Elective courses

You can compose part of your bachelor’s program yourself on the basis of your interests and ambitions. You can choose to specialize by deepening your knowledge in a field or you can build a broad profile by combining several fields. So, there are various ways in which you can fill out your elective space.

Each program offers electives. Your program will inform you of the possibilities.

In a Thematic Learning Area (TLA), courses are grouped according to a particular theme. The courses are offered by different departments, so that you can broaden your horizon. In a TLA, combinations of courses (learning paths) are offered. You decide whether you follow a learning path or prefer to choose your own courses.

Examples of themes include AI, Energy, Entrepreneurship, Materials and Sustainability. TLAs are comprised of 30 to 45 EC and are open to students from all programs.

Flyer Energy
Flyer AI
Flyer Materials
Flyer Sustainability
Flyer Entrepreneurship

In Osiris, you will find your exam program filled out with the compulsory courses of your program. You can add electives via the PlanApp. Your coach or academic advisor can help you with your choices. During the annual Check Your Match event, you can also delve into possible electives.

Once you have supplemented your exam program with electives and have reached 90 credits, you can submit your completed elective space to the Examination Committee for review via the PlanApp. The committee will check your proposed elective space in regard to level and overlap. You can also have your elective space checked beforehand by your academic advisor. 

The Examination Committee reviews whether your elective space meets the following requirements:

1. Sufficient level: the elective space must contain at least 30 EC of courses at level 2 or level 3, of which at least 15 EC must be of courses at level 3. The level of each course is listed in the PlanApp or in the course catalogue.
2. Overlap: the elective space that you choose may not overlap with your courses from the core program. You can check this yourself using the list of excluded overlap courses.

If the Examination Committee approves your proposal for the elective space, then this is set in Osiris. You can change the timeline in the PlanApp, but you can’t change anything about the composition of your elective space. If you want to take another elective or coherent package and you do not have a diploma request yet, then you have to submit a new proposal for the elective space  to the Examination Committee again. You can submit this new proposal via the PlanApp. Keep in mind that it can take up to four weeks before the Examination Committee has taken a decision.

• Approval or rejection of the free elective space is separate to registration for courses. Each quarter, you can register for a maximum of four courses at the same time.
• If you want to follow extra courses outside of your exam program, you need permission from the Examination Committee. You can submit a request via your academic advisor. If you pass the extra courses, they will appear on your list of grades with your degree.
• You can register for courses even if your exam program is set. These will then be registered as extracurricular. Any credits earned may not count toward the assessment of whether you meet your degree requirements. The Examination Committee must verify this.
• Would you like to pursue a master’s degree after the Bachelor College? Check the national transfer matrix (landelijke doorstroom-matrix). If your bachelor’s program does not provide direct admission to a specific master’s program, it may be useful to include the required homologation courses (courses that improve the connection between bachelor’s and master’s programs) in your elective space. Always consult with the academic advisor of the specific master’s program if you need additional courses.