BSA threshold to be lowered for first-year students 2020-2021

On 19 January 2021, the Board of the University decided to lower the BSA threshold for all students who started a full-time Bachelor’s degree programme in the academic year 2020-2021 by 10 ECTS, from 45 to 35 ECTS credit points. This decision is related to the impact that the coronavirus has on student well-being. The BSA threshold for Bachelor’s degree programmes taught by the University College Groningen and Campus Fryslân will be lowered from 60 to 50 ECTS credit points. The threshold for part-time degree programmes and the Academic Teacher Training for Primary Education (AOLB: Academische Opleiding Leraar Basisonderwijs) will be lowered by 5 ECTS, to 15 ECTS credit points.

The Board of the University realizes that this academic year is a particularly difficult year for first-year students, with a lot of online teaching and examinations. The Board expects that lowering the BSA threshold will help to relieve their pressure. However, the Board hopes that students will continue to work hard and achieve good results, as this may also contribute to their sense of wellbeing.

First-year students will shortly be notified of the details of this decision. Students whose study advice was postponed in (or before) the academic year 2019-2020 will have to satisfy the regular BSA threshold of 45 or 60 ECTS this year (or 20 for part-time programmes and AOLB).