Atriumboks smal

Exemptions

You need an exemption if you wish to deviate from existing rules.
Exemptions are approved deviations from ministerial regulations or declarations, your curriculum, the addendum to the curricula or the IT University's rules.

When is an exemption a possibility?
You can only be granted an exemption if there are special circumstances involved.

The special circumstances must relate to the individual student.

This could be the student’s own illness or illness in the immediate family or other personal special circumstances. The important thing is that it does not relate to a lack of academic ability.

Expected processing time 
You can expect a processing time of approximately 6-8 weeks, if your application for an exemption is fully documented.  
If you apply for an exemption from several rules, or your application is a continuation of a previous exemption, the processing time can be extended with a few weeks. 
 

Examples of what can qualify as special circumstances

  • Pregnancy/Adoption/maternity/paternity leave
  • Documented illness affecting yourself or your immediate family
  • Death in the immediate family
  • Disabilities
  • Civic duties as a lay judge or member of a jury
  • Athlete of elite sports

In some cases where students are not following a normal study programme due to for example previous exemptions or other academic considerations, students can apply for exemptions in order to avoid being further prolonged. 

The rules to deviate from 

Below you can find examples of the rules that students are most likely to apply for an exemption from. The list is not exhaustive, and each application is handled based on its specific situation. 


The requirements for progression is a rule outlining how many ECTS you must pass every year in order to obtain your enrollment and be considered as an active student.

You must pass a minimum of 45 ECTS each year. 

If you due to special circumstances cannot meet the requirements of progression, you can apply for an exemption from the rule.

For more information, see here.

A semester of full-time studies corresponds to 30 ECTS. 

According to ITU rules, it is a requirement that you register for study activities corresponding to minimum 22,5 ECTS each semester.
The study activities are everything you are registered for: all courses and all projects. 

If you due to special circumstances cannot meet the registration requirement for a current or upcoming semester, you can apply for an exemption from this study rule.

Please note
1st year BSc students must register for 30 ECTS during your first and second semester.

In cases where the registration requirement cannot be met simply because it is not possible to register for the required ECTS, applying for an exemption is not necessary.

For more information about the registration requirement click here

All bachelor students must pass exams corresponding to 45 ECTS before the end of their first year of studies. If you due to special circumstances cannot meet the requirement, you can apply for an exemption from the rule.

If you have credits transferred from previous studies to your ITU programme, these credits will not count as part of the fulfilment of the progression requirement or the first-year exam.

However, if you have credits transferred, and ITU is not able to offer a coherent study plan with 30 ECTS each semester, you will be exempted from the progression requirement.

More information about the first-year exam.

The Bachelor of Science (BSc) programme must be concluded within four years for students enrolled autumn 2015 or later.
Students enrolled autumn 2014 or earlier have five years to complete their education.

The Master of Science (MSc) programme must be concluded within three years for students enrolled in autumn 2015 or later.
Students enrolled spring 2015 or earlier must have completed their education within five years, though no longer than until august 2018.

Being an active student you need to follow the mandatory courses on your programme and register for elective courses and projects. Your registrations for study activities are binding.

If you due to special circumstances cannot complete an elective course or project, you will need to apply for an exemption from the rule.

We cannot make exemptions from the rule regarding your mandatory courses or projects. The binding registration is absolute in these cases.

Very important
If you have used exam attempts for a course or project an exemption from the rule is very unlikely, since extraordinary circumstances need to be presented. In these scenarios your case will be processed by the Danish Agency for Higher Education and not ITU.

You have three attempts to pass your exam. If you do not pass your exam using the three attempts, you can apply for a fourth exam attempt. 


Look here more information about How to apply for an exemption.

This page was last updated June 16 2022