Probation and Dismissal (Undergraduates)

Academic Probation

A regular student is issued an academic probation if his cumulative average falls below 65% provided he has studies in excess of 12 credit hours at Birzeit University. These include all courses irrespective of failed courses or repeats.

The following conditions apply when academic probation is issued and/or removed:

1. A student who does not maintain a minimum cumulative average of 65% is placed under probation; this probation is removed if he/she achieves a cumulative average of 65% and above in the following semester.

2. An academic probation is issued and/or removed at the end of a semester if the student has registered for 6 credit hours and above.

3. A student issued with an academic probation may register for a minimum of 6 credit hours and a maximum of 16 credit hours in the following semester.

4. A student may be issued with a second academic probation if he fails to remove the first probation provided he has registered for at least 6 credit hours in that semester.

Academic Dismissal from University

The Academic Council takes the decision to dismiss regular students for academic reasons in any of the following situations:

1. when a student accumulates a total of two academic probations;

2. when a student fails three times in a course required for graduation;

3. when a student fails twice in a university requirement and is not granted permission by the Academic Council to repeat the course for the third time;

4. when a regular student (not transfer student) fails to gain admission to a departmental program in his or her faculty after having completed 64 credit hours and above;

5. when a student is dismissed from his/her major program and fails to gain admission to another;

6. when a student spends at the university more than double the period required to complete his course work without completing graduation requirements. In all cases, the maximum period for graduation should not exceed eight years.

The University waives its right to dismiss students in the following cases:

1. Students who have no more than 16 credit hours to complete before graduation (24 credit hours for Engineering students) are permitted to continue with their studies in order to remove the probation within two semesters, which may include the summer session if the student registers for six credit hours or more.

In all cases, a student must register for a minimum of 6 credit hours in a semester to remove the probation even if he requires a lesser number of hours to graduate. No student may graduate while under academic probation.

2. Students who should be dismissed under items (4) and (5) mentioned above, may be placed under close academic supervision by the Faculty Dean for one semester only, in order to be given a final chance to remove the probation and to gain admission to another departmental program. Failing to do so, the student will be dismissed from the University.

NOTE: Dismissed students may apply for readmission to the University after a minimum period of one year and a half from their dismissal date but not exceeding four years. If their application is approved, students are issued with special conditions they are required to fulfill by the end of the first semester after their readmission. Students failing to meet these conditions would be dismissed on a final basis.

Dismissal for Non-Academic Reasons

Upon the recommendation of the Disciplinary Committee or any other committee appointed by the University Council, the University Council may dismiss a student for non-academic reasons.