Master of Business Administration in Shipping and Logistics (Blue MBA)

Pursuant to section 13 of Ministerial Order no. 19 of 9 January 2020 about Master’s Programmes at the Universities; section 29 of Ministerial Order no. 22 of 9 January 2020 on University Examinations and Grading (the Examination Order); and section 20 of Ministerial Order no. 114 of 3 February 2015 on the Grading Scale and other forms of assessment of educations within the sphere of the Ministry of Higher Education and Science (the Grading Scale Order), the Dean of Education, acting on a proposal prepared by the study board, has approved the following programme regulations.

Part 1: Programme specific regulations

Part 2: General regulations for master programmes
  12. Teaching and examination language
  13. Prerequisites for participating in the exam: compulsory activities
  14. Exam registration and withdrawal
  15-17. Make-up examinations and re-take examinations
  18. Extraordinary re-exams and offers of re-assessment / re-exam
  19. Examination forms
  20. Examination rules
  21. Examination aids
  22. Examinations under special circumstances
  23. Sitting examinations abroad
  24. Assessment
  25. Announcement of results
  26.-27. Pass requirements and exam attempts
  28. Diploma
  29. Leave
  30. Programme regulations
  31. Exemption from the programme regulations
  32.-35. Credit transfer

Part 3: Complaints

Commencement and transition regulations

1. Students who successfully complete the programme earn the degree Master of Business Administration in Shipping and Logistics, Executive (EMBA), in Danish Master i business administration i shipping og logistik, executive (EMBA).

(2) This programme is governed by The Study Board for the Master of Business Administration in Shipping and Logistics.

(3) The programme is a two-year, part-time programme equivalent to 60 ECTS. The programme is organized so that people in full-time employment will be able to participate. Level of qualification: Master degree at NQF/EQF Level 7 referring to Second Cycle in the Bologna QF.

(4) The programme duration refers to the number of student full-time equivalents according to which the programme is structured. A full-time equivalent corresponds to one year of work by a full-time student and corresponds to an annual workload of 1650 working hours corresponding to 60 ECTS credits (European Credit Transfer System). The workload includes scheduled classes, preparation for classes, completion of written assignments, other teaching activities, independent study as well as preparation for, and participation in examinations.

(5) The programme must be completed no later than 5 years after commencement. 

1A. Requirements for admission to the Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics are as follows:

• A Bachelor’s degree from a recognised academic institution or a Master Mariner/Ships’ Engineer degree. Applicants with a non-qualifying academic background (or an unaccredited academic background) will be evaluated on an individual basis.
• Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT) with a score of 500 or above or the CBS admission test with a score of = 50 % correct answers.
• Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) with a score of 210 or above. Recognised certificates of proficiency in English equivalent to TOEFL are accepted.
• Minimum 5 years of relevant work experience.
• Two personal recommendations.
• A guarantee for payment of the fee for the programme.

Prior to admission, applicants are interviewed and a total individual assessment of the suitability of an applicant is made based upon how well the above requirements are met, and the impressions from the interview.

(2) In special cases an exemption may be granted by the university to an applicant who does not meet the requirements outlined in subsection (1), but who, on the basis of a concrete assessment, is found to have comparable educational prerequisites.

(3) The deadline for applications to the Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics is mid-August for the programme starting late September.

2. The Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics programme offered at CBS is a graduate degree in business management and economics, addressing the need of the maritime industry. The programme is designed to reflect the global and diverse nature of the maritime industry with emphasis on globalization of the world economy, implications of information and communication technology development, logistics requirements as well as leadership challenges.  The programme is offered to mid- and senior-level managers within the different segments of the maritime industry who hold an academic bachelor, Master’s degree, MBA degree, or Master Mariner/Chief Engineer qualifications and have a few years of work experience in a relevant field.

(2) The programme aims at attracting mid-and senior level managers holding at least a bachelor degree and with professional international work experience relevant to the maritime sector. The programme gives students up-to-date insights into modern management theories and practices and their applications to challenges in the maritime sector. The programme adopts a holistic view of shipping by integrating technological and operational aspects, maritime law as well as supply chain management with more general management topics.

(3) After completion of the programme the graduates should be able to handle real world management problems within areas like finance, investment appraisal, organisation and strategy. Furthermore, they should be able to communicate with insight with people from various parts of their organisation and environment, including accountants, maritime lawyers, naval architects, human resource developers, operations managers, etc. Graduates should also have developed interpersonal communication skills and leadership abilities to become better leaders of other people.

3. The Study Board has developed the following competency profile:

Knowledge:
The aim of Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics is to give the participants an understanding of the shipping industry, its global position and relationships, and to give the student an understanding of complexities and dynamics in the industry producing strategic challenges and opportunities for economic and institutional actors.

The programme adopts a holistic view of shipping - integrating commercial, technological and financial aspects as well as maritime law and supply-chain management, and leadership challenges.

Being a research based and practice oriented university programme, the Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics gives the participants knowledge at highest international level as well as practice-based knowledge integrated into the different learning elements. Moreover, the participants are able to reflect upon scientific as well as practical knowledge and the participants are capable of identifying scientific issues. The participants are able critically to choose among the different theoretical perspectives learned.

Graduates from the Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics have in depth knowledge within several fields of study. Participants will learn general economics, finance and management, and have specialized knowledge of the shipping industry:

1. The shipping market and its institutions, its dynamics and historical developments
2. Drivers in shipping innovation and the development of World trade
3. The shipping as a competitive industry
4. Restrictions that determine main dimensions and aspects of ship design
5. Principles of operations and service management and how they can be applied to the maritime, transportation and logistics industries
6. Overview of the legal framework governing international shipping including the main bodies involved in creating new legislations and regulations.
7. Theoretical understanding of leadership as organizational practice.

Graduates have acquired a scientifically based knowledge within several fields of study and they will be able to identify scientific issues related to the shipping industry and a shipping company.

Skills:
The participants of the programme develop skills to apply the knowledge gained to practical situations and independently carry out analysis using different scientific theories and methods.

They will be able to:

Understand the different theories and select amongst them the most relevant for the operations of their companies. In that respect participants are both able to analyse and identify scientific issues and to reflect on appropriate scientific methods.

Suggest solutions to pertinent problems and develop implementation plans.

Acquire skills within general economics, finance and management, as well as industry specific fields of knowledge such as markets, regulations, ship designs, maritime law, transport logistics, etc.

Apply theoretical framework for understanding the behavior of shipping companies in a global industry.

Develop and execute strategies by employing different scientific methods for analysing the industry, as well as the individual company and its competitors and partners within that industry.

Being a research based programme our participants learn how to use theories and scientific method and to design new analytical models and framework for understanding industry and company dynamics. This is an extremely important skill for our participants due to the changes and challenges in contemporary global shipping market and industry.

Use scientific methods and theories relevant to shipping industry analysis.

Involve academic peers and non-specialist in problem solving using research based knowledge.

The programme develops the participants’ skills in understanding own leadership capacity.

Competence:
The ultimate goal of the Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics programme is to develop the competence profile of the participants to:

Understand the complexity of world trade and globalization and its impact on drivers in supply and demand both in their own segment as well as in the entire maritime industry, based on which develop strategy and manage to implement solutions.

Use various methodologies and tools to carry out analyses based on the different market situations arising from a cyclic nature of the maritime industry.

Recognize the importance of geopolitics, shift of trade routes caused by new raw material sources, climate changes and new regulatory regimes.

Act reflectively and with confidence in an industry characterized by a high degree of uncertainty, extreme business cycles.

Develop new strategies in response to market fluctuation – either singlehandedly or in collaboration with various players in the maritime industry.

Be able to perform own leadership practice explicitly in the context of globalization and local situations. In that respect the participants should be able to act responsibly in own organization as well as in collaborative settings in the industry. 

4.  The Executive MBA in Shipping and Logistics is a two-year (more exactly, 22 months) part time programme during which the physical presence of the candidates is required for eight one-week modules as well as three sessions for presentations of work in progress for the final Integrating Strategy Project. A major part of the programme is based on communication on a virtual learning platform where candidates prepare individual or group assignments, employing readings and data on a specific, work-related problem. The structure of the programme allows the mid- and senior-level professionals to carry on their studies alongside their jobs. Hence, participants are encouraged to relate the assignments to their daily work.

The programme aims at combining general management theories and methods with industry specific topics. In comparison to the general MBA it puts less emphasis on accounting and more on market analysis, logistics and maritime technology management, reflecting the educational needs of the maritime sector.

The programme is based on a virtual learning platform, where individual assignments and feedback discussions form the basis of the learning process. With planning in advance, participants are given the opportunity to focus their studies towards a specialisation direction.

The programme consists of 11 courses including an integrated leadership course and excluding an individual final Integrating Strategy Project (the final master's project).

(2) Preceded by an optional pre-MBA the programme is logically structured in five stages of learning:

• Establishing a knowledge platform (Course 1) 

The first module brings participants to approximately the same level of background knowledge before entering the next stages. It also serves as a forum for introducing the virtual learning platform and for the formation of well-functioning student groups, which are meant to continue during the entire programme. Group contacts are particularly important in between modules, when participants are working with the e-learning resources on individual assignments.

• Understanding the main drivers for change (Courses 2 and 3)

Gives the participants a better understanding of the driving forces in the world economy and the trends in logistics and supply chain management.

• Developing a holistic view of shipping (Courses 4, 5 and 6)

Focuses on industry specific areas like the legal environment for maritime business and provides an understanding of vessels both from a design and an operations point of view.

• Acquiring the tools of strategic analysis  (Courses 7, 8, 9 and 10)

Introduces participants to the key areas of business administration, offering a set of theories, analytical frameworks and technical instruments, which in conjunction make up a toolbox for  the professional manager.

• Applying acquired knowledge in practice (Master's project)

This is the ultimate test of a student’s ability to apply the knowledge of many subject areas, theories and tools in one, comprehensive project where the knowledge is integrated to give a solution to a concrete, practical problem, complete with an implementation plan for the solution.

(3) With the aim of developing personal skills required in leadership roles, personal leadership and development are integrated with the content in all five stages of learning.

(4) The main learning instrument throughout the programme is the individual assignment.  The assignment topics address specific issues of relevance to the candidate’s company. Furthermore the complete set of assignments offers possibilities of specialisation within the MBA. The main directions of specialisation will typically be within these broad subject categories:

• supply chain management and logistics
• shipping market analysis and strategic shipping management
• finance and strategy
• organisation and strategy

Master’s project

(5) In order to pass the final module, the Integrating Strategy Project, the participant must give three presentations covering the four areas: industry analysis, company analysis, issue analysis, and implementation plan. The presentations for company and issue analysis are combined.  The final presentation functions as the oral defense of the master's project. The assessment of the master's project is based on the submitted written project as well as the final oral presentation.

Teaching formats

(6) Teaching will be based on a combination of homework, lectures, plenary discussions, group discussions, assignments and study tours. Examination constitutes an important element in learning as well as assessment. For each course there will be core theoretical elements that should be learned. However, skills and competences are primarily learned through the participants’ effort in combining theoretical knowledge, own professional knowledge, and industry specific knowledge.

Professional knowledge and industry specific knowledge will be important cornerstones in translating and transferring theoretical knowledge in terms of own cases or specially designed cases for the purpose of understanding content, context and processes of a specific issue (theoretically or practically).

Programme structure

(7) The below table lists the structure of the Programme and the ECTS credits of the individual courses. The course descriptions are available in the online course catalogue. Direct links are inserted in the below table.

5. The programme consists of the examinations listed below. The learning objectives and the regulations of the individual examinations are prescribed in the online course catalogue. Direct links to the individual examinations are inserted in the table below.

The exams amount to 60 ECTS credits in total.

5A. There are no compulsory activities in the mandatory courses.

6. This degree programme is covered by the body of external examiners for the business administration programmes.

7. The general pass requirements are stipulated in section 26. 

8. When a course is no longer offered, the deadline for using a third exam attempt is 16 months after the end of the teaching of the course.

9.-10. (Not in use.)

11. The teaching is organised in a collaboration between the Programme Director, the course coordinators, if any, and the teachers. The Study Board approves the organisation of the teaching.

12.  Examinations are conducted in English; see however subsection (2).

(2) If a course has been taught in a language other than English, the examination is conducted in that language.

(3) The Study Board may decide to deviate from the rules stipulated in subsections (1)-(2), except when documenting the student’s skills in a specific other language is part of the objective of the examination.

 (4) The provisions in subsections (1)-(2) apply to oral and written sit-in examinations and to all types of written take-home assignments (seminar papers, projects etc.) subject to assessment.

13. Besides the examinations listed in section 5, which are included in the final grade point average, on some courses there are one or more compulsory activities. That means that as part of the teaching, one or more written assignments must be submitted and/or one or more oral presentations or other compulsory activities must be carried out. In order for students to participate in the final examination of the course in question, it is a condition that, within a set deadline, the required number of compulsory activities have been submitted/carried out and have been approved by the teacher. What is evaluated is the student’s effort; i.e. whether the student has made a try at solving/answering the assignment or has participated in the activity. A blank or irrelevant submission is not regarded as having participated in the activity. Further specifications regarding the number of compulsory activities, format etc. are stated in the course description of the individual course.

(2) A student who, within the deadline determined under subsection (1), is short on having one or more activities approved as regards the required number of approved activities in the course may, to a reasonable extent, be given one or more extra assignments/participate in one or more extra activities, prior to the ordinary examination (1^st examination attempt) in the final examination in the course, see however subsection (3). However, it is a precondition that the student has participated in all set activities, unless it can be documented that lack of submission/participation was caused by illness or similar circumstances. If necessary for practical reasons, a different type of activity may be decided.

(3) In courses where the number of set activities during the teaching period is higher than the number of activities that are required to be approved (x number of y number set activities must be approved), the student may not be given extra assignments/participate in extra activities prior to the ordinary examination in the final examination in the course; this also applies in cases of illness or similar circumstances.

(4) A student who, prior to the re-exam (2nd examination attempt) in the final examination in the course, is still short on having one or more activities approved as regards the required number of approved activities in the course may, to a reasonable extent, be given extra assignments/participate extra activities prior to the re-take examination. However, it is a precondition that the student has participated in all set activities, unless it can be documented that lack of submission/participation was caused by illness or similar circumstances. Further specifications regarding the number of compulsory activities, format etc. are stated in the course description of the individual course.

(5) For a student who is to participate in a re-exam under programme regulations which are entered into force after the first time the student was registered for the course in question, the student shall not be subject to any new requirements about compulsory activites resulting from the newer programme regulations.

14. Students who are enrolled on a course with one or more examinations are automatically registered for this/these examinations as regards the regular examination. The deadline for withdrawal of registration is 1 month before the start of the examination in question.

(2) If the deadline for withdrawal from an examination is not met, the examination will be considered started, and it will therefore count as one attempt, see section 27(1).

(3) The Study Board may waive the rules stipulated in subsections (1) and (2), including the specified deadline, if warranted by extraordinary circumstances.

15. A student who has been prevented from completing a regular exam due to documented illness or due to other documented reasons must be given the chance to take the exam as soon as possible.

(2) A make-up examination is only available to students who have been registered for the regular examination. Thus, a make-up examination will not be held for students who have been prevented from sitting a re-examination due to illness.

(3) The make-up examination will be held as soon as possible after the regular examination, i.e. usually in the same examination period or immediately after.

(4) For the requirements regarding documentation etc. concerning illness during an examination are laid down reference is made to CBS’ rules regarding illness in connection with an examination. Attention must be paid to the documentation deadline stated in those rules.

16. Students who have not participated in, who have withdrawn from or who have not passed the regular examination are entitled to register for the re-take examination. However, the Study Board may lay down requirements about participation in the regular exam being a requirement for participating in the re-take examination; any such requirement will be laid down in the programme specific regulations in part 1, see ss. 8-10.

(2) Re-take examinations are held as soon as possible after the regular examination, i.e. in the same examination period or immediately after.

(3) Participation in a re-take examination counts as one attempt at the examination in question.

17. Make-up examinations and re-examinations are subject to the learning objectives of the regular examination of the examination in question.

(2) Make-up examinations and re-examinations are conducted according to the examination regulations of the regular examination of the test in question, except when:

1. the examination regulations for the examination in question explicitly contain differing provisions for make-up examinations/re-take examinations, or
2. it is a written examination and the number of registered candidates for the make-up examination/re-take examination warrants that it may most appropriately be held as an oral examination.

(3) It is not possible to determine another examination form for the master project.

Extraordinary re-exams and offers of re-assessment / re-exam

18. If an extraordinary re-examination is arranged or offered in accordance with section 21 of the Examination Order (regarding examination irregularities) or the offer of a re-evaluation/re-examination is given in accordance with section 36 or 41 of the Examination Order (regarding assessment complaints), the re-examination is subject to the learning objectives of the regular examination of the examination in question.

(2) Examinations under subsection 1 can be conducted in accordance with the regulations of the re-exam if the examination is an offer of an extraordinary re-exam.

19. Examinations are organised as individual examinations or as group examinations. The specific examination form of a given examination, including whether it is an individual or a group examination, or a mixture of the two, is stated in the relevant course description, see links in section 5.

(2) At both individual and group examinations the student’s individual performance must be assessed, and grading must be individual, see subsections (3)-(4).

(3) At oral group examinations the individual student must be examined in such a way that it is ensured that the student’s individual performance is assessed.

(4) If a written product is produced by more than one student, and if there is no oral defence of the product, it must be stated in the group product which parts of the product the individual student has written, so that individual assessments can be made of the individual students’ performances. It must be stated both in the table of contents and at the introduction of the parts of the product which the individual student is responsible for. The individual student’s student number is to be noted, not the student’s name. The introduction, the problem statement, methodology sections, and the conclusion – including any subconclusions – can be written jointly. If it within the given exam format makes sense to write other relevant sub-elements of the assignment jointly, it must be described in the exam regulations in the course description for the course.

(5) For group examinations, see subsection (1), rules about those of the following factors that are relevant for the examination form in question must be stated in the regulations of the individual examination:

1. maximum group size
2. the allotted time at the oral examination – see subsection (3)
3. requirements regarding individual contributions – see subsection (4).

(6) Where it is stipulated in the regulations of a given examination that it is a group examination, it is stated in the course description if the students can choose to take the examination as an individual examination instead, see however subsection (7). When the examination in question contains both a written and an oral part, both parts must then be taken as an individual examination.

(7) The student can choose to write the master’s project individually. When the master’s project has been made by a group, the student can choose to have an individual oral exam.

(8) When it is an oral exam based on a written product, the following applies to all variations:

1. Submission of the written product is a requirement to be able to attend the oral examination.
2. Both the written product and the oral presentation count in the assessment.
3. The assessment is an overall evaluation of the written product and the oral presentation.

(9) If the written element is of a limited extent and only serves as a basis for a broader oral examination in the syllabus (e.g. as at an oral exam based on a synopsis) it will usually be the oral element that constitutes the central basis of the evaluation. The written element will usually only have a marginal effect on the grade.

(10) If the written element clearly constitutes a greater part of the effort, and is therefore the element most central in achieving the learning objectives for this exam (e.g. as a final written exam with oral defense), it will usually be this element that constitutes the central basis of the evaluation. The oral element will usually only have a marginal effect on the grade.

20. All students have an obligation to familiarise themselves with and to observe the examination rules of the examinations which they participate in, including the general rules that apply to the individual examination. Those rules are in particular:

• The examination rules of the course in question, see links in section 5.
• Rules about written sit-in examinations at CBS, including rules about electronic aids, see section 21(3).
• Rules about online oral exams.
• Rules on good academic conduct, see section 4 of Copenhagen Business School’s rules and regulations on academic conduct, including penalties.

(2) Audio and video recordings of an examination or of the examiners’ discussion of a student’s performance are not allowed, unless such recordings are considered an integral part of the examination process. Such recordings will then be made by CBS.

(3) It is stipulated in the examination regulations of the individual examination what the maximum number of pages is for a given written product. This pertains to the examination forms written home assignment and oral exam based on a written product. In addition, the following applies for the written product with these two examination forms:

1. In the page count the front page, the bibliography and any appendices are not included. Appendices are not part of the assessment.
2. All pages must have a margin of min. 3 cm in top and bottom and min. 2 cm to each of the sides. The font must be minimum 11 points.
3. The table of contents, tables, diagrams, illustrations etc. are not included in the number of characters, but will not justify exceeding the maximum number of pages.
4. On average, one page must not contain more than 2,275 characters (including spaces).

(4) Upon digital submission the student declares that the submitted product complies with the rules for good academic conduct, form requirements and maximum size, via a digital declaration of authorship. All written products composed at home must contain – in all copies submitted for assessment – a declaration of authorship.

(5)  Any violation of rules and regulations under subsections (1)-(2) will be sanctioned in accordance with  Copenhagen Business School’s rules and regulations on academic conduct, including penalties.

(6) Violation of form or layout requirements stipulated in subsections (3-4) or form requirements laid down under section 6(4) may result in a rejection of the exam paper, see section 24(3) of the Examination Order. If the exam paper is rejected, it will not be assessed, and the student will have used an exam attempt.

21. The examination aids that students are allowed to bring with them to written sit-in examinations are specified in the examination regulations of the individual examination/course.

(2) Unless otherwise stated in the examination regulations, see subsection (1), no examination aids, whether written or technical, are allowed in the examination room, except simple writing and drawing utensils.

(3) In cases where the examination regulations, see subsection (1), stipulate that electronic aids can be brought to the examination room, the provisions stipulated in Rules about written sit-in examinations at CBS, including rules about electronic aids apply.

22. The Study Board may decide to deviate from the examination regulations stipulated for the individual examination with the purpose of allowing students with special needs to sit examinations under special circumstances. Such exemption can be granted to students who are physically or mentally disabled, to students whose mother tongue is not Danish, and to students who have similar difficulties when this is considered necessary in order to place them on even terms with their fellow students in the examination situation. It is a condition that it does not change the academic level of the examination.

(2) When it is stipulated in the objectives of the examination in question that the student’s spelling and writing skills are included in the assessment, the Study Board may grant exemption from this to a student who is able to document a relevant and specific impairment.

(3) Students who wish to apply for permission to sit an exam under special circumstances according to subsection (1) or apply for an exemption according to subsection (2) must submit an application, including the necessary documentation, to the assistant to the Study Board no later than 1 month before the exam is to take place.

23. The university may conduct oral exams as virtual examinations.  

(2) The Programme Director decides, when warranted by special extraordinary circumstances, whether - an oral exam can be conducted as an online oral exam.

(3) When an examination is conducted as a virtual exam CBS’ rules about online oral exams apply.

23a. The university may conduct examinations at a Danish representation or at other locations abroad, provided the reason for doing so is that the student is unable to participate in the university's examinations in Denmark for practical or financial reasons and if the student and the exam location reach an appropriate agreement. Danish examinations held abroad must comply with all the other rules laid down in the Examination Order.

(2) The Programme Director decides whether the examination can be conducted abroad and appoints or approves persons to organise the practical aspects of conducting the examination abroad.

(3) The university defrays the special costs associated with conducting examinations abroad.

(4) The Ministerial Order on Payment for the Services of Civil Servants Serving Abroad (Bekendtgørelse om betaling for tjenestehandlinger i udenrigstjenesten) applies to conducting examinations at Danish representations abroad.

(5) The university may ask the student to pay part or all of the costs incurred by the university to conduct the examination abroad. However, it is a condition that the student confirms in writing in advance his or her willingness to pay the costs in question, on the basis of an estimate made by the university of the expected costs. The university may make it a condition for conducting the examination that the amount is paid in advance.

(6) When an examination is conducted abroad, the conditions and regulations in CBS’ guidelines for examinations conducted abroad apply.

24. Examinations are either internal or external:

• Internal examinations are assessed by one or more teachers (internal examiners) appointed by CBS from among the teachers at the university or from other universities that offer the same or similar study programmes.
• External examinations are assessed by one or more internal examiners and one external examiner (in Danish: censor) appointed by the Danish Agency for Science and Higher Education.

(2) It is stipulated in the exam regulations of the individual examination whether it is an internal or an external examination, see link in section 5.

(3) Assessment of the examinations is carried out in accordance with the Grading Scale Order.

(4) Compulsory assignments and class participation, see section 13, are assessed by the teacher(s) of the specific course. The assessment type ‘Approved/Not approved’ is used.

25. In connection with examinations where the result is not announced immediately after the examination, the result must be announced within 4 weeks after the examination has been held, see however subsection (2). The month of July is not included in the calculation of these 4 weeks.

(2) In connection with bachelor projects, master’s (candidatus) theses and master’s projects, the result must be announced no later than 6 weeks after the project/thesis has been submitted.

(3) When special circumstances warrant it, the Programme Director can set aside the deadlines stipulated in subsections (1) and (2). If the assessment cannot be completed by the fixed deadline, the student(s) must be notified as soon as possible and be informed about the reason for the delay and when the result will be announced.

26. Each examination must be passed separately. An examination shall be passed when the student achieves a grade of at least 02 or the assessment ‘Pass’.

(2) Each examination can be retaken separately. However, passed examinations cannot be retaken.

(3) If a grade consists of several partial grades for various categories of performance (partial examinations), the grade shall be the average of the partial grades, rounded off to the nearest grade on the grading scale, see however subsection (4). The grade shall be rounded up if the average is half-way between two grades.

(4) If the partial grades are given different weights when the combined grade is to be calculated, this is stipulated in the exam overview in section 5. If so, the grade shall be the sum of the individual grades, each multiplied by the weighting of the grade, divided by the sum of the weightings and then rounded off to the nearest grade on the grading scale. The grade shall be rounded up if the average is half-way between two grades.

(5) If an examination consists of partial examinations, each partial examination can be retaken separately. However, passed partial examinations and not-passed partial examinations that are part of a passed examination cannot be retaken.

(6) Any requirements about a certain grade on the grading scale being required as achieved in one or more partial examinations are stipulated in section 7.

(7) The calculation of the overall grade point average is based on the weights of the individual grades, which are listed in the table in section 5.

(8) If a student retakes an examination or another type of assessment, the highest grade applies – see however section 37(4) of the Examination Order.

27. Students have a maximum of three attempts in passing each examination. The Study Board may grant more attempts, if warranted by extraordinary circumstances. The question of academic aptitude may not be included when assessing whether extraordinary circumstances apply.

(2) Students who are to have their class participation assessed a second time may require an examination instead. However, where class participation includes practical exercises, it cannot be replaced by an examination.

28. CBS issues a diploma to students who have completed their study programme, in accordance with the requirements stipulated in section 31 of the Examination Order. The diploma is issued to the graduate no later than 2 months after the final examination has taken place and the grade has been published. July is not included in the calculation of these 2 months.

(2) Students who leave the programme without having completed it are entitled to receive a transcript documenting the completed parts of the programme, with the relevant number of ECTS credits stated.

29. It is not possible to be granted a leave of absence.

30. The programme regulations and various regulations etc. referred to in this document are publicly available on CBS’ website, more specifically onstudieordninger.cbs.dk and in the study administrative rules (SAR).

31. The university may, when warranted by extraordinary circumstances, grant exemptions from those rules in the programme regulations which are solely laid down by the university.

(2) An exemption from the programme regulations that requires an exemption from a ministerial order may be brought before the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science.

32. Programme elements passed at another university are regarded as equivalent to corresponding programme elements covered by these study regulations.

33. The Study Board may grant approval for students to substitute passed programme elements from another Danish or foreign programme of the same level, for programme elements covered by these regulations.

(2) The Study Board may grant approval for students to substitute programme elements which are not yet passed from another Danish or foreign programme of the same level, for programme elements covered by these regulations, provided that the students subsequently pass the programme element in question (pre-approved credit transfer).

(3) Credit transfer of Master theses is not possible when the thesis is the basis of the awarding of a different title in another Master programme.

(4) Decisions on (1) and (2) are made on the basis of a professional assessment.

(5) Programme elements which students wish to have transferred from other programmes will be transferred on the basis of the normalised workload specified in ECTS points and stipulated in the relevant degree regulations. Due to the structure of the programme, discrepancies may occur between the equivalent number of ECTS credits and the actual amount of ECTS transferred, as the number of ECTS credits for the programme must total 60 ECTS.

34. If the programme element in question is assessed according to the 7-point grading scale or the 13-point grading scale at the academic institution at which the examination was taken, and if this programme element equates or replaces a programme element which according to the exam regulations of these study regulations is assessed according to the 7-point scale or the 13-point scale, the grade will be transferable, but converted into the 7-point scale if assessed according to the 13-point scale. In all other cases, the assessment will be transferred as ‘Pass’. Examinations transferred as ‘Pass’ are not included in the calculation of the final grade point average.

35. Applications for credit transfer (incl. pre-approval) must be sent to the Programme Office on a special form, with the relevant documentation enclosed.

(2) Concerning complaints about credit transfer decisions, see part 3.

Complaints about examinations etc.

36. A student is entitled to file a complaint about an examination or other assessment. Concerning the specific rules and procedures, including deadlines, for filing written and reasoned complaints reference is made to the rules in part 7 of the Examination Order and to CBS’ guidelines on CBS' student intranet.

Complaints about decisions concerning credit transfer

37. Complaints about decisions made by the Study Board on whether education qualifications acquired at another Danish University may replace parts of the programme (credit transfer) as well as complaints about the decisions made by the Study Board on whether Danish or foreign education qualifications, not yet passed, may replace parts of the programme (pre-approval of credit transfer), may be brought before the Appeals Board for decisions on credit transfer, see Ministerial Order no. 1517 of 16 December 2013 on the Appeals Board for decisions on credit transfer in university study programmes.

(2) The deadline for filing a complaint is 2 weeks from the date when the complainant was informed of the decision. The complaint must be addressed to the Appeals Board for decisions on credit transfer but sent to the President of CBS; the reasoned complaint should be sent to CBS Legal, Solbjerg Plads 3, 2000 Frederiksberg. It is also possible to send the complaint to: legal@cbs.dk. CBS has the option to process the application again. If the decision is upheld, CBS will forward the complaint to the Appeals Board, accompanied by a statement. CBS will give the complainant the opportunity to comment on the statement within a time limit of 1 week. The complainant’s comments, if any, will be enclosed when the complaint is forwarded to the Appeals Board. The Appeals Board will make the final administrative decision.

38. Complaints about decisions made by the Study Board on whether education qualifications acquired abroad may replace parts of the programme (credit transfer) may be brought before the Qualifications Board, see Assessment of Foreign Qualifications etc. Act.

(2) The deadline for filing a complaint is 4 weeks from the date when the complainant was informed of the decision. The complaint must be addressed to the Appeals Board for decisions on credit transfer but sent to the President of CBS; the reasoned complaint should be sent to CBS Legal, Solbjerg Plads 3, 2000 Frederiksberg. It is also possible to send the complaint to: legal@cbs.dk. CBS has the option to process the application again. If the decision is upheld, CBS will forward the complaint to the Qualifications Board, accompanied by a statement. CBS will give the complainant the opportunity to comment on the statement, within a time limit of 1 week. The complainant’s comments, if any, will be enclosed when the complaint is forwarded to the Qualifications Board. The Qualifications Board will make the final administrative decision.

Complaints about other decisions

39. Complaints about decisions made by the Study Board or the Programme Director according to these programme regulations have to be filed with the President of CBS. The deadline for filing a complaint is 2 weeks from the date when the complainant was informed of the decision.

(2) A decision made by CBS according to subsection (1) may be appealed by the complainant to the Danish Agency for Higher Education and Science when the complaint is concerned with an error of law or procedure. The deadline for lodging an appeal is 2 weeks from the date when the complainant was informed of the decision. The reasoned appeal should be addressed to the agency but sent to CBS Legal, Solbjerg Plads 3, 2000 Frederiksberg. It is also possible to send the complaint to: legal@cbs.dk. CBS will forward the appeal to the agency, accompanied by a statement. CBS will give the complainant the opportunity to comment on the statement, with a time limit of at least 1 week. The complainant’s comments, if any, will be enclosed with the other case files when the appeal is forwarded to the agency. 

(3) Moreover, students are referred to CBS’ Guidelines regarding students' right to file a complaint about decisions made by study boards, programme directors and programme administration.

Complaints about the teaching etc.

40. Complaints about the teaching, academic supervision or other issues concerning the organisation of the degree programme can be brought before the Study Board.

41. These Programme Regulations are effective for students enrolled on the programme in September 2021 or later.

(2) The 2020 Programme Regulations are repealed as of 1 September 2021.

42. Students who began their studies under the 2020 Programme Regulations, or according to the transition regulations in those regulations were transferred to the 2020 regulations, shall complete the remainder of the programme under these 2021 Programme Regulations.