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Question about your studies

Question and Answer

This section aims to answer a number of common questions related to studies in order to explain the framework and limits of the current EPFL rules. The answers to the questions set out were written with the help of CARE, the legal service of the Fédération des Associations d’Etudiant·e·x·s (FAE) de l’UNIL.

Si tu ne trouves pas réponse à tes questions dans les pages de ce site, alors n’hésite pas à recourir à notre service juridique.

What are the limits regarding where and when teachers can arrange for their exam copies to be viewed, assuming it is a one-off?

According to article 15 of LEX 2.6.0.1, it must be possible for each student to consult their exam copy within 6 months of the communication of the result. On a case-by-case basis, if teachers announce a date and time or a place that makes consultation impossible, then students can report this violation of their rights via their delegation. 

Until when can teachers announce a midterm?

The appendix to LEX 2.6.1 recommends: “The date of the tests, their number, their nature and the weighting for the final grade must be announced reasonably in advance and are binding on teachers and students.” but this has no value in itself. In practice, it is not permitted to add a midterm to a course if it was not already announced in one way or another in the course sheet, under “Assessment method”. Note that an assessment method including the mention “continuous assessment” leaves open the possibility that there may be a midterm.

Is it legal for teachers to reuse questions from old exams?
Is it allowed for teachers to change the scale of an exam or their course after the exam/course?

For example, is it possible to announce that 6/6 is obtained from 80% of the points and finally only give it from 90%?

The answer is no, this constitutes a violation of the protection of the good faith of the administrator in the event of inaccurate information, as long as the student cannot reverse his or her decisions. This is trivially the case for exams and reports already taken. 

Common references below: 

Exam content
Supervision of the examination
Inability to attend the exam

The entire page on course/exam arrangements [link]

Directive on medical certificates presented to EPFL [link]

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