University students also demand no BSA

Why should we have a binding study advice during the coronavirus crisis when university of applied science students do not, asked Utrecht biology student, Ralph Brouwers. According to him, the arguments for this just don’t add up.

Universities are anticipating hardly any study delay in the first year, as that was the case last spring too. However, universities of applied sciences are showing more leniency: first-year students can take another year to obtain the BSA level.

Practicals

The biology student remarked that ‘a huge number of practicals, which are extremely important for our education, have been cancelled’. He suggested that the rest of the education is not as good as usual either, which is why he thinks universities should also ditch the binding study advice.

A lot more signatures are needed if the petition is to change universities’ opinions. So far, they are not even considering deferring the BSA, never mind cancelling it.

Last week, universities agreed with the Ministry that they would monitor the situation. It is possible that certain study programmes will alter their BSA. Moreover, if students are struggling due to exceptional circumstances, they can always request an extension for themselves.