Changing or ending your programme | University of Antwerp

Is your current programme not quite what you expected? Start making enquiries as soon as you can if you wish to change or end your programme. It may have important implications for your learning account, tuition fees, family allowance, scholarships and so on. See below for more information about these implications. If you have any other questions, feel free to contact a student counsellor or a member of staff in the Office for Student Affairs.

Staying enrolled at the University of Antwerp and reducing your study programme

Procedure:

You can opt to reduce your study programme, but keep in mind that you need at least 27 study credits to maintain your student status.

You can make changes in the Student Information System Antwerp (SisA) yourself

until 31 October: for semester courses taught in the first semester and year-long courses
until 28 February: for semester courses taught in the second semester

Please note: the faculty can move these deadlines forward! Provided there is good reason, the faculty may also choose to deviate from these deadlines and make changes which affect the student after these dates.

The faculty can make the following changes:

cancel your enrolment in programme components (please note: after 31 October and 16 March, study credits will be deducted from your learning account and tuition fees even if you then cancel your enrolment in these components)
cancel programme components (study credits will not be deducted; only occurs when absolutely necessary and justifiable, e.g. in case of error)
add programme components

Contact your faculty's study programme counsellor for more information about this.

Implications for your tuition fees:

Student administration will recalculate your enrolment, taking into account the total number of study credits used.

Implications for your family allowance:

You will continue to receive a family allowance until the end of the academic year, up to the age of 25 and provided your study programme still comprises at least 27 active credits after the changes. If you are in a diploma year, the 27 study credit rule does not apply. You may lose your family allowance, however, if you work too many hours during the academic year.

Implications for your scholarship:

If you adjust your study programme but are still registered for at least 27 study credits then you are entitled to receive a scholarship for the academic year. The scholarship will be recalculated, however, because you will be using fewer study credits. If the total number of credits used for your active enrolments on 30 June is less than 27 then you will no longer be entitled to receive a scholarship. If you are in a diploma year and you still have to finish your dissertation, the 27 study credit rule does not apply.

Changing programmes at the University of Antwerp

Procedure:

before 31 October: switching to another programme at the University of Antwerp is possible for programme components taught in the first and second semesters
after 31 October: you can only enrol on the new programme for semester courses taught in the second semester
after 28 February: you can no longer change programmes

You cannot change programmes at any time - certain key dates must be taken into account. You can find more information about enrolment on the website.

Implications for your learning account:

changing by 31 October: you can recover the study credits for the programme components you chose to stop except for those whose assessment period has already started and those you have already sat exams for.
changing between 1 November and 28 February: you can only recover the study credits for semester courses taught in the second semester. You will lose the study credits you used for first semester and year-long courses. If you wish to change programmes after 1 November, we recommend you sit the January examinations - at least for some modules - and recover the credits you used by passing the exams.
after 28 February: you can no longer change programmes.

If this is your first year in a higher education institution, then there is an exception to this rule. First-time students who cancel their enrolment and then enrol again before a given date can still receive additional credits from the government. These are study credits which are not repaid by the university:

changing by 31 October: you can recover the study credits for all of the programme components you stopped (like all other students).
changing between 1 November and 1 December: you can recover all of the study credits for the programme you stopped (from the University of Antwerp for second semester courses, from the Flemish authorities for first semester courses and year-long courses).
changing between 1 December and the end of the calendar year (31 December): in addition to the credits for the second semester courses (repaid by the University of Antwerp), you can also recover half of the credits you used on first semester and year-long courses you stopped (from the Flemish authorities).
changing between the end of the calendar year (31 December) and 28 February: you can only get back the credits you used for second semester courses (from the University of Antwerp) (like all other students).

These rules only apply to degree contracts. Study credits can never be recovered when cancelling enrolment on a credit contract. The learning account principle does not apply to exam contracts.

Implications for your tuition fees:

Student administration will recalculate your fees on the basis of your enrolments at the University of Antwerp (both ongoing and dropped courses).

Implications for your family allowance:

before 31 October: in order to continue receiving family allowance, you will need to enrol in a new programme worth at least 27 study credits. The study credits used for the University of Antwerp courses you dropped are no longer taken into account.
between 1 November and 16 March: study credits used on the old programme's first semester courses and year-long courses remain active. This also applies to credits for programme components whose exams you have already sat. If these study credits plus the credits for the new programme components amount to more than 27 then you will continue to receive family allowance.
after 28 February: no more changes are possible at the University of Antwerp. You cannot enrol for additional programmes or drop certain modules. You will receive family allowance if you have enrolled on courses worth at least 27 study credits.

Please note: if you are in a diploma year then the 27 study credit rule does not apply.

Keep in mind that you need to enrol for the new programme in the month following the one in which you cancelled your enrolment at the latest. Otherwise your family allowance could be interrupted for at least two months!

Implications for your scholarship:

Study credits used for enrolments that are active on 30 June are taken into account when calculating your scholarship. The study credits used for your new University of Antwerp programme will always be included this calculation.

Student administration will also check whether the study credits used for the programme components you dropped still count (in full or in part). Sometimes this is the case. It depends when you dropped the programme:

dropping a programme before 31 October: the study credits used for the old programme no longer count in the calculation of your scholarship. Only the study credits used for the new programme are taken into account
stopping a programme between 1 November and 16 March: study credits which could not be paid back into your learning account (first semester courses and year-long courses) and those for programme components whose exams you have already sat will count in the calculation of your scholarship. These study credits will be added to those used for the new programme components
after 28 February: no more changes are possible at the University of Antwerp. You cannot enrol for additional programmes.

In general, the following rule of thumb applies: If the total number of credits used for your active enrolments on 30 June is under 27, then you will no longer be entitled to receive a scholarship. If you are in a diploma year and you still have to finish your dissertation then the 27 study credit rule does not apply.

Ending your enrolment elsewhere and starting at the University of Antwerp

Procedure:

before 31 October: switching to the University of Antwerp is possible for programme components taught in both the first and second semesters.
after 31 October: switching to the University of Antwerp is only possible for second semester courses.
after 28 February: you can no longer enrol at the University of Antwerp.

You cannot change programmes at any time - certain key dates must be taken into account. You can find more information about enrolment on the website.

Implications for your learning account:

The study credits used for your new University of Antwerp programme components will always be deducted from your learning account. What about the study credits you used for your old programme components? Are these added to your learning account or do you lose them?

Each institution sets a cut-off date which determines how changes to your enrolment affect your learning account. If you cancel your enrolment before this date then your learning account will be adapted accordingly. After this date, you will lose these study credits. A specific rule applies for students enrolling at a higher education institution for the first time. First-time students who cancel their enrolment and then enrol again before a given date can still receive additional credits from the government. These are study credits which are not repaid by the university you are enrolled at. Check with your old university!

These rules only apply to degree contracts. Study credits can never be recovered when cancelling enrolment on a credit contract. The learning account principle does not apply to exam contracts.

Implications for your tuition fees:

The educational institution where you initially enrolled will decide whether part of your tuition fees can be reimbursed to you. At the University of Antwerp you will pay a certain amount depending on the type of contract you enter into, the number of study credits you have used and your scholarship status.

Implications for your family allowance:

During the academic year, you need to have enrolled on a programme worth at least 27 study credits. If you are in a degree year then the 27 study credit rule does not apply. The following study credits are taken into account in determining whether you are still entitled to receive family allowance after your transfer:

study credits used for old programme components whose exams you have already sat.
study credits used for the old programme which count not be paid back to your learning account. Each institution sets a cut-off date which determines how changes to your enrolment affect your learning account. If you cancel your enrolment before this date then your learning account will be adapted accordingly. After this date, you will lose these study credits. Check with your old university!
study credits used for programme components you will also take at the University of Antwerp. If you enrol on a programme worth at least 27 study credits at the University of Antwerp then there will not be a problem.

Please note that you need to enrol for the new programme in the month following the one in which you cancelled your enrolment at the latest. Otherwise your family allowance may be interrupted for at least two months!

Implications for your scholarship:

The number of study credits used for active enrolments as of 30 June are taken into account when calculating your scholarship. The study credits used for your new University of Antwerp programme will always be included this calculation.

Student administration will also check whether the study credits used for the programme components you dropped still count (in full or in part). Sometimes this is the case. The following factors will certainly be taken into account when calculating your scholarship:

study credits used for old programme components whose exams you have already sat.
study credits used for the old programme which were not repaid to your learning account. Each institution sets a cut-off date which determines how changes to your enrolment affect your learning account. If you cancel your enrolment before this date then your learning account will be adapted accordingly. After this date, you will lose these study credits. Check with your old university!
study credits used for your new programme at the University of Antwerp.

Please note:

every academic year you can receive a scholarship for a maximum of 60 study credits. If you have received more than you were entitled to, this will be recovered from you.
If the total number of credits used for your active enrolments on 30 June is less than 27 then you will no longer be entitled to a scholarship. If you are in a diploma year and you still have to finish your dissertation then the 27 study credit rule does not apply.

Ending your registration at the University of Antwerp and enrolling elsewhere

Procedure:

You end your enrolment using the appropriate request in your SisA selfservice. This only applies to diploma contracts. Credit and exam contracts cannot be stopped. You should also keep in mind that it is not possible to cancel your enrolment in programme components whose assessment period has already started or components whose exams you have already sat.

You should also be aware of the fact that enrolling at another institution is not always possible before a given date. In some cases you cannot enrol at another institution during the academic year. Always check with the new institution before cancelling your enrolment! Cancelling your enrolment and failing to enrol on time at a new institution has consequences for your learning account and your social status. If you wish to continue receiving family allowance without interruptions then you will have to re-enrol before the end of the month immediately following the one in which you cancelled your enrolment.

Always make sure that you cancel your enrolment and enrol again in the right order. This means you should first cancel your enrolment at the University of Antwerp before you enrol at another institution. A double enrolment might mean that you lose your study credits!

Implications for your learning account:

cancelling your enrolment before 31 October: you can recover the study credits used for all the programme components you chose to drop except for those whose assessment period has already started or whose exams you have already taken.
cancelling your enrolment between 1 November and 28 February: you can only recover the study credits used for second semester courses. You will lose the study credits you used for first semester and year-long courses. If you wish to change programmes after 1 November, we recommend you sit the January examinations - at least for some modules - and recover the credits you used by passing the exams.

cancelling your enrolment at the University of Antwerp and enrolling at another institution by 31 October: you can recover the study credits for all the programme components you dropped (like all other students).
cancelling your enrolment at the University of Antwerp and enrolling at another institution between 1 November and 1 December: all of the study credits for the programme you dropped are paid back (by the University of Antwerp for second semester courses, and by the Flemish authorities for the first semester and year-long courses).
cancelling your enrolment at the University of Antwerp and enrolling at another institution between 1 December and the end of the calendar year (31 December): in addition to the credits for the second semester courses (paid back by the University of Antwerp), you can also recover half of the credits for the old programme's first semester and year-long courses (paid back by the Flemish authorities).
cancelling your enrolment at the University of Antwerp and enrolling at another institution between the end of the calendar year (31 December) and 28 February: you can only recover the credits used for the second semester courses (from the University of Antwerp) (like all other students).

These rules only apply to degree contracts. Study credits can never be recovered when cancelling enrolments made with a credit contract. The learning account principle does not apply to exam contracts.

Implications for your tuition fees:

cancelling your enrolment by 31 October: no study credits are deducted from your learning account. You will only need to pay a fixed amount of €64.90 (per enrolment, where applicable).
cancelling your enrolment from 1 November onwards: study credits of all first semester and year-long programme components will be deducted. You will need to pay the tuition fees for these programme components.
cancelling your enrolment after 16 March: all the study credits for your programme have been used. You will have to pay tuition fees for your entire programme.

If a programme's tuition fees were paid in full or in part with training vouchers, this amount will not be reimbursed.

Credit and exam contracts cannot be cancelled and are never reimbursed.

Cancelling your enrolment does not exempt you from paying any tuition fees owed according to the study credits you have used for your programme. If you have an outstanding balance, we will be unable to issue proof that you have stopped your studies, or any other documents. You may not be permitted to enrol again in future.

If you cancel your enrolment entirely, your status as "prospective scholarship student" will also be re-examined:

cancelling your enrolment before 31 October: your tuition fees will be calculated according to your status as a non-scholarship student (€64.90).
cancelling your enrolment from 1 November onwards: if you did not use 27 study credits then your tuition fees will be recalculated on the basis of your status as a non-scholarship student. If you have already applied for a scholarship then social services can check whether you are entitled to reduced tuition fees. If you have used 27 or more study credits, your tuition fees or advance payments will continue to be calculated according to the scholarship student framework. In the spring, your tuition fees will be recalculated based on the status of your scholarship application. The same procedure is followed for all students, regardless of whether you cancel your enrolment. If you do not receive a scholarship you will be required to pay the outstanding tuition fees. If you do subsequently receive the scholarship, you will of course be reimbursed.

Implications for your family allowance:

cancelling your enrolment before 31 October: in order to continue receiving family allowance, you will need to enrol on a new programme worth at least 27 study credits. The study credits used for the University of Antwerp programme are no longer taken into account.
cancelling your enrolment between 1 November and 16 March: the study credits for the first semester and year-long courses remain active for the University of Antwerp programme. This also applies to credits for programme components whose exams you have already sat. If these study credits plus the credits for the new programme components amount to more than 27 then you will continue to receive family allowance.
cancelling your enrolment after 16 March: all of the programme components you have dropped at the University of Antwerp remain active. This also applies to programme components which will be taken over in your new course. If the total of all your active programme components is at least 27 study credits then you will receive family allowance.

Please note: If you are in a diploma year, the 27 study credit rule does not apply.

Implications for your scholarship:

Student administration will also check whether the study credits used for the programme you dropped still count, in full or in part. Sometimes this is the case. It depends when you dropped the programme:

cancelling your enrolment by 31 October: the study credits used for the University of Antwerp programme no longer count towards the calculation of your scholarship. Only the study credits used for the new programme are taken into account
cancelling your enrolment between 1 November and 16 March: study credits which could not be paid back to your learning account (first semester courses and year-long courses) and credits used for programme components whose exams you have already sat will count in the calculation of your scholarship. These study credits will be added to those used for the new programme components
cancelling your enrolment after 16 March: the study credits used for all the programme components you have dropped are still taken into account. These study credits will be added to those used for the new programme components.

If the total number of credits used for your active enrolments on 30 June is less than 27 then you will no longer be entitled to a scholarship. If you are in a diploma year and you still have to finish your dissertation then the 27 study credit rule does not apply.

Note: you can receive a scholarship for a maximum of 60 study credits per year. If you have received more than you were entitled to, this will be recovered from you.

Dropping out

Procedure:

Implications for your learning account:

cancelling your enrolment before 31 October: you can recover the study credits used for all the programme components you chose to drop except for those whose assessment period has already started or whose exams you have already taken.
cancelling your enrolment after 1 November: you can only get back the study credits you used for second semester courses. You will lose the study credits you used for first semester and year-long courses. If you wish to change programmes after 1 November, we recommend you sit the January examinations - at least for some modules - and recover the credits you used by passing the exams.
cancelling your enrolment after 16 March: all of your programme's study credits will be deducted from your learning account. You will lose any credits used for components you fail or whose exams you do not take.

These rules only apply to degree contracts. Study credits can never be recovered when cancelling enrolment on a credit contract. The learning account principle does not apply to exam contracts.

Implications for your tuition fees:

cancelling your enrolment by 31 October: no study credits are deducted from your learning account. You will only need to pay a fixed amount of €64.90 (per enrolment, where applicable).
cancelling your enrolment from 1 November onwards: study credits of all first semester and year-long programme components will be deducted. You will need to pay the tuition fees for these programme components.
cancelling your enrolment as of 16 March: all the study credits of your programme have been used. You owe the corresponding tuition fees for your full programme.

Any tuition fees paid with training vouchers will not be reimbursed.

Credit and exam contracts cannot be cancelled and are never reimbursed.

If you cancel your enrolment entirely, your status as "prospective scholarship student" will also be re-examined:

cancelling your enrolment before 31 October: your tuition fees will be calculated according to your status as a non-scholarship student (€64.90).
cancelling your enrolment from 1 November onwards: if you did not use 27 study credits then your tuition fees will be recalculated on the basis of your status as a non-scholarship student. If you have already applied for a scholarship then social services can check whether you are entitled to reduced tuition fees. If you have used 27 or more study credits, your tuition fees or advance payments will continue to be calculated according to the scholarship student framework. In the spring of 2013 your tuition fees will be recalculated based on the status of your scholarship application. The same procedure is followed for all students, regardless of whether you cancel your enrolment. If you do not receive a scholarship you will be required to pay the outstanding tuition fees. If you do subsequently receive the scholarship, you will of course be reimbursed.

Implications for your family allowance:

No family allowance will be paid as of the first month after you have stopped studying unless you immediately register with the VDAB as a jobseeker. You will then receive family allowance during the job placement period provided you are under 25 and earn less than €509.87 gross per month. If you have cancelled your enrolment then it is NOT possible to seek employment as a working student!

Implications for your scholarship:

cancelling your enrolment by 31 October: you will not be entitled to a scholarship for this academic year. If your scholarship has already been paid, it will need to be returned in full. All the study credits you used will be recredited to your learning account. You can use them for future studies if you wish
cancelling your enrolment between 1 November and 28 February: only study credits used for first semester and year-long courses are taken into account for your scholarship. You will receive a scholarship if you have used at least 27 study credits. If you have already received a scholarship which was calculated on the basis of credits used for the entire academic year, you will need to pay back part of it. If you have not used 27 study credits then you are not entitled to a scholarship and it must be paid back in full. If you are in a diploma year and you still have to finish your dissertation then the 27 study credit rule does not apply.
cancelling your enrolment after 16 March: this will not affect your scholarship. You will receive a scholarship for all the study credits used in your original enrolment. Your scholarship will not have to be paid back.

Note: whether or not you receive a scholarship next year will depend on the number of credits you acquire this year. If you do not earn credits for all your programme components this year, you will have to use (part of) your bonus credit next year if you still have it.