1. Home
  2. studying and working in times of corona
  3. Studying

Frequently Asked Questions
Studying

Studeren_2

Education

There is limited in-person education in the THUAS buildings. And this will only encompass a small amount of our education activities, due to the restrictions of maintaining a 1.5 metre distance. That means that the majority of our education activities will continue to be offered as remote or online education.

 
On the Student Portal you can find 12 tips for successful home studying

Exams

There is limited space for higher education to allow physical activities to take place. This only concerns exams and practical education for which no alternative can be offered. For some exams there an alternative format is possible. Should there be a major change in the test format, the guideline is to inform you at least 10 working days in advance. Online tests can go ahead as planned. Please contact your program for specific information.   

 
If you are unable to come to school to participate in the physical exams due to corona related limitations, you must follow the standard procedure by notifing the Examining Board through a request in Osiris Zaak. For this it is necessary to submit proof to the dean. The Examination Board will then make a decision.
If a student shows symptoms that can relate to COVID 19 during an exam, the invigilator can call an employee from the faculty office who will ask the student a couple of standard RIVM questions. We do this to find out whether the symptoms indicate a health risk for the environment. This conversation will take place outside of the examination room to avoid disturbing other students while taking their exam. If it is likely that the symptoms may indicate COVID-19 complaints (and are not, for example, allergies or hay fever) then the student will have to leave the exam. The employee will collect his/her belongings. The test will be taken and checked. If the student want to resit this exam, he/she can request a resit at the Examination Board via Osiris Zaak.
Students who are unable to participate in physical examinations at school due to limitations, must, as usual, notify the Examining Board through a request in Osiris Zaak. For this it is necessary to submit proof to the student counsellor. The Examination Board then weighs the interest and makes a decision.
Students who cannot find a good place to take digital tests due to personal circumstances can exceptionally use a reserved space at THUAS. The student must make an appointment for this with the student counsellor

Internship and graduation

Please contact the organisation where your internship would be about the possibilities of continuing your internship. If that’s not possible, please contact your internship supervisor.
Because the requirements for transferring from a HBO bachelor's to a research university master's differ greatly from one study program to another, there is no fixed format for this advice. If you enroll at a university, the university will request additional information depending on your personal situation. We advise you to proactively contact the university of your choice and explain to them your specific situation. Again, keep in mind that you yourself are responsible for obtaining the information you need from the management of your current study programme. For more information, please contact your programme management.
It is only possible to organize online graduation or Propaedeutic ceremonies. Contact your programme on this for more information.
The following applies to your internship: adhere to the rules that apply to the sector/industry in which you are doing your internship. Consult with the organisation where you are doing your internship if you have any questions about this. 

(Study)activities abroad

The current government advice on travel abroad is to stay in the Netherlands and refrain from making any travel arrangements until 31 March 2021. Therefore you can only start your exchange or internship in a virtual manner until that date. Please consult with your programme and if need be, contact your exchange institution or internship provider to discuss what the options are.

If the advice not to travel is lifted after 31 March 2021, the following applies:

  • Outbound student exchanges are allowed within Europe within the set conditions of the Dutch government, the Dutch National Institute for Public health and the Environment (RIVM) and the travel advice from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This can also mean that students will initially start their exchange virtually and travel to the host country at a later stage.
  • Incoming exchange students are welcome in the 2nd semester provided they follow the quarantine requirements and the guidelines of the Dutch RIVM. As with outbound exchanges students will initially follow classes online.
  • Short-term mobility such as study trips are not allowed until 31 March 2021. After 31 March the situation will be reviewed to see if such trips are possible at a later stage in semester 2.
  • Regarding internships abroad, there are no geographic limitations and the same applies as mentioned for the outbound exchanges.

In sum, provided that the advice is lifted, outbound students will be allowed to travel to countries with colour codes green, yellow and orange. This information is included in every travel advice; therefore we urge you to check the travel advice from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs regularly. In practice this may mean that even if the advice not to travel abroad is lifted, there are still very few countries where students are allowed to travel to.

Yes, you can always back out. In these uncertain times it’s understandable that plans change.

Yes you can. Please note that if you are completing the exchange virtually, from a location other than your host university’s country, you are not eligible to receive a scholarship. In that case you do not have the extra costs that a scholarship is intended to cover. 

Following Monday’s press conference and in response to the many queries we have received in relation to exchanges and internships abroad, we would like to emphasise the following.

The current advice on student mobility in semester 2 of academic year 2021-2022 remains unchanged. This means to say that:

·       Outbound student exchanges are allowed within Europe within the set conditions of the Dutch government, the Dutch National Institute for Public health and the Environment (RIVM) and the travel advice from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This can also mean that students will initially start their exchange virtually and travel to the host country at a later stage.

·       Incoming exchange students are welcome in the 2nd semester provided they follow the quarantine requirements and the guidelines of the Dutch RIVM. As with outbound exchanges students will initially follow classes online.

·       Short-term mobility such as study trips are not allowed until 15 March 2021. After 15 March the situation will be reviewed to see if such trips are possible at a later stage in semester 2. 

·       Regarding internships abroad, there are no geographic limitations and the same applies as mentioned for the outbound exchanges.

In sum, outbound students are allowed to travel to countries with colour codes green, yellow and orange. In case of code orange, please note that when the travel advice at the moment of departure from the Netherlands stipulates that the student has to be in quarantine when returning to the Netherlands, travel is not permitted. This information is included in every travel advice; therefore we urge you to check the travel advice from the Dutch Ministry of Foreign Affairs regularly. In practice this means that at this moment in time there are very few countries where students are allowed to travel to.

(Foreign) travel is not allowed until 31 March 2021.

If you have received a Holland / Hogeschoolfonds / Erasmus+ scholarship, you can (partially) keep your scholarship under certain conditions. Students who are applying for a scholarship, will be informed about these conditions. More information is available at Services under the tab International. Please note that you are only eligible for a scholarship if your intention is to spend at least part of the period in your host country. 
Yes, the THUAS programmes are asked to maintain regular contact with students abroad.
NOTE: Make sure that your stay abroad is registered in OSIRIS at all times. In OSIRIS, keep your location and contact details up to date so we always know where you are and how to get in touch.
 
If it concerns your study progress, but you are not directly endangered, you can contact your study program to find a solution. When it concerns a crisis in which you are also concerned about your physical safety, you can call the emergency number of THUAS 070-445 7679.

Academic progress, study delay and BSA

This has to be considered case by case. The university will make every effort to minimise as much as possible  any negative effect on your study progress.  However, as this is an international crisis we follow the advice of the Dutch Ministry of Education.  Should you be facing a study delay then – in principle – you should first contact your study advisor.  However, as this is such an extraordinary situation, they may be able to answer your question immediately.

The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science has asked institutions to postpone the issuance of a negative binding study advice to the second year of study. The Hague University of Applied Sciences follows that advice. This means the following for our students: 

Were you first enrolled in your degree programme in 2020-2021?

If you have obtained less than 50 credits, you will receive a postponed advice. We do advise you to think carefully about whether you want to continue your studies and to discuss this with your mentor / academic career coach.

If you decide to continue your studies, you must have achieved 50 credits from the first year at the end of the academic year 2021-2022, including any qualitative requirements.

If you have met the standard of 50 credits, including any qualitative requirements, you will receive a positive advice.

Were you first enrolled in your degree programme in 2020-2021 but withdrew before 1 February 2021?

Nothing changes for you. You won’t get a (postponed) binding study advice. 

Were you enrolled for the first time in 2020-2021 but decided to withdraw after 1 February 2021?

Normally you would have received a negative binding study advice if you withdraw after 1 February. But now you will get a postponed study advice due to COVID-19.

Were you a first-year in the academic year 2019-2020 and did you get a postponed binding study advice?

If you obtain at least 50 credits from the propaedeutic phase in the academic year 2020-2021, including any qualitative requirements, last year’s postponed advice will be converted into a positive study advice.

Are you considering withdrawing because of the current situation? Please think carefully about the consequences. Withdrawing has consequences for, among other things, the right to a study grant and your right of residence in the Netherlands (if THUAS has applied for a residence permit for you). If you have withdrawn, you cannot appeal for extra financial support offered by DUO because of corona. In short, we advise you not to withdraw for this year because of the situation. 

 

International students

The decision to go back to your homecountry is yours. Please check whether there are travel restrictions in your home country for travelers from the Netherlands. Check with your programme what the possible educational consequences are. This has to be reviewed case by case. NOTE: THUAS offers limited educational activities. In your timetable you can see whether this also applies to you. If you have any questions, please contact your study programme.

Support for students

On the Student Portal you will find information on study finance, financial arrangements of THUAS, such as the Profiling Fund, board grants, and useful links to bodies that advise in the field of money matters and money worries. 


DUO has acknowledged that this could be a problem. DUO “To be entitled to student finance, you need to show that this is a case of force majeure. To do so ask your (former) employer for a declaration stating that you are not working or working less because of the coronavirus. The declaration must clearly state to what period this refers.” For more information, see https://duo.nl/particulier/footer-engels/contact/index.jsp. We also advise you to discuss this with your study counselor.

No. The Ministry of Education, Culture and Science may decide to adjust the tuition fees in the future, but at the moment students are required to pay the full tuition fees. 

Despite the situation, our goal remains to provide good quality-and-value for money education. If you feel that your programme is not offering sufficient tools or support for you to meet your educational goals, please contact your study adviser / SLB’er.  Also, check https://www.duo.nl/particulier/measures-coronavirus/money-travel-studies-and-repayments.jsp for more information.

Studying is not always an easy road to the finish line. If you can use some help, then that really isn't strange. For example if you need to combine studying with top sports or parenting, if your Dutch language skills are not as good or if you have a disability. But even if you're not feeling well or are unsure whether you have chosen the right study. THUAS can offer you extra support.  Look at the Student Portal for more information.

 
You're not the only one. Read this article for tips on how to connect with others, within the limits of the COVID-19 measures.
During these times, the student psychologists are ready to listen to your story and / or request for help. If you get stuck, overflowing, peaks in fear or tension or feeling isolated, the student psychologists offer you an online support place where you can share your story. You can book a one-off Support Session with one of them via the link on the Student Network.