Decision No. 04/1999/QĐ-BGDĐT On the issuance of the Regulations on the organization of training, examination, testing, and graduation recognition for undergraduate and college regular programs

Pursuant to …;

Regarding the issuance of the Regulations on the organization of training, examination, testing, and graduation recognition for regular university programsand college programs

 ________________________

MINISTER OF EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Pursuant to Decree No. 29/CP dated March 30, 1994 of the Government stipulating the tasks, powers, and organizational structure of the Ministry of Education and Training;

Pursuant to Decree No. 15/CP dated March 2, 1993 of the Government regarding the tasks, powers, and state management responsibilities of Ministries and ministerial-level agencies;

Pursuant to Directive No. 30/1998/CT-TTg dated September 1, 1998 of the Prime Minister on adjusting the policy of division into streams in secondary education and two-stage training at universities;

At the proposal of the Director of the University Department;

 

DECISION:

Article 1: The accompanying Decision hereby promulgates the Regulations on the organization of training, examination, testing, and graduation recognition for regular university and college programs.

Article 2: This Decision shall take effect 15 days from the date of signature and replace Decision No. 3968/GD-ĐT dated October 14, 1995 of the Minister of Education and Training on the issuance of the Regulations on the organization of training, examination, testing, and graduation recognition for regular university and college training programs.

The Director of the University Department is responsible for guiding universities and colleges in implementing these Regulations.

Article 3: The Director of the Office, Directors of the University Departments, Directors of related Departments, Presidents of National Universities, Presidents of Hue, Da Nang, Thai Nguyen Universities, and Principals of universities and colleges nationwide are responsible for enforcing this Decision.

 

REGULATIONS

ON THE ORGANIZATION OF TRAINING, EXAMINATION, TESTING, AND GRADUATION RECOGNITION FOR REGULAR UNIVERSITY AND COLLEGE PROGRAMS

(Issued pursuant to Decision No. 04/1999/QĐ-BGD&ĐT dated February 11, 1999 of the Minister of Education and Training)

 

Chapter I:

EDUCATIONAL ORGANIZATION

Article 1: Training Program

1. Higher education trains associate degree and bachelor's degree levels.

The content of training throughout the entire course of study at each level of each training field is reflected in the training program.

CThe training program of each training field is developed by universities and colleges based on the framework program prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training. The framework program includes the structure of the content of subjects, duration of training, ratio of time allocation between basic and specialized subjects, and between theory and practice, internship.

Clause 2: The training program consists of two knowledge blocks:

General education knowledge block.

Professional education knowledge block.

Each knowledge block has two groups of courses:

The mandatory course group includes courses containing essential knowledge content of the training field and which students must accumulate.

The elective course group includes courses containing necessary content but which students can choose according to the guidance of the school to accumulate the required number of courses.

Based on the provisions regarding the structure and minimum amount of knowledge for each training level, the President of the University, President of the Academy, Principal of the University, College (hereinafter referred to collectively as the Principal of the schools) shall determine these courses for the training fields of the school.

Clause 3: A course is a complete unit of knowledge that is convenient for students to accumulate during their learning process. Each course has a volume ranging from 2 to 5 credit units, arranged for full teaching within a semester and evenly distributed. Knowledge in each course must be linked to a certain level and structured separately according to each subject or structured as a combination of multiple subjects. Each course must be marked with a unique code specified by the school.

Based on the characteristics of the training fields of the school, the Principal shall arrange the teaching of general education knowledge block courses and professional education knowledge block courses in accordance with the scientific nature, effectiveness, and convenience for students.

Clause 4: The unit for calculating the volume of student study is the credit unit. One credit unit is defined as approximately 15 theoretical class hours, approximately 30 or 45 practical, experimental, or seminar class hours, approximately 45-90 internship class hours at the base, or approximately 45-60 term paper or project, graduation thesis class hours.

For theoretical or practical, experimental courses, to absorb one credit unit, students must dedicate at least 15 preparation hours.

The Principal shall specify these figures for each course in accordance with the characteristics of the school.

One class hour is calculated as 45 minutes.

Article 2: Duration and Training Plan

1. CUniversities and colleges organize training according to academic sessions and school years.

An academic session is the designed period for students to complete a specific major program. A university academic session, depending on the field of study, lasts from 4 to 6 school years, while a college academic session lasts 3 school years.

A school year consists of two main semesters, each with at least 15 weeks of classes and 3 weeks of exams. In addition to the two main semesters, schools may organize a summer semester for students who did not pass the main semesters to retake courses and for outstanding students to advance their studies to finish their programs earlier. Each summer semester has 7 to 8 weeks of classes and 1 week of exams.

2. Based on the minimum amount of knowledge required for each level of training, the Rector allocates the number of credit units for each school year and semester.

At the beginning of an academic session, the school must notify students about the study plan, schedule, full academic program for each major, study regulations, examination, assessment, classification of study results, and graduation recognition, as well as the obligations and rights of students.

At the start of each school year, the school must announce the class schedule for each semester, detailed syllabus of subjects, conditions for continuing studies, examination schedule, and examination formats for subjects. At the start of each school year, students must register for elective subjects with the School's Training Department.

Article 3: Specialization Training Division

1. For schools that have set admission points based on majors during the university and college entrance exam: Students who meet the specified admission points for the major they applied for will be enrolled according to their preferences.

After completing the general education phase, the school sets the required average grade point (the method of calculating the average grade point is stipulated in Clause 2 of Article 11 of this Regulation) necessary for admitting a large portion of students to continue professional education. Students who do not meet the required average grade point must take the transfer exam together with other students in the same faculty within the school.

The conditions for taking the exam, exam format, content, and admission points are determined by the Rector. Students who fail the exam must switch to another major according to the school's regulations.

2. For schools that do not set admission points based on majors during the entrance exam: At the beginning of an academic session, the school publicly announces the training quota for each major. After completing the general education phase, the school bases the division of majors on students' major selection applications and their average grade points.

If the number of students applying for a particular major exceeds the announced quota, the school selects those with the highest average grade points until the quota is filled. Students who do not meet the required points must switch to another major according to the school's regulations.

Article 4: Conditions for Continuing Studies, Suspension, or Withdrawal

At the end of each school year, the school evaluates whether students can continue their studies, suspend their studies, or withdraw based on the number of subjects taken and the average grade point of that school year. The results of summer semester examinations (if applicable) are included in the overall results of that school year.

1. Students can continue to the next school year if they meet the following conditions:

Having an average grade point of the current school year of 5.00 or higher.

The total number of credit units of subjects with grades below 5 does not exceed 25% of the total credit units prescribed for that school year.

If there are still subjects with grades below 5, students must retake them in subsequent exams.

2. Students must withdraw if they fall into any of the following situations:

Having an average grade point of the current school year below 4.00.

Having an average grade point of two consecutive school years or three arbitrary school years since the beginning of the academic session within the range of 4.00 to near 5.00.

Students who are required to withdraw will be notified by the school to return to their place of permanent residence. The school has the responsibility to inform the local authorities and the student's family of the withdrawal decision no later than one month after the decision is made.

3. Students who do not fall under the provisions of Clauses 1 and 2 of this Article may suspend their studies to consolidate their knowledge and retake failed subjects.

University and college students who are not prioritized in training and students who are prioritized in training but do not fall under Clause 2.b of Article 5 of this Regulation may suspend their studies for up to one year for majors with a training duration of 3-4 years, and up to two years for majors with a training duration of 5-6 years. These suspension periods cannot be consecutive.

4. During the suspension period, students must retake failed subjects. The Rector may consider allowing these students to take some subjects of the following school year.

Article 5: Priority Regime in Training

1. Priority objects: The priority objects belongingto priority categories 1 and 2 shall be implemented as prescribed in the AdmissionsRegulation for regular training programs in universities, colleges, and vocationalsecondary schools issued pursuant to Decision No. 461/QĐ-TS dated February 11,1991 of the Minister of Education and Training, amended and supplemented byDecisions No. 311/QĐ-HS-SV dated February 22, 1993, No. 256/GD-ĐT dated January25, 1994, No. 504/GD-ĐT dated February 2, 1996, No. 688/GD-ĐT dated February 20,1997, and No. 338/1998/QĐ-BGD&ĐT dated February 24, 1998 of the Minister ofEducation and Training (hereinafter referred to as the Admissions Regulation).

2. Priority regime in reviewing conditions forcontinuing studies, suspending studies, and withdrawing from studies:

a. The provisions regarding points in Article 4of this Regulation for students belonging to priority category 1 in area 1 shallbe reduced by 0.60 points, for students belonging to priority category 2 in area1 and priority category 1 in area 2 shall be reduced by 0.40 points, and forpriority category 2 in area 2 shall be reduced by 0.20 points.

b. University and college students belonging topriority category 1 may suspend their studies to consolidate knowledge for amaximum of two years throughout the entire program for majors with a trainingduration of 3 to 4 years, and not more than three years for majors with atraining duration of 5 to 6 years. These suspension years shall not beconsecutive.

During the suspension period, state preferentialtreatment regimes for students in priority categories 1 and 2 shall remainunchanged.

Article 6: Conditions for Advanced Study and SimultaneousStudy in Multiple Majors and Institutions

Advanced study and simultaneous study in multiplemajors and institutions shall be implemented for students who have completed thefirst year of study and meet the following conditions:

1. Students with an average grade point of 8.00or higher for the entire academic year are entitled to register for advancedstudy in some subjects within the training program. Advanced study studentsshall shorten their time at school compared to the stipulated duration for theentire program but not exceeding two years for undergraduate level and onefor graduate level.

Each year, the Rector shall arrange for thesestudents to study in the appropriate academic year based on their specificacademic performance.

2. Students with an average grade point of 8.00or higher for the entire academic year, if they wish, can register to study anadditional major within the same group of majors at their current institution.

The Rector shall permit them to study theadditional major based on their academic performance.

3. Students with an average grade point of 9.00or higher are permitted to study an additional major at another university orcollege, provided they satisfy the regulations of that institution. Studentsmust submit an application and obtain the consent of the Rector of their currentinstitution and the Rector of the institution where they wish to study theadditional major. The receiving Rector shall examine, specify the courses forwhich credit results will be retained, the courses that must be supplemented,and arrange a study plan for the student.

4. If a student is permitted to advance theirstudies and their overall grade point average for the advanced study year isbelow 6.00, they must stop advancing their studies in the subsequent year. Ifa student is permitted to study an additional major and their overall grade pointaverage for the main major in that year is below 6.00, they must stop studyingthe additional major in the subsequent year.

5. Scholarship and tuition fee regimes forstudents engaged in advanced study and simultaneous study in multiple majorsand institutions shall be implemented according to Circular Joint No. 54/1998/TTLT dated August 31, 1998 between the Ministry of Education and Training andthe Ministry of Finance, and Circular Joint No. 53/1998/TTLT/BGD&ĐT-BTC-BLĐ-TB&XH dated August 25, 1998 between the Ministry of Education andTraining, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids, andSocial Affairs.

4. Students are permitted to take advanced courses if their overall average grade for the academic year is below 6.00, they must stop taking advanced courses in the following academic year. Students are allowed to study additional majors; however, if their overall average grade for the main major in that academic year is below 6.00, they must stop studying the additional major in the following academic year.

5. The scholarship and tuition fee regulations for students taking advanced courses, studying multiple majors simultaneously, or studying at multiple institutions shall be implemented in accordance with Circular Joint Circular No. 54/1998/TTLT dated August 31, 1998 between the Ministry of Education and Training and the Ministry of Finance, and Joint Circular No. 53/1998/TTLT/BGD&ĐT-BTC-BLĐTB&XH dated August 25, 1998 between the Ministry of Education and Training, the Ministry of Finance, and the Ministry of Labor, Invalids and Social Affairs.

Article 7: Conditions for transferring to another school

1. A student may transfer to another school if they meet all of the following conditions:

a. During their study period, if the student's household registration or place of work changes, or if the student faces difficult circumstances necessitating a transfer to a school closer to their family's residence to facilitate their studies.

b. The school from which the student wishes to transfer and the receiving school must be within the same field of study.

c. At least 80% of the credit courses completed at the transferring school must have the same content as those at the receiving school. The number of credit units of these courses must not be less than that of the receiving school's courses, and the examination results of these courses must be 5 points or higher.

d. Approval from the Rector of both the transferring and receiving schools is required.

e. Participate in knowledge tests and achieve scores as stipulated by the receiving school. The Rector of the receiving school shall specify and publicly announce the capacity to accept students, the courses to be tested, the content, and the format of the tests.

2. Students are not permitted to transfer to a school where they previously applied for admission but were not accepted. Students are also not allowed to transfer to a school outside the recruitment area of the receiving school based on their permanent household registration. First-year and final-year students, as well as students under disciplinary action ranging from a full-school warning or higher, are not permitted to transfer.

3. Students wishing to transfer must submit a transfer application form according to the unified model prescribed by the Ministry of Education and Training in Circular No. 1584/GD-ĐT dated July 27, 1993, issued by the Minister of Education and Training regarding student affairs.

 

Chapter II:

EXAMINATION AND TESTING COURSES

Article 8: Regular examinations and final course examinations

1. Courses with only theoretical components

a. Regular examinations: After each credit unit, the instructor must organize an examination. Depending on the situation, the instructor decides on the examination format, which can be written, oral, or problem-solving. If a student fails the first examination, they may retake it once to determine eligibility for the final course examination.

b. Final course examination: A student may participate in the final course examination if they meet the following conditions:

They must attend classes for at least 80% of the time specified for the course, except for students who are permitted to take additional or specialized courses by the Rector.

They must complete all scheduled examinations for the course and achieve satisfactory results in at least 50% of them. For courses with only one examination, the result must be 5 points or higher.

The grade for evaluating the theoretical course performance is the final course examination score.

2. Courses with only practical components

Students must fully participate in the time specified for the practical course. Testing is conducted after each practical session. The average score of all practical sessions in the semester is the final course examination score for the practical course.

The Rector specifies the method of evaluating practical courses at the school.

3. Courses with both practical and theoretical components

a. Practical component: Students must fully participate in the hours specified for the practical component and complete practical assignments, exercises, or term papers instead of regular examinations. If students complete all practical assignments, exercises, or term papers as required and are evaluated as satisfactory, they will be eligible to sit for the theoretical component examination.

b. Theoretical component: Regular examinations for the theoretical component and conditions for sitting the final theoretical component examination are carried out as stipulated for courses with only theoretical components as set forth in Clause 1 of this Article. The theoretical examination score is the final course examination score.

Article 9: Conducting final examinations for each course

At the end of each semester, except for the lastsemester of the program, the school shall organize a main examination and asecondary examination to test the completion of each course. The secondaryexamination shall be held at least four weeks after the main examination.

The time allocated for reviewing for each courseis proportional to the number of credit units of that course and half a day foreach credit unit. The Rector shall determine the examination schedule for eachexamination period.

Examinations shall not be organized outside ofthe announced examination periods at the beginning of the academic year.

Article 10: Examination questions, examination format,grading, and the number of times students may take the final examination for eachcourse

1. Examination questions shall be prepared by thelecturer teaching the course or by lecturers with the same specialty, or takenfrom the question bank. The examination questions, answers, and grading scalesmust be approved by the Department Head. The examination questions must beconsistent with the content of the course as prescribed in the curriculum.

2. The examination format for the final courseexamination may be written (multiple choice or essay), oral questioning,practical work, or a combination thereof. The Rector or the person authorizedby the Rector shall approve appropriate examination formats for each coursebased on the proposal of the Department Head.

3. Grading of the final theoretical part (forcourses that include both theory and practice) and courses that only have thetheory component must be conducted by three lecturers.

The Rector shall stipulate the procedures forpreserving examination papers, the grading process, and the retention of gradedpapers. Written examination papers must be retained for at least one yearafter grading.

4. Oral examination scores and practical examinerscores must be published immediately after each examination session when twoteachers agree on the score. In case of disagreement, the teachers shall presentthe matter to the Department Head or the Dean for decision. Written examinationresults must be published no later than seven days after the examination.

Examination scores must be recorded on the gradebook according to the school's standardized form. The grade sheet must bear the signatures of two gradingteachers, confirmed by the Department Head, and must be submitted to theDepartment Office and the School Training Department within seven days afterthe examination.

Examination results must be publicly announcedafter each examination period and recorded in the student's grade book.

5. Students who fail to meet the conditions to takethe final examination due to excessive absence from class and those who miss theexamination without a valid reason shall be considered to have taken theexamination once and must accept a score of zero.

Students who exceed the allowed absence limitmust re-register for the course. Such students, after being confirmed by theDean or the Director of Training to meet the examination conditions, andstudents who missed the examination without a valid reason, may take thesecondary examination and will be treated as taking the examination for thefirst time.

6. Students who attend classes as required but havemid-term test scores below the specified threshold under Article 8 of thisRegulation must retake the mid-term test and only if they pass can they takethe final examination. These students and those who were absent for a validreason during the main examination, upon recommendation by the Dean or theDirector of Training, may take the secondary examination and will be treatedas taking the examination for the first time.

7. For each course, students may take theexamination once during the examination period and may retake it once forcourses with scores below five according to the rescheduling determined by theschool.

Article 11: Calculation of test scores, examinationresults, and classification of academic performance

1. Mid-term test scores and final examination scoresfor each course shall be graded on a scale from 0 to 10.

2. The overall average grade for each semester,each academic year, or each program shall be calculated using the followingformula:

 

Where: A is the overall average grade

a_{international} is the final examination score of the ith course

n_{international} is the number of credit units of the ith course

N is the total number of courses

The overall average grade for each semester, eachacademic year, for scholarship consideration, awards, major selection, advancedstudy, concurrent study in multiple majors or schools, shall be based on thefinal examination scores from the first attempt. The overall average grade forprogram classification, graduation assessment, continuation of study, cessationof study, or withdrawal from study shall be based on the highest score fromtwo attempts.

Mid-term test scores and final examination scoresfor each course shall be rounded to the nearest whole number.

The overall average grade shall be calculated totwo decimal places.

Results of examinations for National DefenseEducation and Physical Education courses shall not be included in the overallaverage grade for semesters, academic years, or programs. Evaluation of resultsand conditions for issuing certificates for these courses shall follow separateprovisions of the Ministry of Education and Training.

3. Classification of academic performance:

a. Pass: From 9 to 10: Excellent

From 8 to near 9: Good

From 7 to near 8: Satisfactory

From 6 to near 7: Fairly Satisfactory

From 5 to near 6: Average

b. Fail

From 4 to near 5: Weak

Below 4: Poor

Article 12: Disciplinary measures for students and staff violating examination regulations

1. The degree of violation and the disciplinary framework for students and staff who violate the regulations shall be implemented according to the provisions of the Admissions Regulations.

2. During regular examinations, subject final exams, course final exams, thesis defenses, if there is a violation of the regulations, students will be subject to disciplinary action for each subject they have violated.

3. Students who take exams on behalf of others or ask others to take exams on their behalf will both be disciplined with suspension from studies.

 

Chapter III:

EFFECTIVENESS END OF COURSE AND GRADUATION RECOGNITION

Article 13: Completion of graduation projects, theses or final course exams

1. In the final academic year, students who have not been disciplined at the level of suspension from studies or have not been criminally prosecuted may register to complete graduation projects, theses or take final course exams as follows:

a. The form of completing graduation projects, theses applies to university students meeting the school's requirements. Graduation projects, theses are considered subjects with a workload not exceeding 20 credit units. The rector specifies the specific workload suitable for the training requirements of the school.

b. The form of taking final course exams applies to university students not assigned to complete graduation projects, theses and college students.

The content of final course exams includes two parts of knowledge: the basic knowledge part of the field and the specialized knowledge part. The content of each part of knowledge is compiled from some required subjects and elective subjects of the field of study.

Each part of knowledge is structured into three subjects, each subject has a workload equivalent to 5 credit units for university level and 4 credit units for college level.

At the beginning of the second semester of the final academic year, the school announces the content of these subjects for students to choose and register.

AT For each part of knowledge, students register and take one of the three subjects specified by the school.

2. Depending on the conditions of the school and the characteristics of each training field, the rector stipulates the conditions for students to register to complete graduation projects, theses or take final course exams, stipulates the form and time to complete graduation projects, theses, conditions to defend graduation projects, theses; stipulates the content of exam subjects, review and exam forms; stipulates the tasks of the instructor and the responsibility of the department and faculty towards students during the period of completing graduation projects, theses and reviewing for final course exams.

3. For some specialized fields, to complete graduation projects, theses, students need more experimental or survey time, the school can arrange time to complete graduation projects, theses combined with the final professional internship period (for fields that have final internships).

Article 14: Grading of graduation projects, theses and final course exams

Grading of graduation projects, theses and final course exams is carried out by Boards established by the Rector's decision. The number of members of each Board is 3, 5, or 7, including a Chairperson and a Secretary. Members of the Board are lecturers of the school or may invite those with relevant expertise from outside the school.

Grading of graduation projects, theses: After students defend and answer questions, Board members score based on deficiency. The evaluation score of graduation projects, theses is the average of the scores of Board members, evaluators, and supervisors.

Final course exams may be conducted in written or oral form. The maximum written exam duration is 180 minutes per subject. The process of setting exam questions, invigilation, and grading written exams is carried out according to the regulations of the university and college entrance exams. The process of setting exam questions and organizing oral exams is stipulated by the Rector. The evaluation score of oral exam results is the average of the scores of Board members.

The results of grading graduation projects, theses and final course exams must be announced after each defense session and exam session. Written exam results must be announced no later than 10 days after the exam.

The scores of graduation projects, theses or final course exams are included in the overall GPA of the entire course of study.

Students defending graduation projects, theses and those taking final course exams with scores below 5 will be organized to retake the exam at the earliest one semester after. The Rector stipulates the content and form of the retake exam. The process of setting exam questions, organizing and grading the retake exam, and recommending graduation recognition for these students is carried out as in the main exam period.

Article 15: Final Internship and Graduation Assessment Conditions for Specialized Fields

For certain specialized fields in the arts,architecture, physical education and sports, the Rector of universities andcolleges shall specify the content, form of final internship, defense format,project grading, thesis examination, graduation exam, and conditions forassessment and recognition of graduation that are suitable to the characteristicsand training programs of their respective institutions.

Article 16: Graduation Assessment and Recognition Conditions

1. Graduation Requirements: Upon completion ofthe course, students who meet all of the following conditions will be eligiblefor graduation assessment:

At the time of graduation assessment, the studenthas not been criminally prosecuted or disciplined with suspension from studies.

There are no subjects with scores below 5.

Possess National Defense Education Certificates andPhysical Education Education Certificates (for non-military and non-sports majors).

2. Recognition of Graduation: Based on therecommendation of the Graduation Assessment Board, the Rector signs the decisionto recognize graduation for students who meet the required conditions.

The Graduation Assessment Board is chaired by theRector or Deputy Rector authorized by the Rector, the Dean of Student Affairsserves as Secretary, and members include Heads of Academic Departments andDean of Students.

Article 17: Issuance of Graduation Certificates

1. Graduation certificates for university and collegedegrees are issued according to the major studied. A certificate will only beissued when all information on the certificate is fully and accurately recordedand must include a photograph of the recipient. The graduation ranking isdetermined based on the average grade point of the entire course as stipulatedin Clause 3 of Article 11 of this Regulation.

2. For students who have achieved excellent resultsacross the entire course, their graduation ranking will be reduced by one levelif they fall into any of the following situations:

Exceeding the officially prescribed study period atschool.

Having more than 5% of courses requiring retakecompared to the total number of courses prescribed for the entire course.

Being disciplined during the study period at thelevel of warning or higher.

3. The academic results of students, includingretakes, must be recorded in the grade sheet for each subject. In the gradesheet, the field of specialization or minor specialty should be noted ifapplicable.

4. Students who do not meet the conditions forgraduation certificate issuance will retain credits for subjects passed. Studentswho have reached the maximum permitted study period will be issued a certificaterecognizing the subjects completed within the school's training program. Studentswho have not yet reached the maximum permitted study period may return to theschool within three years to retake failed subjects to meet the graduationassessment requirements./.