Students who were unable to take their exams due to NS (Dutch Railways) strikes are not automatically granted an extra resit. An inquiry reveals that educational institutions follow different policies. And what does the NATO summit mean for TU Delft students coming from outside the city?
(Photo: Justyna Botor)
At Utrecht University, a heated debate arose earlier this month: students, academics, and even the university council argued that the exam policy during public transport strikes was ‘too strict’. It has since become clear that Utrecht students can appeal to unforeseen circumstances in the case of strikes, but this was not evident from the original communication.
Unforeseen circumstances
Many universities and universities of applied sciences offer students a resit if they fail an exam. But what about students who couldn’t even attend the first sitting due to railway strikes? Do they have to settle for just the second opportunity, or will they be granted an additional attempt due to unforeseen circumstances?
According to the University of Twente, the second chance is ‘precisely intended for unforeseen circumstances, such as illness’. “Strikes could also be considered as such.” If necessary, a student can approach the examination board, the spokesperson says. The board will then decide whether the student is entitled to an additional resit. The same policy applies at Vrije Universiteit Amsterdam.
Free parking
Not all institutions have a special arrangement in place. This includes TU Eindhoven, Tilburg University, the University of Amsterdam, and Breda University of Applied Sciences. These institutions believe that students could have anticipated the strike. Therefore, those who were unable to attend will generally not receive an additional resit.
Radboud University Nijmegen also states that a train strike is not a valid reason for an extra chance. Students were advised to arrange alternative transport. However, they were allowed to park their cars on campus free of charge.
Traffic disruptions during NATO summit
So far, TU Delft students have been spared such disruptions, but that may change soon. The exam period in Delft begins on Monday 23 June. Precisely the week when the NATO summit will take place in The Hague. The university is warning students to expect significant traffic disruptions. “However, all exams will proceed as scheduled,” a spokesperson confirmed.
TU Delft advises students to allow extra travel time during the upcoming exam week or to arrange temporary accommodation in Delft to ensure they arrive on time. “If students arrive late, they may, as always, still begin their exam up to 30 minutes after the official start time,” the spokesperson added.
Students who are unable to attend on time due to a sudden public transport strike or the lack of a place to stay will not be eligible for an extra resit via the examination board, the spokesperson clarified. “Of course, we regret it if students find themselves in that situation, but this is precisely why we have communicated these warnings repeatedly.”
HOP, Naomi Bergshoeff / Delta, Marjolein van der Veldt
More information
- On the Rijkswaterstaat website (in Dutch) you can read about the traffic measures that have been put in place. You can also check this government website in English.
- Up-to-date information about traffic jams and road closures can be found at rwsverkeersinfo.nl.
- Check for current public transport travel and departure times 9292.nl or ns.nl before you leave.
HOP
Hoger Onderwijs Persbureau
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