Assessment

The primary purpose of assessment is to provide students with information regarding their academic performance. It also provides the Academy with verification that students have gained knowledge and competence in specified areas.

Organisation and responsibility

Examinations and/or other forms of assessment shall take place during the teaching period or during the examination period at the end of each term. Teachers are responsible for the assessment of students’ achievements. Each department sets policy for examinations and assignment or project deadlines within the limits of these rules.

Examinations may be oral, written or practical. Projects and assignments can include essays, reports, concerts, art creation and related research work. Methods of assessment and requirements are determined by the teacher in collaboration with the Dean and must be stated in the course description given to students at the start of the course. Regarding responsibility and assessment of final projects, specific clauses in the Academy’s Rules and policies apply.

Student obligations and course withdrawal

Upon enrolment in a course, a student is automatically registered for the examination or is bound by the course’s assignment deadlines, as applicable. Upon withdrawal from a course, a student is no longer obliged to fulfil the assessment requirements. If a student withdraws from a mandatory course, s/he must register for the course again at a later date. Withdrawal from a course must be made known in writing to the relevant Department Secretary before a 1/3 of the total course time has passed.

Student illness

A student who is not able to take an examination or is unable to meet an assignment deadline due to illness must notify the Academy before the examination begins or the deadline expires. A medical certificate must be submitted to the Academy office no later than three days after the exam date or assignment deadline in order for the absence to be recognised. If a medical certificate is not submitted, the student is considered to have taken the exam or completed the assignment. By submitting a medical certificate, the student earns the right to resit the exam at a later date.

Study break

A student may take a break from study within the framework of the Academy´s rules on study progression. Students must announce a study break on a special form no later than October 1 for the autumn semester and before February 1 for the spring semester. Study breaks can be a maximum of one year and must fit within the four year continuous maximum study period allowed

Grading marks

Marks range from 0 to 10 within units of 0.5. The minimum mark necessary to pass an examination is 5.0. The Rector issues standardised assessment guidelines to the teachers. In courses of six credits or less, the Dean can permit assessments of ‘S’ for ‘Pass’ and ‘F’ for ‘Fail’.

Assessment results and appeals

Assessment results shall be made available to the student no later than two weeks after the assessment took place. Students who have not met the set requirements are entitled to an explanation of the assessment within 5 days of the results having been announced. Students may appeal the teacher´s decision to the Dean of the Department and, in cases other than final projects, an external examiner shall be consulted if possible. The examiner’s decision is final.

Examination absences

A student who does not take a registered exam and fails to notify the Academy in advance forfeits his/her right to a re-examination.

Re-examinations and repeating assignments

If a student fails an exam or assignment s/he may re-sit the exam or request a special assignment. A student is only entitled to re-sit an exam or request a special project when failing a course or part of a course if s/he has fulfilled attendance requirements. Special application must be made to the Dean of the department or the relevant Programme Director within five days of the publication of the result. If re-examination is not practical, the Dean may decide on an equivalent form of assessment. If a student fails a repeat examination/project, s/he must re-sit the course to pass it.

A student who has passed an examination/assignment may, under special circumstances, request to re-sit an examination. Upon approval by the Dean, the student may retake the examination the next time it is held or resubmit the assignment the next time it is set. The grades from the latter exam/assignment will apply.

Dates for re-examinations and repeating of assignment

Re-examinations and examinations due to illness shall be held before January 15 for the autumn semester and before June 1 for the spring semester.

Recording and posting of marks

The Academy office is responsible for recording and posting students’ marks. Written examinations shall be held for six months from the examination date and then be destroyed.

Course Evaluation

An assessment of teaching is handed out to students at the end of each course. Students then have the opportunity to respond to questions about teachers´ performance and about the course as a whole. At the end of term, teachers are provided with access to outcomes from the courses which they have taught. Deans of departments have access to the outcomes of assessments of teaching for all courses in their department. The Rector and the Director of Academic Affairs have access to assessments of teaching for the Academy as a whole.

Administration’s meetings with students

Students are invited to meet with the Rector at special meetings held to discuss educational issues of concern to Academy students.

Meetings are planned for the latter part of the autumn semester between deans and students of the relevant Department, to discuss various business concerning the Department.

Attendance

Bachelor of Arts Degree

The Academy expects students to attend all their courses. Teachers are responsible for monitoring student participation and recording attendance.
If a student is absent, including when due to illness, for more than 20% of the teaching period for a particular subject, he/she is considered to have failed that subject. In particular cases and unforeseen circumstances, the student can appeal to the Rector for an exemption from this rule. Such an application will only be considered if a student is being prevented from advancing to the next year.

Master’s Degree

As a general rule, students pursuing a Master’s Degree are expected to take full part in the activities and work of the study programme and be active participants as individuals as well as in a group. However, each department sets its own rules, depending on the nature of the courses.

Graduation

The Academy´s main graduation ceremony is held in the spring, in late May or the beginning of June. Students intending to graduate in the spring need to apply for graduation at the Academy office before March 15. A student who lacks ECTS credits to graduate can apply to graduate in autumn or in mid-winter. Autumn graduation is held in mid-September and winter graduation takes place in mid-January. Applications for graduation in autumn shall be submitted no later than August 15 and for winter graduation no later than November 15. In order to graduate, students need to have paid all outstanding fees and other debts to the Academy.

At graduation, all IAA students receive a Diploma Supplement. The Diploma Supplement is issued in a widely spoken European language (English), given automatically and free of charge to every student upon graduation.  The Diploma Supplement (DS) follows a model developed by the European Commission, Council of Europe and UNESCO/CEPES. It is a precise description of the academic curriculum and of the competencies acquired by the student during his/her studies at the IAA. The purpose of the supplement is to provide sufficient independent data to improve the international transparency and academic and professional recognition of qualifications (diplomas, degrees, certificates, etc.). As such, the DS improves IAA graduates’ access to education and work elsewhere in Europe.

Student Council

Within each department, there is a students’ organisation which manages students’ interests and social activities. The IAA Student Council is comprised of the heads of the student organisations of each of the departments. Students have representatives on Department Councils and two representatives on the student Grievance Committee. Students are also represented at the Academy Forum meetings, which are a platform for cooperation between students, academic faculty and the Academy´s administration. Fees for the students’ social fund are paid along with the first tuition payment.

Students Associations

FLÍS - Student Union for the Department of Performing Arts

The Student Union for the Department of Design & Architecture

The Student Union for the Department of Arts Education

The Student Union for the Department of Fine Art

The Student Union for the Department of Music

Special Needs

The IAA adheres to the fundamental principle that all students meet the set requirements regarding knowledge, skills and artistic talent, irrespective of gender, origin, ethnic background, nationality, sexual orientation or other defining features. Students at the Academy who have special needs or disabilities that affect their ability to perform academically are entitled to special services. In order to be eligible for special assistance, students must provide official documentation of their disability or special needs.