Exemption from requirements and deadlines (first-year exam, study activity requirements, exam attempts, maximum study duration)

This page contains important information for those applying for an exemption related to:

the first-year exam
DTU's 5 ECTS study activity requirement
used-up exam attempts in one or more courses
maximum study duration

When you apply for an exemption, whether it concerns the first-year exam, study activity requirement, maximum study duration, or additional exam attempts, you can continue your studies at DTU while your application is being processed.

You only need to upload one exemption application
If you conflict with multiple rules simultaneously, you should only create one exemption case. Therefore, you must upload a single comprehensive exemption application with a combined explanation of why you conflict with DTU's study rules.

At the top of your exemption application, specify which study rule(s) you seek an exemption from.

Inside the exemption system, you must specify which type(s) of exemptions/study rules you are applying for.

Do not include a statement from your head of study when applying for exemptions regarding requirements and deadlines.

You must apply for an exemption through DTU's exemption system.

First-year exam

Applies only to Bachelor of Science in Engineering and Bachelor of Engineering

By the end of the first academic year, you must have passed at least 30 ECTS credits (the first-year exam) to continue your programme. There are specific requirements regarding which groups these credits must be earned from, and these requirements vary depending on whether you are a Bachelor of Science in Engineering or a Bachelor of Engineering student. You should, therefore, find the specific requirements in your programme specification at https://studieinformation.dtu.dk/.

What your exemption application must include when applying for an exemption from the first-year exam
Begin your exemption application by stating that you are applying for an exemption from the first-year exam.

You must clearly state if you are applying for more than a single semester extension for the first-year exam.

When applying for an exemption from the first-year exam, you must briefly and clearly describe the reason(s) why you have not passed the first-year exam. As far as possible, you should provide documentation for the reasons mentioned in your justification.

You can find more information about what can justify an exemption from the deadline for the first-year exam further down the page under the section "Conditions that can justify an exemption."

You must also describe whether the reasons that prevented you from passing the first-year exam have been resolved, and preferably how. If the reason you mentioned is a permanent condition for you, it is important to explain how you plan to manage this moving forward in your studies. The Exemption Committee should be able to see how your chances of fulfilling the first-year exam requirement have improved.

What you need to upload with your exemption application
In addition to the documentation for the reasons you mention in your exemption application (see more in the section "Remember to attach documentation when applying for an exemption" further down the page), we always recommend that you also include your study plan, showing how and when you plan to complete the courses and activities you still need to pass for your programme.

Do not include a statement from your head of study when applying for an exemption from the first-year exam.

Study activity requirement

All students in DTU's Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering, and Master of Science in Engineering programmes must pass at least 5 ECTS credits within any given continuous period of one year, calculated over two whole semesters. DTU's 5 ECTS study activity requirement is also included in your programme specification, which you can find at https://studieinformation.dtu.dk/.

What your exemption application must include when applying for an exemption from the study activity requirement
Begin your exemption application by stating that you are applying for an exemption from the study activity requirement.

When applying for an exemption from the study activity requirement, you must briefly and clearly describe the reason(s) why you were unable to meet the requirement. As far as possible, you should provide documentation for the reasons mentioned in your justification.

Further down the page, under " Conditions that can justify an exemption, " you can find more information about what can justify an exemption from the 5 ECTS study activity requirement.

You must also describe whether the reasons that prevented you from meeting the study activity requirement have been resolved, and preferably how. If the reason you mentioned is a permanent condition, it is important to explain how you plan to manage this moving forward in your studies. The Exemption Committee should be able to see how your chances of fulfilling the study activity requirement have improved.

Do not include a statement from your head of study when applying for an exemption from the study activity requirement.

Used-up exam attempts

If you, as a student, do not pass a course/project by your third exam attempt, you must apply for an exemption for an additional exam attempt. You can apply for an exemption for an additional exam attempt when you know you failed your final attempt in the course. That also applies if you need to apply for further exam attempts. You can read more about the rule on used-up exam attempts in your programme specification and on DTU Inside at the page 'Requirements and deadlines'.

What your exemption application must include when applying for an additional exam attempt
Begin your exemption application by stating which course(s) (course number and title) you are applying for an additional exam attempt in.

When applying for an exemption for an additional exam attempt, you must briefly describe why you did not pass the course on one of your previous attempts. As far as possible, you should provide documentation for the reasons mentioned in your justification.

If the same reason affected all your previous exam attempts in a course where you have used up your exam attempts, you do not need to explain each attempt individually. However, if different reasons affected your ability to pass the course during your exam attempts, we recommend that you describe how each reason affected each individual exam attempt in chronological order (starting with the first attempt, then the second, third, etc.).

Further down the page, under the section " Conditions that can justify an exemption, " you can find more information about what can justify an exemption for an additional exam attempt.

You must also describe whether the reasons that prevented you from passing the course during your exam attempts have been resolved, and preferably how. If the reason you mentioned is a permanent condition, it is important to explain how you plan to manage this in any additional exam attempts. The Exemption Committee should be able to see how your chances of passing the course have improved.

Do not include a statement from your head of study when applying for an exemption for an additional exam attempt.

If you are a student in one of DTU's national joint programmes and need to apply for an additional exam attempt in a course offered at, for example, University of Copenhagen (KU) or Copenhagen Business School (CBS), you must still apply for the additional exam attempt via DTU's exemption system.

Maximum study duration

All students in DTU's Bachelor of Science in Engineering, Bachelor of Engineering and Master of Science in Engineering programmes must complete their programme within the maximum study duration. You can find the rules that apply to the maximum study duration for your programme on DTU Inside > Study Rules > Study activity requirements and deadlines.

What your exemption application must include when applying for an exemption from the maximum study duration
Begin your exemption application by stating that you are applying for an exemption from the maximum study duration and specify precisely how long of an extension you seek (e.g., one semester).

When applying for an exemption from the maximum study duration, you must briefly, clearly, and chronologically describe the reason(s) why you have not been able to comply with the maximum study duration rule. As far as possible you should provide documentation for the reasons mentioned in your justification.

Further down the page, under the section " Conditions that can justify an exemption, " you can find more about what can justify an exemption from the maximum study duration.

It is important that you also describe whether the reasons that prevented you from complying with the maximum study duration rule have been resolved, and preferably how. If the reason you mentioned is a permanent condition, it is important to explain how you plan to manage this moving forward in your studies. The Exemption Committee should be able to see how your chances of completing your programme have improved.

Do not include a statement from your head of study when applying for an exemption from the maximum study duration.

Circumstances that may justify an exemption
The Exemption Committee's decision is always based on a specific, individual assessment of the information provided in your exemption application in conjunction with the case's overall circumstances.

The following circumstances may justify an application for exemption:

Personal illness
Serious illness or death of an immediate family member (parents, siblings, children, spouse/partner)
Disabilities where any special educational support does not sufficiently compensate for the disability. Documentation for the disability must be attached, including how the student may have been compensated through special educational support.
Civic duties, such as serving as a juror or lay judge
Military service
Elite athlete: The student must attach a statement from the relevant sports federation that documents the student's elite level. Learn more about applying for exemption as an elite athlete on DTU Inside under "Academic Offers and Guidance" / "Elite sports." There is also the option to apply for a leave of absence. Read more on DTU Inside under "Study Rules" / "Exemption, Leave, and Parental Leave" / "Leave."
Entrepreneurship: The student must provide documentation of running a business with revenue and income-generating activities (a VAT number, annual accounts, and a description of the business should be provided). The business is expected to be relevant to engineering. Alternatively, the student must be part of an entrepreneurial environment, such as an incubator or entrepreneurial environment at DTU or a regional growth hub.
Chairperson in a voluntary organization under the Danish Youth Council (DUF), a board member of the Polyteknisk Forening (PF), or similar organizations. It must be documented that the role is of such magnitude that it is impossible to study full-time.
Other unusual external circumstances, such as divorce/separation, severe illness or death of close relations (not immediate family), or other unforeseen circumstances that are typically beyond the student's control.

Circumstances that do not generally justify an exemption
As a general rule, the Exemption Committees do not consider the following circumstances as grounds for exemption:

Time spent on employment or voluntary work
Participation in committee and council work, such as departmental study boards, CUU, and DUU
Housing problems or financial difficulties are not in themselves grounds for exemption
Lack of knowledge of the programme's regulations
Poor organization and planning
Undocumented technical issues (e.g., when applying for an additional exam attempt)
Transport difficulties (e.g., when applying for an additional exam attempt)

Remember to submit documentation when applying for exemption
Your application for exemption must be justified. You must always attach relevant documentation – for instance, an illness-related application must include medical documentation. As a student, you are responsible for the cost of obtaining a medical certificate.

What should medical documentation include?
Medical documentation (for both physical and mental illness) should include the healthcare professional's assessment of how the illness has affected or is affecting you and your studies, including whether you are undergoing treatment or recovery, as well as a prognosis for the duration of the illness, if possible.

A statement from a psychologist or other relevant healthcare professional that meets these requirements can also be used. In applying for an additional exam attempt, medical documentation should only address whether extraordinary circumstances, such as illness during one or more previous exam attempts, caused you to fail the course in prior attempts.

When applying for an exemption regarding requirements or deadlines
Do not attach a statement from your head of study.

Do you have questions or need guidance?

If you have any questions or need guidance and advice, remember that you can always contact the Study Guidance at DTU.