year

Deadlines

You must apply for the exception before December 1 (first semester courses) or March 15 (second semester courses and year courses). After that, an exception is no longer possible according to the teaching and examination regulations, so there is no point in submitting an exception request.

Attention

If your request is approved, you may need to catch up on several weeks of missed work. The later you start, the lower your chances of success. Deregistering for courses may affect your scholarship. 

Requesting an exception

If you wish to deviate from the current VUB regulations, you must submit a motivated exception request. The dean of your faculty will review your request and decide whether or not to grant the deviation. Once a decision has been made, you will be informed by email. 
Online application form

You can request an exception to exceed the maximum amount of ECTS credits.

Do you want to register for more than 72 ECTS?

For whom?

This exception can only be requested by students who would thereby be able to graduate from their master's programme in the current academic year. Bachelor's students are not allowed to register for more than 72 ECTS-credits per academic year.

Attention

A study load of more than 72 ECTS is very demanding. There is also an increased risk of overlaps in class and exam schedules.

Requesting an exception

If you wish to deviate from the current VUB regulations, you must submit a motivated exception request. The dean of your faculty will review your request and decide whether or not to grant the deviation. Once a decision has been made, you will be informed by email. 
Online application form

You can request an exception to deviate from the binding pre- and corequisites.

Advisory or binding requirements?

No exception request is needed for advisory requirements. 

Master’s thesis as a capstone

You may also use this request to ask for an exception to take your master’s thesis without it being the final component of your programme.

Deadline

You must submit your request by the course registration deadline: 8 October or 15 February (for second-semester courses only)

Requesting an exception

If you wish to deviate from the current VUB regulations, you must submit a motivated exception request. The dean of your faculty will review your request and decide whether or not to grant the deviation. Once a decision has been made, you will be informed by email. 
Online application form

Requesting an exception to withdraw from failed compulsory courses

You are automatically enrolled in mandatory courses you took last year but did not pass. You cannot withdraw from these courses yourself.

Exceptional circumstances

Only if you are in exceptional circumstances that have affected (or are affecting) your study progress, can you request not to include these failed compulsory courses in your course load. Deregistering for courses may affect your scholarship. 

Deadline

You must submit the exception request before December 1st (1st semester courses), March 15 (2nd semester and year courses). After these dates, an exception is no longer possible, even with the dean’s approval.

Requesting an exception 

If you wish to deviate from the current VUB regulations, you must submit a motivated exception request. The dean of your faculty will review your request and decide whether or not to grant the deviation. Once a decision has been made, you will be informed by email. 
Online application form

You wish to deviate from the compulsory course load of the 1st year Bachelor’s program.

Students enrolling for the first time in a new bachelor’s programme are automatically registered for all courses in the standard 1st-year curriculum. Deviating from this compulsory course load is only possible under certain conditions. Select your reason in the left-hand menu to see more details:

• You are in a exceptional situation
• You have already obtained a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree
• You have a specific status

Our study path counselors have also prepared some alternative course distribution proposals for students granted an exception.

Threshold

Automatic registration for all first-year courses is part of the threshold system. Therefore, this exception is only available to students who fall under this threshold system. All information about the threshold system

Only for 1st Bachelor

If you are not starting a Bachelor’s program, you can determine your course load yourself, and the threshold does not apply to you.

Deviating from the compulsory course due to a special situation or exceptional circumstances?

By ‘exceptional circumstances’ we mean particular personal situations that affect your study progress.

Requesting an exception

If you wish to deviate from the current VUB regulations, you must submit a motivated exception request. The dean of your faculty will review your request and decide whether or not to grant the deviation. Once a decision has been made, you will be informed by email. 
Online application form

Deviating from the compulsory course load because you already hold a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree

If you have already obtained a BA or MA, you may request to deviate from the compulsory course load.

Before the course registration deadline

Until October 8, you can adjust your course load yourself in the Student SelfService (Cali):

• Go to Student SelfService and log in with your VUB account. Normally, you cannot register or drop courses via the "Manage Courses" tile. First, select the tile ‘Adjustment course load year 1’.
• IMPORTANT: Do not request an exception until your automatic course registration is completed. This happens within 72 hours after signing your study contract. Wait until the courses appear in SelfService before submitting your exception request.
• Select that you have already obtained a Bachelor’s/Master’s degree (you can select only one status) and confirm your selection via an honor statement. This request cannot be withdrawn later.
• Once confirmed, you will be able to register or deregister courses via the “Manage Courses” tile. Your declared status will be verified by our staff.

After the course registration deadline

After October 8, you can no longer manage your courses yourself. If you still wish to deviate from the applicable VUB rules, you must submit a motivated exception request. You must apply for the exception by 1 December (first-semester courses) or by 15 March (second-semester and full-year courses). The Dean of your faculty will evaluate your request and decide whether the deviation is granted. You will be informed of the decision by email.
Online application form

Deviating from the required course load due to a special status

Certain statuses qualify you to deviate from the required first-year courses:

• Students combining their studies with employment of at least 80h/month
• Reflex status: Students with a disability, a learning disorder and refugees
• Student athletes
• Student-entrepreneurs
• Scholarship beneficiaries combining studies with employment of at least 16h/week
• Reorientation: students changing study programs (within or outside VUB) during the same academic year

Before the course registration deadline

Until October 8, you can adjust your course load yourself in Student SelfService (Cali):

• Go to Student SelfService and log in with your VUB account. Normally, you cannot register or drop courses via the "Manage Courses" tile. First, select the tile ‘Adjustment course load year 1’.
• IMPORTANT: Do not request an exception until your automatic course registration is completed. This happens within 72 hours after signing your study contract. Wait until the courses appear in SelfService before submitting your exception request.
• Select your status (you can select only one status) and confirm your selection via an honor statement. This request cannot be withdrawn later.
• Once confirmed, you will be able to register or deregister courses via the “Manage Courses” tile. Your declared status will be verified by our staff.

After the course registration deadline

After October 8, you can no longer manage your courses yourself. If you still wish to deviate from the applicable VUB rules, you must submit a motivated exception request. You must apply for the exception by 1 December (first-semester courses) or by 15 March (second-semester and full-year courses). The Dean of your faculty will evaluate your request and decide whether the deviation is granted. You will be informed of the decision by email. 
Online application form

Spreading proposals from our study path counselors

New Bachelor students who wish to deviate form the compulsory course load can check out these spreading proposals for each faculty and programme. These are just proposals, and if you want to discuss a tailored trajectory you can contact you faculty's study path counselors.

Faculty of Social Sciences and Solvay Business School

Business Economics 
Social Sciences

Faculty of Languages and Humanities

Bachelor Linguistics and Literary Studies

Dutch programmes

Check the spreading proposals for Dutch programmes