Study Progress Monitoring
One of the criteria for a residence permit for study is sufficient study progress. Sufficient study progress means that you must obtain at least 50% of the required ECTS credits each academic year. Because this is a crucial requirement, the Immigration Office will check your progress three times a year, in March, June, and August The final check will be in September. If you have not obtained sufficient ECTS, the Immigration Office must inform the IND.
How many ECTS do you need to obtain?
If you start your academic year in September, you will need to obtain at least 30 ECTS before 31 August. As each year has a total study load of 60 ECTS. If you start your program in February, you must obtain at least 15 ECTS by 31 August.
Dispensation
If you're concerned that you won't be able to obtain the required number of ECTS, and you believe that you have a valid reason, you can submit a request for dispensation. Valid reasons for dispensation are listed in the Higher Education and Research Act and include circumstances such as illness, exceptional family circumstances, pregnancy, and psychological issues.
If your dispensation request is granted, the UvA will not inform the IND. However, if your dispensation request is not granted, we will have to inform the IND.
What happens if the UvA informs the IND?
Once the UvA has informed the IND of your insufficient study progress, you'll receive a letter from the IND notifying you of the decision to withdraw your permit. If you wish to contest this decision, you can appeal it by following the instructions provided in the letter. If you do not submit an appeal, or if your appeal is not granted, you'll be required to leave the Netherlands within four weeks of receiving the decision letter from the IND.
Graduating and internship
If you will be graduating in the current academic year, the SPM regulation does not apply to you. You will obtain your diploma and will no longer be required to meet the minimum requirement of obtaining at least half of the ECTS per academic year.
If you are doing an internship for which you will receive ECTS at the end of the academic year, you don't have to take action. However, it is important that these ECTS are registered in SIS by 31 August. If you don't pass the internship and obtain less than half of the ECTS, the SPM regulation will apply to you.
To whom does the study progress monitoring not apply?
- To all students for a preparatory period (a pre-master, for example). You must complete this programme within 12 months. An extension is not possible
- Exchange students
- Students who graduate within the academic year
Switching studies
If you're interested in switching to a different program at the UvA, please note that you'll still need to obtain 30 credits to be eligible for a transfer. Additionally, the study progress monitoring requirements will still apply, even if you change programs.
If you're considering transferring to a different educational institution, you'll need to contact that institution directly to arrange your residence permit based on study.
The binding study advice and study progress monitoring
There are two separate regulations that can affect your enrollment and residence permit. The Binding Study Advice (BSA) and Study Programme Monitoring (SPM). Please note that if you want dispensation for both SPM and BSA regulations, you must apply for dispensation separately for each regulation. Obtaining dispensation for one regulation does not automatically apply to the other regulation.