Academic Regulations
Undergraduate Program in Communication Science
Ensuring Graduate Quality: Understanding the Rules of the Undergraduate Program from Study Duration to Final Project
Undergraduate programmes are administered by faculties through study programmes that hold valid minimum accreditation status and comply with the academic quality assurance system. They may be delivered as regular classes, partnership classes, international classes or International Undergraduate Programmes (IUP), and other approved formats. Faculties must provide appropriate facilities and services for all students, including students with disabilities.
Regular classes use the applicable curriculum and produce graduates who meet the established competencies. An IUP may only be offered by a study programme that also administers a regular undergraduate programme accredited A and/or Excellent. English or another required foreign language is used as the medium of instruction. In principle, the IUP follows the same curriculum as the regular programme unless otherwise stipulated in a cooperation agreement.
An undergraduate programme entered from secondary school or its equivalent has a maximum study period of seven academic years or 14 semesters, with a minimum study load of 144 credits. Students may take no more than 20 credits in each of the first two semesters and no more than 24 credits per semester from the third semester onward.
Graduate competence may be demonstrated through a final project in the form of a thesis, prototype, project, or comparable work completed individually or in a group. Study programmes may also implement a project-based curriculum or another learning model supported by assessments that demonstrate the achievement of graduate competencies. Certain activities or achievements may be recognised as equivalent to a final project by the Rector.
1. Administrative and Academic Registration
Students must complete administrative and academic registration at the beginning of each semester to participate in academic and non-academic activities. Administrative registration involves payment of tuition fees, while academic registration includes re-registration and submission of the Study Plan (IRS) through SIAP. Students who fail to complete either or both forms of registration are placed on inactive status.
Students may take a maximum of 20 credits in each of the first two semesters. If a student obtains a first-semester GPA below 2.00, the maximum study load for the second semester is 18 credits.
From the third semester onward, the maximum study load is determined by the student’s most recent active-semester GPA:
- GPA below 2.00: maximum 18 credits.
- GPA 2.00–2.49: maximum 20 credits.
- GPA 2.50–2.99: maximum 22 credits.
- GPA of at least 3.00: maximum 24 credits.
Students returning from inactive status, academic leave, or suspension may take no more than 18 credits in their next active semester.
Course substitutions may be made no later than two weeks after classes begin. Course cancellations may be made until the end of the fourth week. Both require approval from the Academic Adviser.
2. Teaching Semesters
An academic year consists of two regular semesters and may include one inter-semester term. A regular semester comprises 16 effective weeks of learning, including the mid-semester and final-semester examinations.
An inter-semester term may be conducted for a maximum of eight weeks. Students may take no more than nine credits, with 16 class sessions including examinations. Detailed schedules follow the Academic Calendar established through a Rector’s Decree.
3. Semester Credit Units
For lectures, response sessions, or tutorials, one semester credit comprises:
- 50 minutes of scheduled learning activities;
- 60 minutes of structured assignments; and
- 60 minutes of independent learning per week per semester.
For seminars or comparable activities, one credit comprises 100 minutes of scheduled learning and 70 minutes of independent learning. For other forms of learning, one credit is equivalent to 45 hours per semester.
Students may also complete part of their learning load outside the study programme or at a partner institution under the supervision of a lecturer and/or another designated supervisor.
4. Student Obligations
Students must actively participate in at least 75% of scheduled academic activities, including repeated courses. Absences due to illness or approved important reasons may be exempted in accordance with the applicable procedures.
Students must also comply with the Student Code of Ethics and other University regulations. Minimum attendance is one of the requirements for sitting the final-semester examination unless a special policy is issued by the authorised University official.
5. Assessment and Evaluation of Learning Outcomes
Assessment is conducted every semester to measure the achievement of graduate competencies. It must be valid, reliable, transparent, accountable, fair, objective, and educational. Assessment comprises both formative and summative components.
Assessment may include quizzes, participatory activities, projects, mid-semester examinations, final-semester examinations, final-project examinations, portfolios, competency tests, or other relevant formats.
The grading system uses A, AB, B, BC, C, D, and E:
|
Numerical Score |
Letter Grade |
Grade Point |
|---|---|---|
|
≥ 85 |
A |
4.00 |
|
80–84.99 |
AB |
3.50 |
|
75–79.99 |
B |
3.00 |
|
70–74.99 |
BC |
2.50 |
|
60–69.99 |
C |
2.00 |
|
40–59.99 |
D |
1.00 |
|
< 40 |
E |
0.00 |
An E is a failing grade, and the course must be repeated. Grades other than A and E may be improved, with the best result recorded as the final grade. The minimum passing grade for the final project is B. Certain courses may use pass/fail assessment and are excluded from semester and cumulative GPA calculations.
Student progress is evaluated in stages:
- At the beginning of semester 3, students must have passed at least 25 credits with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.
- At the beginning of semester 5, students must have passed at least 50 credits with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.
- At the beginning of semester 13, students must have passed at least 108 credits with a cumulative GPA of at least 2.50.
6. Community Service Programme
The Community Service Programme, known as KKN, is compulsory for undergraduate students. Students are eligible to participate after passing the required courses and accumulating at least 100 credits.
KKN is administered by the Institute for Research and Community Service (LPPM). Its operational requirements are governed by separate regulations and the applicable Academic Calendar.
7. Final Project
Students may undertake the final project after completing at least 120 credits and fulfilling the required course prerequisites. The final project may take the form of a thesis, prototype, project, or comparable work.
The final-project examination is closed and consists of a student presentation followed by a question-and-answer session lasting no more than 120 minutes. The examination panel consists of no more than three examiners.
Before taking the examination, students must satisfy the applicable credit-load, academic-integrity, similarity-screening, administrative, and National Diploma Numbering eligibility requirements.
8. Academic Leave
Academic leave may be granted after a student has completed at least two semesters of academic study. Regular academic leave may be taken for a maximum of two semesters.
Exceptions may be granted for special circumstances, including childbirth, government or University duties, medical treatment, or another reason approved by the Dean. Leave granted for special circumstances does not reduce the student’s entitlement to regular academic leave.
Approved academic leave is not counted as part of the study period, and students are exempt from tuition fees during the leave. Students serving a suspension may not apply for academic leave.
Applications must be submitted to the Dean for verification and approval through an official leave permit. During academic leave, students may not participate in activities or receive academic and non-academic services.
9. English-Language Proficiency
Undergraduate students must demonstrate English-language proficiency through a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) certificate with a specified score issued by an institution officially recognised by UNDIP.
The required score and recognised institutions are determined separately by the Rector.
10. Graduation
Graduation is determined at faculty level and may be formalised through a graduation review at study-programme level. Students are declared graduates after they have:
- passed the final-project examination;
- maintained active student status;
- completed all academic and administrative obligations;
- passed all required compulsory and elective courses;
- uploaded a summary of the final project to the UNDIP repository; and
- fulfilled the English-language proficiency requirement.
Graduation classifications are as follows:
- Good: cumulative GPA of 2.50–2.75.
- Satisfactory: cumulative GPA of 2.76–3.00.
- Very Satisfactory: cumulative GPA of 3.01–3.50.
- With Honours/Cum Laude: cumulative GPA of 3.51–4.00, with a maximum study period of five years.
Graduates registered as commencement participants are entitled to attend the graduation ceremony and receive their diploma, academic transcript, and Diploma Supplement.
