How do I compose my individual study path?
Inform yourself ahead of time:
- Read about the different factors influencing your study path on this webpage
- Check this online presentation on composing your individual study path
- Get started with this handy infographic
Did you go over all the details?
Compose your individual study path here
Need more information? Feel free to join on of the
info sessions organised by your faculty's study path counsellors
Factors that influence your study path
Study progress
You have to pass a certain percentage of the total number of credits you take. Attention, when you enroll for 2 programmes (ex. Bachelor's and Master's), the rules apply to each programme separately.
Before you get started on composing your individual study path, it is important to download your transcript of records with proclamation code in the Student Selfservice. After all, your proclamation code is a big indicator of how to continue your studies.
Amount of courses and credits per academic year
When you follow the standard study path, an academic year usually consists of 60 ECTS credits. When you follow an individual study path, you can partly determine the amount of credits you take in one academic year. However, you need to take the following into account:
- You need to be enrolled for a minimum of 27 credits per academic year to keep your child benefit and scholarships. More info and exceptions
Attention: If you have a student visa or VUB student room, you have to take minimum 54 ECTS credits!
- You can take up a maximum of 72 credits per academic year. Exceptions to this rule can be requested from the dean of your faculty. Read here how to request an exception.
Enrolment requirements
In order to be eligible to take a course, you usually have to meet certain enrolment requirements. These requirements can be advisory and/or binding pre- and corequisites.
- Binding prerequisite
Due to certain risks and safety issues, you can only enrol in course X if you have passed, been exempted from or deliberated for course Y. It is not possible to register for courses if you do not meet the binding prerequisite.
- Advisory prerequisite
The curriculum council strongly recommends that you only enrol in course X if you have taken course Y. Although this prerequisite is not binding and it is possible to register for course X without having taken course Y, it is your own responsibility not to follow the programme's advice. This means that you do not have the required competencies.
- Binding corequisite
You can only enrol in course X if you are also simultaneously registered for (or have already passed/been exempted from) course Y. In order to achieve the learning results of course X in a safe/good way, a registration for course Y is necessary. It is not possible to register for courses if you do not meet the binding corequisite.
- Advisory corequisite
The curriculum council strongly recommends that you only enrol in course X if you are simultaneously registered for (or have already passed/been exempted from) course Y. Although this corequisite is not binding and it is possible to register for course X without simultaneously taking course Y, it is your own responsibility not to follow the programme's advice. This means that you do not have the required competencies.
You can find the enrolment requirements for your programme, on the webpage of your study path counselor.
Even balance throughout your study path
It is important that you create a good balance between the first and second semesters. Put together your study path so that the two semesters are roughly proportionate.
Take into account the different types of courses as well. We recommend variation in terms of evaluation (e.g. paper vs. exam) and in theory vs. practice.
Partial grades
A partial grade is a result you obtain for a certain part of a course. Partial grades are not transferred to the 2nd session, nor to a following academic year, unless otherwise stipulated. If a partial grade can be transferred to a following academic year, it is a partial exemption. You can ask the professor whether your partial grade can be transferred to the next academic year. Please note that, the next academic year, you have to register for the entire course, not just one part/parts of it. The credits of the entire course will be taken into account when composing your individual study path for the next academic year.
Attention: not all faculties grant partial exemptions! Check this with the study path counsellor of your faculty!
Class schedule
It is important to check when the classes take place to see if they fit into your study path. If you combine courses from different years, make sure there is no overlap. VUB expects you to physically attend classes on campus. Why? Check it out here! Do your classes still overlap? Give priority to the course(s) from your lowest year.
Exemptions
Do you have an exemption for a course? This is also important for your individual study path.
Learning account
The learning account is a tool of the Flemish government to monitor your study progress and to encourage you to make a conscious choice of study.