1. The study voucher system

2. What is the study voucher system? - system implemented by the Flemish government - study vouchers = the total amount of credits that a student can use during his studies for enrolling in an initial bachelor’s or initial master’s programme (diploma contract), or for taking individual course units (credit contract) - the amount of vouchers fluctuates according to the amount of credits a student enrolls for and the amount of credits he acquires by passing courses

3. In short, study vouchers are: an amount of credits which are staked when enrolling for a course / course units which varies 1. depending on your registering for or withdrawing from a course of course units 2. depending on whether you pass your course units or not

4. The aim of the study voucher system The study voucher system = a system to monitor study progress –as a student, you need to make conscious study choices and take responsibility –the higher education institutions need to offer sound guidance to students

5. Does everything change? No: all other decrees and regulations remain valid, such as the K.U.Leuven education and exam regulations

6. How to use the study vouchers? you stake study vouchers when enrolling for : initial bachelor’s and initial master’s programmes with a diploma contract (= the ‘ordinary’ enrolment for a course) course units (credit contract) you do not need to stake study vouchers for other programmes, such as post-initial master’s or doctoral programmes.

7. How do you get study vouchers? from the academic year 2008-2009 every student will receive study vouchers totalling 140 credits every student = every student! including mature students, foreign students, students already enrolled in Flemish higher education, students combining courses, …

8. How does the amount of vouchers fluctuate? Basic principle: 140- vouchers staked + vouchers earned back earned back = credit earned = course passed with 10 or more out of 20 → tolerated non-passed courses not included! → exemptions have no consequences for the amount of study vouchers: they are not staked and cannot be earned back

9. How does the amount of vouchers fluctuate? + first 60 credits earned in a diploma contract are doubled (= credit bonus) (also for students having already studied in higher education, but outside of the study voucher system)

10. What if I change my study programme? At K.U.Leuven: - final date of December, 1st, applies to course units of the 1st semester or for year-long course units - final date of March, 15th, applies to course units of the 2nd semester Until these data, changes in the study programme have no influence on the amount of study vouchers: changing your programme in the 2nd semester is therefore possible without staking vouchers

11. When you graduate from an initial master’s 140 credits are subtracted when you obtain an initial master’s degree positive balance → vouchers can be staked in another initial bachelor’s or initial master’s programme. balance smaller than 60 → vouchers are built up to an amount of 60 again (at a rate of 10 credits per year)

12. What if I have insufficient study vouchers? if you have insufficient study vouchers, you are still allowed to enrol for the remaining credits for the course units for which you do not have vouchers anymore, you can enrol if you justify your situation and if your study track record is evaluated positively for the course units for which you do not have vouchers, you pay a higher tuition fee

13. What if I have no study vouchers anymore? if you have no study vouchers anymore, enrolment can be denied if, after an application (including a justification) and a positive evaluation of your study track record, you are admitted, you pay higher tuition fees exception: you can enrol for an initial master’s programme if you do not have one yet, and if you satisfy the conditions of entry

14. Example 1: The perfect student Study vouchers start Vouchers staked Vouchers earned Study vouchers end 2008-09 BA 14060 140 – 60 + (60 x 2) = 200 2009-10 BA 20060 200 – 60 + 60 = 200 2010-11 BA 20060 200 – 60 + 60 = 200 2011-12 MA 20060 200 – 60 + 60 =200 240200 – 140 = 60

15. Ex. 2: Master with some non-passed credits Study vouchers start Vouchers staked Vouchers earned Study vouchers end 2008-09 BA 1406054 (6 tolerated) 140 – 60 + (54 x 2) = 188 2009-10 BA 1886056 (4 tolerated) 188 – 60 +(6 x 2)+ 50 = 190 2010-11 BA 1906056 (4 tolerated) 190 – 60 + 56 = 186 2011-12 MA 18660 186 – 60 + 60 = 186 226 (14 tolerated) 186 - 140 = 46

16. Example 3: A bad start Vouchers start Vouchers staked Vouchers earned Study vouchers end 2008 -09 BA 1406015140 – 60 + (15 x 2) = 110 2009-10 BA 1106050110 – 60 + (45 x 2) + 5 = 145 2010-11 BA 1456056 + 4 tolerated 145 – 60 + 56 = 141 2011-12 BA 14155 141 – 55 + 55 = 141 2012-13 MA 14160 141 – 60 + 60 = 141 236 (4 tolerated) 141 – 140 = 1

17. Example 4: A student adrift Study vouchers start Vouchers staked Vouchers earned Study vouchers end 2008-09 BA 140600140 – 60 = 80 2009-10 BA 8060080 – 60 = 20 2010-11 BA 2020 + 403020 – 60 + (30 x 2) = 20 2011-12 BA 2020 + 403020 – 60 + (30 x 2) = 20 2012-13 BA 2020 + 404020 – 60 + 40 = 0 2013-140……………

18. More information website voucher system K.U.Leuven www.kuleuven.be/vouchersystem/ website Flemish government www.studentenportaal.be