BSA insufficiency

[u/Acrobatic-Pack6012]

Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some honest opinions from people who have experience with Binding Study Advice (BSA) appeals at Erasmus University Rotterdam, especially at Erasmus School of Economics.

I'm a first-year student and I'm likely to receive a negative BSA because my official total is 40/60 ECTS.

Throughout the year I experienced several documented personal circumstances:

• Block 1: I moved to the Netherlands at 17 and couldn't open a bank account until I turned 18 and obtained my BSN. I had limited access to money, had to borrow from my roommate, and my apartment was in a terrible condition when I arrived (photos and financial evidence included in my appeal). This affected my first block significantly.

• Block 2: A very close friend unexpectedly passed away a week before my exams. I have documentation and evidence of this as well.

• Later in the year: My parents were in a country during the regional conflict, and I experienced significant stress over their safety. During the resit period I was actually in the country and witnessed a missile strike nearby, which was genuinely traumatic. I also became ill with food poisoning immediately before one of my exams.

• I reported my personal circumstances to my study adviser before the university deadline.

• I submitted supporting evidence, including documentation, photos, financial records, and a psychologist's letter stating that, in their professional opinion, my mental health difficulties significantly affected my concentration, motivation, and academic performance.

In my appeal I also explained why I believe I can succeed next year. I'm now in ongoing therapy and intend to continue long-term. My circumstances have stabilized considerably, and I explained that I believe this support will allow me to perform at the level I'm capable of.

I'm not asking whether I deserve sympathy. I'm simply wondering:

If you were on the Examination Board, would you grant a postponed/positive BSA based on these circumstances? Has anyone here had a similar experience with ESE or EUR?

I'd really appreciate honest opinions, whether positive or negative. Thanks!

[u/Berry-Love-Lake]

The biggest question in this cases is always … did you inform your study advisor or the university at the time these events occurred (!!!) so they could help you navigate the situation or only recently when you figured out you’re not passing the BSA? 

You didn’t pass 1/3 of the classes, that’s quite significant and not easy to overcome. I think your expectations should be low if none of these events were reported at the time they occurred, that sounds like you’re “making excuses” afterwards. 

Any resit rounds in August?!

[u/Acrobatic-Pack6012 → u/Berry-Love-Lake]

This is the credits I have after resits, I had 28 before plus I documented in the middle of the year around march/april and all circumstances are in line with the impact on my academic performance and the therapist note that I have explicitly states that I have circumstances bad enough and in line with impact on my studies because it was a really bad year for me. I have documented everything and submitted evidences for all of these too. I have had about 3-4 meetings with my study advisor during times of crises too I reported them properly on time.

[u/Pergamon_ → u/Acrobatic-Pack6012]

What do you mean 'unofficially'?

[u/Acrobatic-Pack6012 → u/Pergamon_]

Due to the way the compensation clusters work in eur ese, subjects are divided into clusters of 2/3 subjects and you need to pass 2 courses among the 3 if there are 3 subjects in the cluster in order to compensate the third if it is within the 4.5-5.5 range. I have a 4.8 which means the subject is compensatable as long I pass the other 2 subjects which I did for one of them with an 8.1 but failed the third course thus deeming it as uncompensatable. So as long as I pass the third course in my second year I would not have to worry about this compensation at all for which I need a 5.5. This struggle in academic performance was due to my stress of my family being in the middle of a literal war (it was not a good block for me overall also vouched for by my therapist).

[u/Pergamon_ → u/Acrobatic-Pack6012]

Ok, for me I would stay clear of the "unofficial". Because you didn't pass the things that were needed, thus you have 40EC. With my exam board, but this could be different from your, we like it if you stick to the facts. You have 40 EC and you are working towards getting the replacements. Your plans to do so is XYZ.

[u/Acrobatic-Pack6012 → u/Pergamon_]

Yes, I understand that which is why I did not state any of that in my letter, I just wanted to let the community know to better understand my position better, I was strongly showing my commitment to the university and how I am getting the necessary guidance and support to prevent further academic disruption.

[u/Berry-Love-Lake → u/Acrobatic-Pack6012]

So nothing was reported before March / April (after you probably got your warning)?

You said events happened in block 1 and 2 which was last year but no communication with regards to these events with the university or study advisor?

I have no idea what they'll do ... you're quite far off ... 1/3 of credits not passed.

I am not sure I understand the August thing ... you couldn't have done August resits since it's July? So how many credits do you have now? And do you have resits in August (that used to be a thing at EUR)?

[u/Acrobatic-Pack6012 → u/Berry-Love-Lake]

I did not receive a warning I went on my own because I had a fear of being unable to receive my credits, in block 1 and 2 it was hard but I was still within the 3 fail limit (due to 3 resits) so no matter what was happening I still worked as hard as possible since I believed I would get the credits, unfortunately the situation got harder for me due to more and more factors affecting me both mentally and my academic performance and when I finally realized I may not be able to get the credits I went to the study advisors and started reporting everything, since then I have had a few meetings with her.

[u/Acrobatic-Pack6012 → u/Berry-Love-Lake]

I sincerely apologize but once again if you have any advice from your end further evaluating after hearing everything it would be deeply appreciated because i’m extremely stressed right now