Improving theses and other papers

Students that receive a failing grade may submit an application to redo their bachelor’s or master’s thesis once. In order to submit a thesis again, it has to be a new piece of work, or be changed enough that it counts as a new piece of work. In order for the thesis to be considered a new piece of work, it must ask and answer new questions and/or:

• Include new empirical data, and/or
• Include a significantly changed analysis or interpretation of the original empirical data

Bachelor’s or master’s theses that have received a passing grade, may not be re-submitted.

A new/changed thesis must be submitted at the latest one year after the first submission. Students needing an extension, must apply to the dean. The application must include a reasoning.

Procedure to sign up for re-submission of failed thesis

• Apply to the dean to re-submit the thesis
• 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)
• The application must include what changes the student plans to make in order for it to be considered a new or sufficiently changed thesis
• If needed, apply for an extension

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.

Term papers that have been given a failing grade, may be improved upon and re-submitted once, as long as the study programme or course description does not say otherwise. The same is true for term papers that have received a passing grade.

Other large papers with individually created thesis questions may be improved upon once unless otherwise specified in the programme or course description.

Other large papers with individually created thesis questions may be, for instance, research papers or other papers equalling 15 ECTS credits or more. Only papers with individually created thesis questions are governed by this rule.

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.

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.

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.