There are two types of reduction: for reasons determined at the time of enrolment/during the year ; for first-year students who have changed courses in the second term.
This page summarises the information in Article 45 of the Règlement général des études et des examens (RGEE, Academic Regulations and Procedures).
Reduction for reasons determined at enrolment/during the year
Apply for a reduction at the beginning of the year
Students who can apply for a reduction include:
- students with a specific profile, known as PEPS students;
- students who foresee difficulties in reconciling a full-time academic schedule with extracurricular activities, in line with their student status and requiring at least part-time work.
A reduction can only be granted for specific and duly justified reasons:
- professional;
- academic;
- social;
- medical.
When applying for a reduction, it is advisable to include any supporting documents that will help us to better understand the student’s situation.
Any request for a reduced course load must be submitted to the faculty, with reasons, after the student has been provisionally enrolled.
It must contain a proposal for a reduced course load, drawn up in accordance with the faculty’s guidelines.
The faculty will respond within two weeks of enrolment and in time for the student's annual programme (PAE) to be validated.
In addition to reducing the number of credits in the student's annual programme (PAE), the reduction has two major consequences:
- reduced tuition fee (proportional to the number of credits in the PAE);
- impact on the student's ability to finance the course: the student benefits from an extra half-year to reach the fundability criteria (see the dedicated page).
The faculty’s decision sets out the appeal procedure. The appeal must be made to the vice-rector for student affairs (VRAE). To be admissible, the appeal must:
- contain a precise statement of the reasons for the appeal;
- contain a copy of the faculty’s decision;
- be sent within five days of the student’s notification of the decision by the faculty;
- be sent to the VRAE by registered post or delivered in person in exchange for proof of receipt in accordance with the procedures described on the dedicated page.
The VRAE notifies the student of the appeal decision within 30 days of the date of notification of the faculty’s refusal.
Application for a reduction during the year
Exceptionally, a course load reduction may be granted during the academic year for serious social or medical reasons.
The application process and the consequences of such a reduction are the same as for a reduction requested at the beginning of the year. Please refer to the information above.
Reduction during the second term or following a change of course
First year bachelor's course students may choose, until 15 February, to reduce their course load for the second term. This reduced course load is drawn up in consultation with the select exam board or, failing that, the exam board and includes learning support activities.
First-year bachelor’s course students who have been authorised to change courses may choose, until 15 February, to reduce their course load for the first and second terms. This reduced course load is drawn up in consultation with the select exam board or, failing that, with the exam board.