Types of subjects

Last modified: 22. December 2022

Subject is a basic unit of studies of the curriculum in the study programme. There are some criteria to be met of its registration and completion. The knowledge to be acquired within the framework of each subject is defined in the subject requirements system (subject program).

Registration criteria for a subject are laid down in the model curriculum of the programme, and the criteria for its completion are specified in the subject requirements system (subject program).

The system of requirements for the subject must contain the following elements:

• the code of the subject, its full and abbreviated title in Hungarian, English and the language of instruction;
• the name of the institute responsible for the subject;
• the subject leader’s name, email address, and the time of student hours;
• the names of the instructors of the lessons;
• the amount of study work required to complete the subject, determined in credits;
• the number class types per week and per semester in full-time work schedule, the number of class types per semester in correspondence, evening and distance learning work schedule (i.e. lecture + practice + seminar + laboratory practice + field practice + consultation);
• the weekly subject syllabi for individual lessons and types of lessons in full-time work schedule, and the occasional ones in correspondence, evening and distance learning work schedule;
• the type of examination at the end of the semester (end-of-term signature, practical grade, report, exam, basic knowledge exam/preliminary exam, comprehensive exam);
• the prerequisite for subject registration, explaining if the prerequisite is partial or complete;
• the task of the subject in achieving the aim of the programme;
• a description of the subject material (syllabus);
• requirements for participation in classes and the possibility of compensating for absences;
• the number and type of assignments to be done by the student’s individual work, in particular but not exclusively, the content to be covered through independent study and the techniques involved, and the project tasks;
• the number, topic and date of mid-term exams (reports, classroom tests etc), the possibility of correcting them once;
• the method to certify absences from classes;
• the requirements for obtaining a signature at the end of the semester;
• the method of assessment, and the exam requirements and the type of examination in case of a subject ending with an exam / comprehensive exam;
• the method of subject assessment and grading;
• the written syllabus (textbooks, notes, handbooks, compendiums, reference;
• literature, case studies, etc.), the main technical and other aids that can be used.

Each subject has a credit value. The credit is  a unit of the student’s work which represents the estimated time necessary for the acquisition of a specific body of knowledge and the fulfilment of requirements . Credit accumulation is the accumulation of credits over the course of study, with credits being accumulated until the completion of studies. The credits assigned to each study requirement will be credited after the end-of-semester signature and the completion of the assessment procedure prescribed in the model curriculum.

The model curriculum

The model curriculum is the curriculum of a study programme, compiled in accordance with the programme and output requirements, which includes the lesson and examination schedule determined on the basis of the subjects and study units

Types of subjects

The following types of subjects are set out in the curricula for each degree programme and for each work schedule:

• compulsory ('A') subjects,
• compulsory elective ('K') subjects,
• elective ('B') subjects, and
• optional ('C') subjects.

Compulsory ('A') subjects are the foundation of the course whose registration and completion are compulsory for students conducting studies at any degree programme.

In bachelor's and some master's courses, in case of these subjects the order and timing of subject completion is strict, and defined in the model curriculum.

('A') subjects may be re-taken, but  subjects  based on the prerequisite may only be registered if the prerequisite specified in the curriculum of each course is met.

The prerequisite can be partial or complete. In case of a partial prerequisite, the student may take the subject based on it if they have been granted a signature in the prerequisite subject at the end of the semester, but they cannot obtain a grade until the completion of the prerequisite subject. In the case of a complete prerequisite, the student cannot take the subject based on it without completing the prerequisite subject or criterion requirement.

In the case of compulsory elective ('K') subjects students must complete a certain number of subjects or credits as specified in the model curriculum of the course (if compulsory elective subjects are specified in the curriculum).

Compulsory ('B') subjects are oriented to a specialization/module/specialist training course/content area and may be taken in a recommended semester, usually after the completion of the compulsory ('A') subject on which they are based. If a compulsory elective subject is required for a specialization/module/specialist training course, the pre-degree certificate (absolutorium) cannot be obtained without the completion of the subject, and students cannot be admitted to the final examination without having completed the subject.

The optional (‘C’) type subjects can be chosen freely (optionally) according to the student's interests, the development of science and the needs of society. The University has developed a wide range of optional subjects in cooperation with the institutes, which are updated every academic year. The list of optional subjects for the given semester, for the place, level, timetable and language of study is available in Neptune under Subjects – Register for subjects menu. ‘Other optional subjects’ possibility has to be chosen, so the optional subjects assigned to the model curriculum will be visible.

Full-time students are not allowed to take a correspondence training course as an optional subject, but students on a correspondence training may take an optional subject of a full-time training, if they can meet the class attendance obligations.

The optional courses are only available in the case of a minimum number of students, therefore it is necessary to continuously monitor during the enrolment period whether the given course will start or not and if not, it is recommended to choose another optional subject to reach the required number of credits.

Optional subjects (C), can be started with the following minimum number of students:

• in full-time work schedule, courses offered at every level of study in Hungarian language: 15 persons;
• in full-time work schedule, courses offered at every level of study in a foreign language: 10 persons;
• in full-time work schedule, courses offered exclusively for master's or one-tier (undivided) programmes in Hungarian language: 5 persons;
• in full-time work schedule, courses offered exclusively for master's or one-tier (undivided) programmes in a foreign language: 5 persons;
• in correspondence, evening or distance learning work schedules, courses offered at every level of study: 10 persons;
• in correspondence, evening or distance learning work schedules, courses offered for a master's or one-tier (undivided) programmes: 5 persons.

In certain programmes, one or several days of field and industrial exercises in compulsory and optional subjects, as well as daily service during periods of phenological or other desirable duration, in blocks of one week or several days, break up the study period. In the case of multiple field placement groups, participation of field exercise is not according to the subject group schedule, but students must register for them separately in NEPTUN. Completion of the field exercises is compulsory.

Method of assessment of the subjects

Signature, end-of-semester signature

The end-of-semester signature is a recognition of the fulfilment of the study requirements of the given subject during the semester, and in case of a subject to be completed by another assessment method, it is one of the conditions for registering for the examination. The conditions for obtaining the signature must be defined in the study requirements for the subject by the subject leader, including the conditions for rejecting it and for the repeated.

Classroom tests, reports or presentations can be carried out during seminars or lectures outside academic breaks. Deviations from this may be made at the request or with the consent of the students. Written mid-term examinations must be corrected within 5 working days, and the result shall be communicated to students.

A student who has not fulfilled his / her mid-term obligations of the subject prescribed in the subject requirements shall not receive the signature at the end of the semester. The subject leader may provide an opportunity to make up for the requirements in the last week of the study period or in the first week of the examination period the latest. If non-fulfilment of the obligation means (also) the failure to meet a deadline, the student must pay the service fee according to the SFB. The instructor must record whether the end-of-semester signature was given or rejected in Neptun System by the end of the first week of the examination period at the latest. If more than 75% of the students have failed a classroom test (not a retake or correction test), the matter shall be investigated by the director of the institute responsible for the subject, or, if the director of the institute is involved in the case, by the campus Deputy Director-General of Education concerned, at the request of the campus Student Union.

Regulations on end-of-semester signature are laid down in Article 47 of the Organizational and Operational Regulations.

Qualified signature

The model curriculum may require a qualified signature for the completion of the internship set out in the programme and output requirements, the subject shall be evaluated on a three-grade scale.

In case of qualified signature, the end-of-semester signature and the evaluation shall be recorded in Neptun System within 5 working days from the completion of the internship and the submission of documents certifying the internship.

A subject ending with a qualified signature shall be completed only by obtaining a qualified signature.

Regulations on qualified signatures are laid down in Section 48 of the Organizational and Operational Regulations.

Report

The student must meet the requirements of the subject assessed to be with the report typically during the study period. In particularly justified cases, the subject requirements (subject program) may require that the requirements be met by the end of the examination period. The report’s end-of-term signature must be obtained by the end of the last week of the study period and its grade by the end of the first week of the examination period, but in particularly justified cases the grade must be obtained by the end of the examination period according to the subject requirements (subject program). The report cannot be corrected by an exam. A subject ending with a report shall only be closed by the completion of the report. The subject ending with a report shall be evaluated on a five-, three- or two-grade scale

Regulations on report are laid down in Section 49 of the Organizational and Operational Regulations.

Mid-term grade

The model curriculum may prescribe a mid-term grade if the assessment of the knowledge acquired within the framework of the subject is based on a continuous assessment during the semester and the subject requirements can be met exclusively during the study period.

In case of a subject ending with a mid-term grade, both its end-of-semester signature and grade must be obtained by the end of the last week of the study period. The mid-term grade cannot be corrected during the examination period. In case of grade ‘fail’, the subject must be repeated.

The mid-term grade as a method of assessment can be last applied to model curricula valid for students starting their studies at Georgikon Campus in the academic year 2020/21.

Regulations on mid-term grade are laid down in Section 50 of the Organizational and Operational Regulations.

Continuous assessment

The model curriculum may provide for continuous assessment if the assessment of the knowledge acquired in the subject is based on continuous assessment during the semester.

The requirements of the subject to be assessed by continuous assessment must be fulfilled by the student during the semester. The subject ending with continuous assessment is assessed on a five-grade scale. In case of a subject that ends with continuous assessment, both the end-of-term signature and the grade must be obtained by the end of the last week of the study period. Continuous assessment can be corrected once during the exam period. A subject ending with continuous assessment shall only be closed by the completion of the continuous assessment.

Continuous assessment as a method of assessment can be last applied to model curricula valid for students starting their studies at Georgikon Campus in the academic year 2020/21.

Regulations on Continuous assessment are laid down in Section 51 of the Organizational and Operational Regulations.

Practical grade

A practical grade (practical assessment) may be prescribed in the model curriculum if the practical application of the subject and the assessment of application skills is possible and necessary for the training objective. The requirements of the subject to be assessed with a practical grade must be fulfilled by the student primarily during the semester, but no later than the end of the second week of the examination period. The subject shall be assessed on a five or three point scale. In the case of a practical grade, the end-of-semester signature must be obtained by the end of the first week of the examination period, and the practical grade by the end of the second week of the examination period. The practical grade may be improved by examination.

Regulations on practical grade are laid down in Section 52 of the Organizational and Operational Regulations.

Three-level grading

Three-level grading may be prescribed in the model curriculum if the practical application of the subject and the assessment of the application skills are possible and necessary for the training objective. The requirements of the subject to be evaluated with three-level grading must be met by the student primarily in the study period. The subject is evaluated on a three-grade scale.  In case of three-level grading, the end-of-semester signature must be obtained by the end of the first week of the examination period, and the grade by the end of the examination period. The grade can be corrected with a three-level grading exam.

The three-level grading method can be last applied to model curricula valid for students starting their studies at Károly Róbert Campus in the academic year 2020/21.

Regulations on three-level grading are laid down in Section 53 of the Organizational and Operational Regulations.

Examination (colloquium)

An exam is the examination on the material of a subject, usually covering one semester. The exam is evaluated with a five-level grading scale. The type of exams (colloquium) can be an oral exam; a written exam; a combined exam, where the examination consists of a written part and an oral part.
The assessment of the subject ending with an exam can be of two types:

     a) the subject assessment is based on the combination of mid-term performance and exam performance;
     b) the subject is assessed solely on the basis of exam performance.

Based on the decision of the instructor, the written part of the combined exams can also be completed with written tests or home assignments during the study period. If the written part of the combined exam compulsorily consists of tests written during the study period, the number of them shall not exceed 4 and their date must be announced in the first class of the study period and published in the subject requirements (syllabus). Both parts of the combined exams must be completed in the same semester.

The result of the exam completed must be corrected no later than 3 working days after the exam and recorded in Neptun System.

Regulations on Examination (colloquium) are laid down in Section 54 of the Organizational and Operational Regulations.

Comprehensive exam, complex exam

The comprehensive exam is single-grade type of examination attesting the acquisition of comprehensive knowledge in the relevant professional fields. Five-grade evaluation.

A comprehensive exam can also be organized as the part of the final examination which shall only be oral or combined. The oral part of the comprehensive exam shall be taken before a committee of at least two members. A comprehensive exam shall be documented in the form of records.

The exam records document must be returned to the Registrar’s Office of the Campus no later than 3 working days after the given exam.

The detailed rules for the comprehensive exam are set out in Article 55 of the General Regulations.

Offered grade

The possibility and conditions of an offered grade must be communicated to the students in advance at the beginning of the semester in the subject requirements. The student must accept or reject the offered evaluation (grade) in Neptun System by the end of the second week of the examination period, otherwise the subject is assessed as not completed.   The student is not obliged to accept the offered evaluation (grade); in case of rejection of the offered grade (in NEPTUN) the student must complete the subject with the examination method specified in the model curriculum and in the assessment system specified in the subject requirements.