Academic policies and procedures

Within all Master's programmes one or more research projects are mandatory. Please see ‘Study programme’ for general information on such projects in your curriculum. In many cases, a research project may be carried out outside of the university, in the form of an internship at a company or research institute. This can be in The Netherlands as well as abroad (see also: ‘study abroad’). You are required to fill out one or more forms in order to be able to either start or finish your internship. More information about the research project, internships and how to apply.

You are required to fill out the following forms in order to be able to either start or finish your research project or internship. This project or internship may take place at Utrecht University or at one of our partners (a different university, research institute, or business). 

Please fill out the forms digitally and use a print-out for signing and handing in. The documents require macros to be enabled in Word to use all of the form functionality. After approval of your registration you will be automatically registered in osiris.

• Make sure to hand in the co-signed Research Application Form at the Science Student Desk prior to starting your project. Important: this form can only be filled out completely after you have discussed the project setup with your intended project supervisor! 
  Specific for Nanomaterials Science students: In addition to the Application Form a Study Plan Form needs to be added which has to be discussed with the Programme Coordinator Dr. Annik van Keer.
• Please note that this protocol (English version) applies when a project is delayed. 
• In case of a project or internship outside of Utrecht University, please make sure you have filled out the 'daily supervisor' section of the Research Application Form and also fill out this Work Placement Agreement.
• If your project is split into two parts, your project supervisor will fill out the assessment form part 1 at the end of the first part of your project.
• At the end of your project your supervisor will fill out the assessment form part 2 and hand it in at the Science Studente Desk in order to have your grade registered in Osiris. 
• Specific for Mathematical Sciences students: please refer to these guidelines.
• Specific for Nanomaterials Science students: please refer to these guidelines.

The GSNS has a general statute concerning its Education and Examinations Regulations (OER). The most recent versions of these regulations can be found here, in Dutch, as well as in English. Specific regulations for each of the Master's programmes of the GSNS are listed in this Annex (available in English only).

Tasks and responsibilities

The Board of Examiners of the Graduate School of Natural Sciences (GSNS) is mandated by law to uphold the quality of tests and exams within the School. The Board of Examiners has eight members; a chair, six scientific staff members who each represent a cluster of Master's programmes (and chair an executive panel if so indicated) and one non-Faculty member. The Board of Examiners is supported in its work by a Secretary. The legal responsibilities of the Board of Examiners include organisation and coordination of examinations, granting exemptions and approval of final achievements for individual Master's programmes, and handing out MSc-diplomas and supplements at graduation ceremonies.

Official documents

The GSNS has a general statute concerning its 'Rules and Regulations' (also available in dutch) , in which all matters concerning the appointment and organisation of the Board of Examiners, and also its responsibilities concerning (final) examinations and the degree programme are laid down.

Members of the Board

• Dr. E.R. (Elwin) Savelsbergh (Chair Board of Examiners)
• Dr. S. (Silja) Renooij (Member, Chair Artificial Intelligence)
• Prof. dr. H.C. (Hans) Gerritsen (Member, Chair Physics)
• Dr. G. (Guido) Bacciagaluppi (Member, Chair History and Philosophy of Science)
• Prof. dr. mr. H. (Henry Prakken (Member, Chair Information Science and Computer Science)
• Dr. C.R. (Celia) Berkers (Member, Chair Chemical Sciences)
• Prof. dr. E.P (Erik) van den Ban (Member, Chair Mathematical Sciences)
• Dr. I.E.T. (Inge) van den Berg (Non-Faculty Member)
• Drs. M.J.A. (Manon) Thijssen (Secretary)

Contact

For the contact details of the Board of Examiners, please go to contact.

Utrecht University considers any form of academic dishonesty to be a very serious offense. Utrecht University expects each student to be familiar with and to observe the norms and values that ensure academic integrity.The most serious forms of deception that can impair this integrity are fraud and plagiarism. Plagiarism is a form of fraud and is defined as the wrongful appropriation of another author’s work without proper citation. See the further elaboration on what may be considered fraud or plagiarism.

If the university discovers a case of fraud or plagiarism, then the study programme’s Board of Examiners may implement sanctions on the offender. The most serious sanction that the Board of Examiners may implement is the submission of a request for expulsion to the Executive Board.

If you feel you have not been treated properly by someone employed by Utrecht University, or if you disagree with a decision that affects you personally, you can respond in a number of ways. You can submit a complaint, an objection or an appeal.

For the full details about the various procedures and which procedure is applicable for your situation, visit Complaints, objections and appeals.

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