With 144 HBO (university of applied sciences) credits in his pocket, a student asks for an exemption. He wants to start his final thesis at Leiden University for his bachelor’s degree in Public Administration Sciences right away, but the university does not approve. Nor does the judge.
The law speaks of ‘Bachelor level’, says the student. So what difference does it make whether you get the credits at a university of applied sciences or a university? He brings in 144 HBO credits he has accumulated from various institutions. According to him, that is equivalent to almost the entire university programme in Public Administration Sciences at Leiden University.
If it were up to the student, he would start writing his thesis right away. By doing so, he says he can demonstrate that he can “work and think at an academic level”.
Council of State
That is a bit too fast for the examination board of the study programme. It thinks there is indeed a difference in level between HBO and university. And in this, the committee is vindicated by the Examinations Appeals Board of Leiden University.
The student also fell short at the Council of State. The judges are not dealing with the substance of the case and do not want to discuss the difference in educational level. What they do say: in the Public Administration Sciences programme, a student may never apply for more than 30 credits of exemptions anyway. (HOP, OL)
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