Acknowledged personal circumstances

Are you experiencing problems with your studies due to personal circumstances? These may be considered acknowledged personal circumstances. This page explains what acknowledged personal circumstances are and which steps you need to follow to inform the university of these circumstances so they can be considered for your BSA. Remember: the recommendation is binding and your personal circumstances can only be taken into account for the BSA if you have discussed them in a timely manner. You need to contact your academic advisor within 20 working days of the start of these circumstances, or as soon as possible if they don’t have a clear starting date. This is because the process has a few steps. Someone may also contact the academic advisor on your behalf, like a friend or relative. Your information will be kept confidential.

Acknowledged personal circumstances can be difficulties/problems outside of your control affecting your studies and day-to-day life. Here is a non-exhaustive list with examples of personal circumstances which can influence your studies:

• Chronic illness
• Pregnancy
• Functional impairment
• Mental health issues
• Unable to get out of bed for months
• Suicidal thoughts
• Suspected diagnosis like ADHD, autism, …
• Depressive symptoms
• Anxiety
• Inability to organise study and daily life
• Isolating yourself
• Disturbed day and night rhythm, poor sleep
• Addictions
• Hospitalisation
• Family circumstances
• Care for a family member
• Serious illness of close family members
• Loss of a loved one
• Shocking events and trauma, such as an accident, earthquake, fire
• Domestic violence

Don’t think that your problems aren’t “serious enough” or that you should “just try harder”. If you are reading this, chances are you would benefit from talking to an academic advisor or student counselor. It’s better to be on the safer side.
Symptoms like burnout complaints, feeling tired all the time, being unable to get out of bed, isolating yourself, etc., are often symptoms of larger problems like depression. If that involves your situation, talk to your academic advisor. They can refer you to the appropriate contact person.

To ensure that the examination committee takes your personal circumstances into account in its decision on your BSA, you should do the following:

1. Speak to your academic advisor about your circumstances as soon as possible.
2. After being referred by your academic advisor, make an appointment with the student counselor. Please note that there are deadlines for this, which depend on when your personal circumstances arose:
   • Did your circumstances arise in Q1, Q2 or Q3? If so, use the appointment button no later than 30 May.
   • Did your circumstances arise in Q4? Then use the appointment button no later than 30 June.
   • Did your circumstances arise after 30 June? Then use the appointment button of the student counselors within 10 working days of the circumstance arising.
3. Next to your appointment with the student counselor, submit a request for postponement of the BSA yourself to the examination committee of your program.
4. After your appointment with the student counselor, provide evidence of your personal circumstances to the Central Committee on Extenuating Personal Circumstances.

Below we explain the different steps.

If you think you will be delayed in your studies due to personal circumstances, report this within 20 working days after the discovery of the circumstance to your academic advisor and if necessary, after referral by your academic advisor, to the student counselor. In this way there is sufficient time to make a plan to minimise any delay in your studies.

If you report your circumstance after you have received your binding study recommendation (BSA), the BSA can no longer be adjusted. Therefore, report your circumstance on time so we can take it into account.

Next to your appointment with the student counselor, submit a request for postponement of the BSA to the examination committee of your program. It’s not necessary to provide full details about your personal circumstances in your request to the examination committee. To come to a decision, the examination committee will ask the Central Committee on  Personal Circumstances (CPO) for advice. The CPO, which the student counselor is part of, will look at the nature of the circumstances and whether/how these affect your studies. The CPO will therefore ask you to provide more information about your situation (supporting evidence). For example, a medical statement. You can submit supporting documents at cpo@tue.nl. With this information, the examination committee will make a decision about a possible postponement of the BSA.

You can submit the following documentary evidence:

• For (chronic) illness, disability, pregnancy, mental health conditions: statement from a physician, psychologist or a midwife indicating the period in which the circumstances occurred.
• For exceptional family circumstances: written proof (for example divorce papers, obituary notice, medical statement).

If the examination committee acknowledges that there are personal circumstances affecting your situation, this may lead to the binding study recommendation being postponed for one year. In that case you can continue your studies. The examination committee will decide at the start of the second year which requirements you need to meet at the end of the second study year. At the end of the second year the examination committee will issue the BSA.

When I started studying, I had chronic depression, anxiety and undiscovered autism. Everything was overwhelming and I wasn't sure if I could pass my courses. I really enjoyed my study, but with the looming pressure of the BSA I could not focus or relax. I kept imagining I would fail my BSA, which in turn made me more stressed. This caused an endless cycle where I was too stressed to study, became more and more anxious, and felt more and more like I would not pass my courses.

Then I got in touch with my student counselor. After a 30 minute appointment with her my stress disappeared completely. She was kind, understanding and made me feel comfortable. She told me that with my health issues, it was likely that I would be eligible for a BSA postponement, which I did not know was an option before. All I had to provide was a letter from my GP with my depression and anxiety diagnosis. With that, my BSA was postponed and I could finally relax. In the end, I ended up passing all my courses because I was enjoying my studies without the pressure of failing.

Don't hesitate to make an appointment with a student advisor. They are here to help you.

• A bachelor student of Sustainable Innovation from the 2021-2022 academic year

Want to know more? Contact ESA (Education and Student Affairs) at +31 40 - 247 4747 or via the contact form below.