Improving theses and other papers

Students that receive a failing grade may re-submit their bachelor’s or master’s thesis once within the following two terms. For a thesis to be re-submitted, it must be entirely new or so significantly revised that it can be considered a new piece of work. You must clarify with the course coordinator and/or supervisor which changes are required for the thesis to be considered new or revised.

When re-submitting, you as a student are obliged to familiarise yourself with the rules for using previously submitted work. See the guidelines on cheating and academic misconduct here.

A revised thesis must either present and answer new research questions, and/or:

• Include new empirical material (sources/data), and/or
• Provide a significantly different analysis and interpretation of the original empirical data

You may use the registration form for re-sit exams. Here, you must describe the changes you plan to make. The form must be submitted within the established deadlines for the semester.

If you withdraw from submitting your assignment after the withdrawal deadline for the exam, or if you do not submit it, this will be registered as "not attended". This counts as one exam attempt. You will subsequently have one (1) further opportunity to submit your bachelor's or master's thesis during the following term. A new attempt will not be granted if the grading decision for the submitted thesis in the subsequent semester results in a grade of F (fail).

Normally, it is not possible to submit a new bachelor's or master's thesis if the original thesis received a passing grade.

In special cases, a student who has passed may, upon application, be allowed to write a new thesis once. The student's academic progress and performance will be taken into account when assessing the application.

The application should at least include:

• The student's reason and motivation for wishing to submit a new thesis
• The student's plan for improving the result
• Special circumstances that prevented the student from achieving the desired result

How to apply to submit a new thesis after a passing grade:

• Submit an application to eksamen@hivolda.no, which will process the application in consultation with the relevant academic department
• The application must be submitted by the deadline (1st September or 1st February), and students must sign up in Studentweb or by using the form (https://www.hivolda.no/en/student-service/forms)

When assessing a thesis, the examiners may use the entire grading scale, and will not be informed that the thesis has previously received a failing grade and that the student in question has used extra time. If possible, new examiners should be assigned.

You normally have three exam attempts for each exam. However, if you wish to improve a passing or failing grade, there are certain guidelines you must follow.

When improving semester papers or other major assignments with individually created thesis questions (for example, research papers or other papers equalling 15 ECTS credits or more), you must submit an entirely new assignment or one that is so significantly revised that it can be considered new.

In order for a paper to be considered an improved version, the student must have made significant changes to the original submission. That may be, for example:

• The paper answers new questions
• The paper utilises new empirical material (sources/data)
• The paper contains a significant change in the analysis and interpretation of the original empirical contents

In order for a student to improve upon a term paper or other large paper with an individually created thesis question, they must:

• Sign up for a new exam by the deadline (1st September or 1st February)
• Contact the course coordinator to agree to what degree they may use the previously submitted paper, and to clear up what must be changed in order for the paper to be considered an improved version.
• When re-submitting, you as a student are obliged to familiarise yourself with the rules for using previously submitted work. See the guidelines on cheating and academic misconduct here.

Students may not submit individually improved versions of group assignments. Should they want to improve a paper, all of the group members must be party to it.

Students must sign up by the deadline (1st September or 1st February). Students must also contact the course coordinator to clear up to what degree they may use the previously submitted paper, and to clear up what must be changed in order for the assignment to be considered an improved version.

Students may submit improved versions of portfolio exams that have received failing grades.

Students must sign up by the deadline (1st September or 1st February). Students must also contact the course coordinator to clear up to what degree they may use the previously submitted assignment, and to clear up what must be changed in order for the assignment to be considered an improved version.

A student who has not passed an exam after three attempts may, in special circumstances, apply for an exemption for a fourth exam attempt. The student's academic progress and performance may be taken into account when assessing the application.

The application should at least include:

• The student's own assessment of their academic progress
• The student's plan for improving their academic progress, including reflections on what the student must do differently to pass the course

The application must be addressed to eksamen@hivolda.no. The student's application and overall academic progress will be part of the total assessment of whether a fourth attempt is granted for the course in question. The application is assessed by the Student Administration in consultation with the relevant academic department. If a fourth attempt is granted, requirements may be set for the student to follow the teaching schedule and complete mandatory activities again.

If a significant amount of time has passed since a student passed an exam, the question if they can improve their grade must be considered on an individual basis. This is because assigned readings, prerequisites, exam form, etc, may have been changed.

Students wishing to improve an exam, must abide by the current course description. This may include submitting new work requirements in order to be allowed to submit the paper.

When assessing a paper, the examiners may use the entire grading scale, and they will not be informed that the paper has previously received a failing grade and that the student in question has used extra time. If possible, new examiners should be assigned.

When it becomes clear that a paper has received a failing grade, the oral adjusting exam should be cancelled for that student. If the student appeals the grade, the right to re-submit is only applicable if the new examiners also give the paper a failing grade. If the paper passes following an appeal, the student must complete the oral adjusting exam in the normal manner.

Students are not entitled to more supervision when improving a paper with an individually created thesis questions.

Student’s need for more supervision on bachelor’s and master’s theses will be evaluated in connection with the application to submit a new thesis.

The dean of the faculty will decide whether students receive more supervision and how much they receive.

If a thesis or paper has been annulled due to academic misconduct (cheating), students may not submit an improved version of the paper with the same thesis question. The student must write a new paper.