Binding Study Advice (BSA)

• if you have obtained at least 45 EC at the end of the academic year 2024-2025. Credits associated with exemptions or courses from previous years do not count.
  or
• if you have completed the first-year programme of your study at the end of 2024-2025. Both previously obtained results and exemptions are taken into account. For more information about this option please contact your Study Advisor.

You will receive a negative binding study advice if you do not fulfil one of the above routes to a positive study advice. If you receive a negative BSA, you may no longer enrol in the degree programme for four years.

If you are unable to earn enough credits due to illness or circumstances beyond your control (see Special personal circumstances), you can ask the Board of Examiners to consider these circumstances in their decision on the BSA. In such situations, it is important to contact the Study Advisor as soon as possible, so that they are aware of the circumstances and can think along.

Special circumstances include:

• illness
• pregnancy
• functional disorder
• serious mental problems
• serious family circumstances
• top-level sport
• management activities (for student organisations with full legal capacity, or as part of the organisation or management of Utrecht University, the faculty or the degree programme)

Putting in a request to the Board of Examiners

You can submit a request to take special circumstances into consideration in Osiris Student. Requests can be submitted from May 1st up until June 9th 2025.

• In Osiris, click on the arrow next to Cases in the top right-hand corner. You will see the My cases window. Then click on the button Start new case. Choose the type Request Board of Examiners and start the case.
• Are you un-enrolled and do you not have access to Osiris? Then request a report form at BSA-verzoeken-GW@uu.nl.

Supporting documents

Regardless of whether you have previously submitted supporting documents to the study advisor, the Board of Examiners needs to see evidence of the circumstances upon which you are making this request. Documents that the Board of Examiners will accept include:

• a signed diagnosis/treatment plan from a doctor or licensed therapist clearly stating your details (name, date of birth)
• a printout of your medical records from your GP
• a copy of a bereavement card
• a police report

You may black out any irrelevant information in these supporting documents. You can discuss with the executive secretary of the Board of Examiners which supporting documents are relevant to your request through BSA-verzoeken-GW@uu.nl. The supporting documents are deleted from Osiris automatically after six months.

Interview with Board of Examiners late June/early July

Please note that the Board of Examiners may invite you for an interview to explain your request in more detail. They will do this if there are any questions about your request. The dates on which these interviews will take place can be found in the table below. You will receive an invitation for an interview no later than one week in advance.

More information

Read more about the binding study advice (BSA) and special circumstances in Article 7.4 of the Education and Examination Regulations Bachelor's programmes.