Fachhochschule des BFI Wien UNIVERSITY OF APPLIED SCIENCES BFI VIENNA

General Guideline Diploma examination (= master's degree examination) 2011

Last update: 15 December 2010 This general guideline for master's degree examinations was decided in the university council meeting on 15 December 2010 and will be in effect for all UAS degree programmes at the University of Applied Sciences bfi Vienna as of summer semester 2011. Please note that this general guideline could or might have to be changed or amended due to mandatory provisions issued by the UAS Board of Governors or at the UAS council's own initiative.

1. Content of the oral diploma examination

The oral diploma examination completing the master's degree programme is a general examination and consists of the completion of a master thesis and an oral exam before a committee, with the contents of the diploma examination being examination sections rather than partial tests. The oral master's degree examination before a committee is a general examination and consists of: Presentation and defence of the master thesis Discussion about relevant subjects on the curriculum related to the topic of the master thesis Discussion about other relevant subjects on the curriculum The examination committee (= pool of examiners for the master's degree examinations of a degree programme made up of all full-time and part-time lecturers at the UAS) consists of all staff members teaching in the respective degree programme (bachelor's or master's degree programme). The examination senates (= team of examiners for the single oral final examination) consist of the following persons: Chairperson: Director of Studies or a delegated member of the examination committee, 1st special examiner: expert representative from the examination committee teaching in the field of study which the thesis is affiliated with 2nd special examiner: other expert representative from the examination committee

2. Duration and procedure of the oral diploma examination

The oral examination begins with questions regarding the master thesis; apart from clarification questions about the thesis, questions regarding the topic of the thesis linked to relevant subjects on the curriculum will also be discussed. Furthermore, other relevant issues on the curriculum will be included in the discussion. Finally, specific questions can also serve as a starting point for the consideration and description of potential approaches.
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Preparation time may be granted for the oral diploma examination. Duration of the oral examination: approx. 30 to 50 minutes in total per candidate Presentation and defence of the master thesis Discussion about relevant subjects on the curriculum related to the topic of the master thesis Discussion about other relevant subjects on the curriculum There are two variations of the oral diploma examination: Var. I: Only one candidate is examined at a time Var. II: A group of candidates is examined at the same time (e.g. three candidates at a time). The following issues regarding the procedure of the diploma examination should be noted: At the beginning of their final semester (3rd semester or 4th semester with the ARIMA programme) the Director/Coordinator of Studies will appropriately inform the students about dates and assessment criteria for the diploma examination (via email and notice board). To determine the subject matter of the exam the candidates will be given a reading list in advance. This limited list of examination subjects is the basis for the discussion about topics related to the master thesis and other relevant issues on the curriculum. The discussion will focus on clarification and summary questions. Specific problems (e.g. minor case studies) might serve as a starting point for further discussion. Possible preparation time for the oral diploma examination may be granted. The records of the examination shall only contain the overall grade (distinction, merit, pass, fail), not any partial assessment. The overall grade can be reached via a points system or a grading system. Information regarding this process shall be included in the records of the examination. The standard form valid for all degree programmes of the UAS bfi Vienna will be used for recording the examination process. Further details regarding the content and procedure of the oral diploma examination will be announced by those responsible for the respective degree programmes.

3. Overall assessment of the diploma examination

The following in particular needs to be determined for the calculation of the grade: Weighting of the four sections of the examination (master thesis, presentation and defence of the thesis, discussion about subjects related to the thesis, discussion about other relevant subjects on the curriculum) The examination senate will assess the diploma examination according to the following grading scale: Pass with distinction: For an outstanding performance in the exam Pass with merit: For a performance distinctly above average Pass: For a positive performance in the exam Fail: For an unsatisfactory performance in the exam

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The examination senate under the leadership of the chairperson will assess the examination (overall grade) immediately after the oral diploma examination. Neither the examination candidates nor any other listeners will be present during the examination senate's consultation regarding the assessment of the exam. Records of the oral examinations must be documented. This enclosed addendum to the record of results contains a summary of the questions asked as well as the assessed answers. The respective examination senate shall announce the result of the oral diploma examination to the student immediately upon determination of the grade. The chairperson is responsible for the records of the session and thus also for the coordinated joint assessment of the oral examination. The records must be duly signed by the members of the examination senate. Resit examination A failed diploma examination before the committee can be repeated no more than twice. To calculate the overall assessment (grade) of the final examination, the four sections of the exam will be weighted as follows: master thesis 40%; presentation and defence of the thesis 10%; discussion about subjects related to the thesis special field 1 25%, discussion about other relevant subjects on the curriculum special field 2 25% The diploma examination before the committee will be graded "Fail" if the candidate fails at least one section of the exam. The resit examination is always a general examination, for which there is only one overall grade. If the diploma examination is graded "Fail", the exam has to be retaken in its entirety. Resit examinations will if possible take place before the same examination senate as the first examination. Failure to report for an exam without a sufficient explanation will result in the grade "Fail".

4. Exemplary grading scheme of a degree programme

Grade Master thesis (40%) Presentation and defence of thesis (10%) Discussion about subjects related to the thesis (25%) Discussion about other relevant subjects on the curriculum (25%) Overall assessment (weighted mean)

1st example Distinction 2nd example Merit 3rd example Pass 4th example Fail

1.0

1.5

1.0

1.5

1.175

1.5

2.0

2.0

2.5

1.70

2.0

2.0

2.5

3.0

2.375

2.0

2.0

2.5

5.0

Fail (2.875)

The respective grade (partial and overall assessment) will be calculated by the committee under the leadership of the chairperson.
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Example of the application of the above grading scale Pass with distinction: The master thesis must be assessed as 1.0 or 1.5 The average grade must be equal to or better than 1.5 No grade must be worse than 2.0 Pass with merit: The master thesis must be assessed as no worse than 2.0 The average grade must be 2.0 max. No grade must be worse than 2.5 Pass: Other positive assessment (no distinction or merit)

5. Possible examination and resit examination dates

Due to various specifics of a degree programme fixed examination dates spanning all degree programmes cannot be set in detail. The following dates can serve as a guide only: 1st examination date: end of the required period of study (end of January week 4) 2nd examination date: end of March (week 11) 3rd and final examination date: end of June at the latest (week 25) If the student does not take the exam at either of the two main examination dates, they must inform the Director of Studies in writing of their reasons for not taking the exam prior to the official diploma examination date. Withdrawing from an exam without any notice or without well-founded reasons with regard to the accredited degree programme application will automatically result in the grade "Fail". The same regulation applies in case of failure to report for the following examination dates (2nd and 3rd date). Vienna, 25 November 2010 RS

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