General Rules for Study and Examinations

1. The rules and syllabuses are based on the Acts, Statutes and Regulations to which the University is subject, and on resolutions of the Senate and the Council of the University taken by virtue of the above. Any deviation from the rules which the University may allow, is subject to the approval of the Council.
2. Except where otherwise laid down expressly or by necessary implication, the General Rules, where applicable, hold good for the individual faculties as well.
3. Where in the rules of one faculty special requirements are prescribed with regard to registration for a subject or a study unit in a subject, these requirements also apply, unless the contrary is evident, where the subject or study unit is taken in another faculty or for non-degree purposes (NDP).

Degrees, Diplomas and Certificates

1. The University may confer the degrees and issue the diplomas and certificates mentioned in the rules of the individual faculties.
2. Before a degree has been conferred on him/her at a congregation of the University, a person shall not be entitled to the privileges attached to the degree.

Registration and Registration

1. Any persons who wish to be registered as students of the University for a particular academic year, must complete and sign the official registration form (whereby they bind themselves to the rules of the University), pay the prescribed fees and, unless they have already done so, submit documentary evidence that they have satisfied all the requirements for admission to studies for the degree, diploma or certificate for which they wish to register. In exceptional cases the University may grant permission to submit the documentary evidence not later than:
   • 15 February in respect of registrations for the first semester;
     
   • 15 April in respect of registrations for study units with a duration of one year;
     
   • on registration in respect of registrations for the second semester

provided that the registration of a student who fails to do so will be summarily cancelled. In this event he/she will forfeit student fees in accordance with the provisions of D1(2)(k) under Payment of Fees.

This rule shall also apply in the case of a student who wishes to register for non-degree purposes (NDP).

2. The University may restrict the number of study units for which a student may register in a particular year. It may also stipulate dates after which a student shall not be registered for a particular academic year. The University may refuse any application for registration if the student's completed registration form, the prescribed fees and/or the necessary documentary evidence in support of his/her application were not received by the University on or before the appropriate closing date for registration.
3. Students who were previously registered at another university in the Republic and did not complete a degree, a diploma or a certificate at the end of their last year of registration, shall submit a certificate of satisfactory conduct and, in specified cases, an original transcript of their complete academic record or an original statement of courses passed/credits obtained, issued by the Registrar of the University concerned, not later than the relevant date(s) indicated above of their first year of subsequent registration at this University. If they fail to do so, their registration will be summarily cancelled and they will forfeit student fees.
4. Except with the special permission of the Senate, a student may not register at both this University and at another university in the Republic in the same academic year.
5. Re-registration may be refused in the case of a student whose academic progress at the University, in the opinion of the Council and the Senate, is unsatisfactory. In cases where permission is granted, re-registration is subject to such conditions as may be determined by the University.

Fees

1. The fees payable and the manner in which fees shall be paid, have been laid down by the Council.
2. A student who has not met his/her financial obligations towards the University, or has not returned university property that has been loaned to him/her, shall not be entitled to claim a certificate of good conduct or any proof of academic achievement.

Limitations on registration

1. Except with the special permission of the Senate, a student shall register for only one qualification (i.e. an approved degree, diploma or certificate) in a particular academic year.
2. If study units for non-degree purposes (NDP) may be taken concurrently with a degree, diploma or certificate, the number thereof shall be determined by the University.

Requirements for admission to further studies

If a person wishes to register for further studies for which the possession of a degree is a prerequisite, but did not obtain such degree at this University, the Senate may admit him/her to such further studies by virtue of a degree obtained at another university or by virtue of appropriate studies at another recognized institution.

Assignments and admission to the examination

No examination entry will be accepted unless the candidate's application for registration for the current academic period has been formally approved.

No student shall be admitted to an examination in a study unit in which the University provides tuition unless he/she

1. was registered at the University for tuition in that study unit for the particular academic year;
2. has satisfactorily completed such minimum amount of work during the particular academic year as may be prescribed by the Senate. (The minimum requirements a student must satisfy to qualify for admission to the examination in a particular study unit will be found in the tutorial matter for the study unit concerned.)

The mark of a student's answers to assignments set by the University in a particular study unit may be taken into account in his/her favor in the examination.

Further details in connection with assignments, admission to the examinations, and orders for stationery, etc., will be found in the brochure `Services and Procedures' which is issued to students together with their tutorial matter. Students are strongly advised to consult the abovementioned brochure and the first tutorial letter for the study unit concerned before they complete any assignments.

Examination

• As from 1998, the University instituted a system of semester examinations in certain study units.
• Study units which have a duration of one year will be examined in October/November with the special, supplementary and aegrotat examinations being written in the following January, with the exception of those for the Advanced Certificate in Education/Further Diploma in Education and the postgraduate diplomas in Advanced Nursing Science, Distance Education, Telecommunications and Information Policy, Tertiary Education, and Translation, the examinations of which will be written in the following January/February. See Section C in this part of the Calendar in connection with Honors, Master's and Doctor's degrees and the postgraduate diplomas in Accounting and Auditing.
• Examinations for modules which are offered in the first semester are written in May/June with the special, supplementary and aegrotat examinations being written in October/ November. Examinations for the second semester are written in October/November with the special supplementary and aegrotat examinations being written in the following May/ June. In certain study units there is NO second examination opportunity. Details will appear in the relevant tutorial letter 101. See below for the MBL degree.
• Students may be granted, within the same academic year, a second opportunity to write the examination subject to them meeting specific criteria for an aegrotat, special or supplementary examination and on payment of the prescribed fee. In certain study units there is NO second examination opportunity. Details will appear in the relevant tutorial letter 101.
• The examinations in the modules for the Postgraduate Diploma in Auditing and the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management are held in September.
• At the end of each academic period, an examination shall be conducted in each study unit.
• Each examination shall be conducted under the supervision of the Senate at such centers as the Senate may determine.
• Examining shall be done by one or more lecturers of the University concerned with the tuition in the particular study unit, and by one or more persons not concerned therewith. Examiners who aren't attached to the University shall be appointed as second examiner for honors, master's and doctor's examinations, and, with the special approval of Senate, also for final courses.
• At the discretion of the Senate, an examination shall be written or oral, or both written and oral, and may include practical work. The University reserves the right to summon a student for an additional oral or written examination. Except where otherwise arranged, the written and oral examinations take place in Pretoria.
• In an examination a pass shall be 50%, and for the predicate `with distinction' to be awarded, the mark shall be 75%; except where otherwise laid down expressly in General Rules G22 and G23 or in the rules of the individual faculties.
• Examination scripts may be remarked in accordance with procedures as specified on the notification of examination results and on payment of the prescribed fee - see Miscellaneous fees in the Information Brochure.
• A candidate shall be responsible for the arrangement and expenses of travel to, and stay at, an examination centre.

Aegrotat and special examinations

NOTE that there are NO aegrotat and/or special examinations in certain Undergraduate modules (see the relevant tutorial letter 101). There are also no aegrotat and or special examinations for postgraduate study units, the examinations of which are written in January/February, or in the study units of the Honors BCompt degree, the Postgraduate Diploma in Auditing, the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management, the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting, or the Advanced Certificate in Education/ Further Diploma in Education.

An aegrotat or special examination in the following examination period may be granted to a student who has been prevented from taking the preceding examination or has been unable to complete the examination as a result of

1. illness on the day of or immediately before or during the examination; provided that his/her application is accompanied by a medical certificate, issued by a Medical Practitioner registered with the SA Medical and Dental Council, specifying the nature, commencement date and duration of the illness and declaring that for health reasons it was impossible or undesirable for the candidate to sit for the examination on the day concerned AND, where applicable, a letter from the invigilator certifying that the candidate left the examination hall due to illness;

or

2. personal circumstances, such as military service, work commitments, the serious illness or death of a relative during the examination period; provided that satisfactory evidence of such circumstances is produced (see below). Where a student qualifies for both an aegrotat or special examination as well as a supplementary examination, it should be noted that if the examination dates or times should clash, the supplementary examination will lapse.

Applications for special examinations must be accompanied by documentary evidence giving FULL details as to why the candidate was prevented from writing the examination.

Candidates must have obtained examination admission in respect of the relevant study unit.

The prescribed examination fee must accompany the application for the aegrotat or special examination. EXAMINATION FEES ARE NOT REFUNDABLE OR TRANSFERABLE. . No alternative dates or times can be arranged in cases where examination dates or times clash.

Physically handicapped students are referred to A22NB2.

Important

In all cases under (a) or (b) above, the student's application, together with the prescribed fees, must be received by the University within 10 DAYS from the date on which he/she should have written the examination in the study unit concerned - see Miscellaneous Fees in the Information Brochure for the exact amount to be paid. Only medical certificates issued by a Medical Practitioner, registered with the SA Medical and Dental Council, will be accepted.

Supplementary examination

1. NOTE that there are NO supplementary examinations in certain Undergraduate modules. Details will appear in the relevant tutorial letter 101.
2. In the student's final year of study, and only in exceptional circumstances, the Dean of the Faculty may exercise his/her discretion to grant a supplementary examination outside of the prescribed parameters.
3. A candidate who qualifies for a supplementary examination in the following examination period, shall receive a notification to that effect together with his/her examination results, and shall write the examination at a centre allocated by the University.
   • A supplementary examination by virtue of a candidate's performance in the examinations may be granted provided that he/she obtained 45±49% in the study unit(s) concerned. Students cannot apply for a supplementary examination. Note that there are no supplementary examinations for postgraduate study units, the examinations of which are written in January/February, or in the study units for the Hons BA(SS) degree in Social Work, the Hons BCompt degree, the Postgraduate Diploma in Auditing, the Postgraduate Diploma in Financial Management, the Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting, or the Advanced Certificate in Education/Further Diploma in Education.
   • Students will be expected to write the supplementary, aegrotat or special examination at the same centre at which they wrote the previous examinations unless prior arrangements have been made.
4. Where a candidate qualifies for both an aegrotat or special examination and a supplementary examination in terms of above, the supplementary examination shall lapse should the examination dates or times clash.
5. See Student Fees in the Information Brochure for the exact amount to be paid.

Disciplinary code for students
Students are subject to the Disciplinary code for students.

(Reprinted from Unisa Calendar 2003)