Binding Study Advice (BSA)
Receive a positive BSA with at least 54 credits
If you meet the BSA requirements at the end of the year, you will receive a positive Binding Study Advice. This means you would be allowed to continue with your studies at AUC. If you do not meet the BSA requirements (and there are no personal circumstances pertaining to you), you will receive a negative Binding Study Advice and will not be allowed to continue your studies at AUC.
The Binding Study Advice (BSA) is part of a series of measures that increase your chances of successfully completing a programme on time. Students of all Bachelor’s programmes in the Netherlands receive a BSA at the end of their first academic year.
BSA requirements 2024-2025: 54 EC
If you started your studies at AUC in September 2024, you need to obtain a minimum of 54 EC for a positive BSA. You will then be allowed to continue at AUC the following year.
Consequences of a negative BSA
If you receive a negative BSA at the end of the academic year, you would have to terminate your studies at AUC and you would be barred from reapplying to AUC for the following 3 years. You would also not be allowed to take part in any AUC examinations for 3 years.
Exceptional personal circumstances
If you are unable to obtain a positive BSA due to exceptional personal circumstances, you may be able to apply for an exemption of the negative BSA. If granted an exemption, you would be allowed to continue at AUC, despite not meeting the BSA requirements.
If you have any personal circumstances that might influence your studies, please contact your tutor and the Student Life Officers as soon as possible so that they can offer assistance. Also make sure to bring any supporting documentation, as this is important when assessing your right to a suspended negative BSA.
Your BSA Decision will be sent by email
After all the results of the first academic year have been registered (including those for any re-sits in July), the proposed final decision on the BSA will be determined and you will be notified via email. Please make sure to regularly check your email (or have someone check it for you) during this period.
Unenrolling before 1 February
If you terminate your enrollment in Studielink before the 1st of February, you will not receive a BSA for this programme. If you are considering this option, please discuss this with your tutor well in advance.
Timeline
- General information on the BSA procedure before November 2024
- First indication of study progress: before 1 February 2025
- Second indication of study progress: before 1 July 2025
- Applications for Exemption: to be submitted within 2 weeks of receipt of 2nd study progress advice
- BSA decision: before 31 August 2025
- Hearings are planned to be held late July/early August 2025, where students can appeal an intention to give a negative BSA and present additional information before a final decision is made.