Rules and Regulations

Students matriculating from Semester 1 2013/2014 will be enrolled in the Generation Next (GenNEXT) undergraduate degrees. The degrees on offer are; Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science and Bachelor of Engineering.

The GenNEXT curriculum is a student-centric approach to education and lays the foundation for life-long learning. It seeks to equip students with essential skills of critical thinking, reasoning, communication, quantitative analysis and with both a national and global perspective. Three principles embedded in all the GenNEXT modules are: 1) Entrepreneurship, 2) Leadership and Innovation; and 3) Environmental Awareness.

The GenNEXT curriculum is designed to enhance students’ knowledge and competency in specific disciplinary areas as well as broad-based knowledge outside their major discipline, providing students with flexibility in choice of careers. Thus, GenNEXT involves a balanced combination of depth and breadth. By the end of the degree, a student should know a disciplinary area well, its main ideas, methodology and current questions and issues. At the same time, he/she should have broad exposure to knowledge beyond a student’s disciplinary specialization.

To provide depth of knowledge, students are required to study a major subject. Most students will pursue a single major programme. However, students may apply for and if selected, read for a major/minor, double major, or double degree combination (see the rules & regulations regarding major/minor, double major & double degrees).

For a single major, students read their major modules from a single programme. Students are required to read 50 – 60 % of their modular credits in the major subject (For BHSc-Medicine, refer to Pengiran Anak Puteri Rashidah Sa’adatul Bolkiah Institute of Health Sciences (PAPRSBIHS) rules & regulations). (For specific Faculty and Programme requirements, see the relevant rules & regulations of the Faculties & Programmes)

Students are required to read a number of modules designed to provide general education and have knowledge beyond the specialization of their major. Breadth modules can be offered within the Faculty. Students are also required to read modules from other Faculties/Academy/Institutes/Schools, for exposure and to broaden their knowledge. In GenNEXT, students will have to take 40 – 50 % of their credit requirements in breadth modules [For BHSc-Medicine, refer to PAPRSBIHS rules & regulations].

At least 16 modular credits will have to be taken outside the Faculty in which - the student is registered. This can include the multidisciplinary General Education (GE) modules. For example, a student registered in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences will have to read at least 16 modular credits in modules offered in Business, Brunei Studies, Language, Health Sciences, Education, Science or Integrated Technologies (please refer to the specific requirements set out for the Academy of Brunei Studies students). (For BHSc-Medicine, refer to PAPRSBIHS rules & regulations).

a) Melayu Islam Beraja (MIB)

All Bruneian students are required to read the MIB module offered by the Academy of Brunei Studies (ABS). For non-Bruneian students, they may choose to read the MIB module or a compulsory breadth module on Introduction to Brunei Darussalam.

The module constitutes a breadth requirement towards satisfying a student’s graduation requirement. The MIB module is equivalent to 4 modular credits. The MIB module does not count towards the 16 modular credits of cross faculty breadth modules that all students must read. It counts towards the GPA.

b) Communication Modules

All students are required to read 2 Communication modules. The modules can be offered within the Faculty or by the Language Centre (LC).

The modules constitute a compulsory breadth requirement towards satisfying a student’s graduation requirement. The Communication modules are equivalent to 8 modular credits. The Communication modules do not count towards the 16 modular credits of cross faculty breadth modules that all students must read. They count towards the GPA.

c) Islamic Civilization and the Modern World

All students are required to read an Islamic Civilization and the Modern World module offered by the Sultan Omar ‘Ali Saifuddien Centre for Islamic Studies (SOASCIS).

The module constitutes a compulsory breadth requirement towards satisfying a student’s graduation requirement. The Islamic Civilization and the Modern World module is equivalent to 4 modular credits. The Islamic Civilization and the Modern World module does not count towards the 16 modular credits of cross faculty breadth modules that all students must read. They count towards the GPA.

d) Science and Inter-Faculty Breadth Modules

As part of a student’s broad based training, all students (except those registered in Faculty of Science (FOS), Faculty of Integrated Technologies (FIT) and PAPRSBIHS) must read at least 4 modular credits in a Science module.

For FOS, FIT and PAPRSBIHS students, they must read at least 4 modular credits in the FASS, FBEPS, LC, SHBIE or APB (For BHSc-Medicine, refer to PAPRSBIHS rules & regulations).

These modules can be counted towards the 16 modular credits breadth requirement of all GenNEXT students.

While it is important for pedagogical purposes to have core modules and credit requirements for graduation, it must be emphasized that the GenNEXT degree allows students the flexibility, but at the same time, responsibility, of determining their own programme of study, to pursue a course of study that matches their interests and aptitude. Students are strongly encouraged to consult their Faculty GenNEXT Coordinator, Programme Leaders or Academic Advisors in choosing their majors or modules to read.

Students are required to read a combination of depth and breadth modules. In addition, there may be specific Faculty and programme requirements that a student must fulfil in order to graduate. Most students will be expected to read a minimum of 140 modular credits to satisfy the requirements for graduation.

(For BHSc-Medicine and BEng, refer to PAPRSBIHS and FIT rules & regulations respectively)

All students in the GenNEXT degree will enrol in a 4 year programme leading to a degree in single major (3 or 4 year programme for BHSc-Medicine). Some students may apply to enrol in a major/minor combination, a double major combination or a double degree combination. The requirements for these variant programmes will be specified by each Faculty. Depending on the Faculty that a student is offered admission, a student will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Business, Bachelor of Health Sciences, Bachelor of Science or Bachelor of Engineering degree.

Student must fulfill all university, faculty, programme, Discovery Year and breadth requirements to graduate (For details, please refer to the University Examination Regulations).

In the above degree programme under GenNEXT, the classification of degrees to be awarded is:
Bachelor’s Degree (First Class Honours)
Bachelor’s Degree (Second Class Honours Upper Division)
Bachelor’s Degree (Second Class Honours Lower Division)
Bachelor’s Degree (Third Class Honours)
Bachelor’s Degree (Pass)

The GenNEXT degreee operates on a system in which students read modules and gain modular credits. The number of modular credits reflects the workload required for each module.

Most modules are worth 4 modular credits. Other modules are from 2 to 8 modular credits (For GenNEXT degrees offered by PAPRSBIHS and FIT, refer to their respective rules & regulations).

In most cases, 140 modular credits translate to 35 modules in the 4 year programme. However, students should design their study programme wisely, to ensure that they satisfy all the requirements needed for graduation.

Students are required (except for the final semester of their degree) to read a minimum of 12 modular credits and a maximum of 20 modular credits in any one semester. Students who do not register for at least 12 modular credits in any one semester will be put under probationary status.

A student who seeks to read more than 20 modular credits in a semester will require the approval of the Faculty Dean. As taking more than 20 modular credits entails an extremely heavy workload, approval will be discretionary and considered on a case by case basis.

The Module codes have been simplified so that students can track their own degree programme and ensure that they meet all the requirements for graduation. GenNEXT uses a 2 alpha and 4 numeric classification of modules.

AB - 12 34

(A) - The first alpha code refers to the Faculty /Academy offering the module

(B) - The second alpha code refers to the Programme offering the Module

(1) - The first numeric refers to the level of the module

(2) The second numeric classifies the type of modules e.g:
1 = Degree Core
2 = Major Core
3 = Major Option modules
4 = Breadth modules
5 = Compulsory Breadth

(34) - The last 2 numeric is the module code

It should be noted that a major core module can be taken by some students as a breadth module. Students, when registering for a module, must declare whether they intend to read it as core or as a breadth module.

In the GenNEXT system, there are different classifications of modules

• Degree Core – These are modules which all students registered for a particular degree programme of a Faculty must read and pass in order to satisfy the graduation requirements.
• Major Core – These are compulsory modules which all students registered for a particular major must read and pass in order to satisfy his/her graduation requirements.
• Major Option - These are modules which are offered as part of a major and count towards the depth requirements for graduation with a major. The number of modules which a student must read and pass varies across the different programmes. (Please refer to the major requirements of the different programmes in the Faculties)
• Compulsory Breadth – These are modules that all students must read and pass to satisfy their graduation requirement. MIB and the Islamic Civilization and the Modern World module are compulsory breadth modules. The two Communication modules are also compulsory breadth modules.
• Breadth – These are modules which students are free to choose to read and pass to satisfy the breadth requirements of their degree. They can be taken from within the Faculty or across Faculties.

There are some modules offered by the different Faculties where, given the foundational knowledge needed to undertake a particular module, aprerequisite may be imposed. These will be clearly labelled in the list of modules offered by the different programmes.

Students must ensure that they have the necessary prerequisites before enrolling for a particular module.

There may be cases where there are substantial overlaps in the content covered in two modules. In such cases, the two modules will have an anti-requisite. This means that students taking a particular module will not be allowed to read the anti-requisited module.

In all Faculties, students must earn a minimum number of modular credits at various levels of study to graduate.

Students must read and pass a maximum of 40 modular credits of Level 1000 modules. This is to ensure, especially in taking breadth modules, that students take modules from different levels of studies.

For students who have accumulated more than 40 modular credits of Level 1000 modules, the extra modular credits will not be counted towards the modular credit requirement for graduation. They, however, will count towards the grade point average (GPA) and cumulative grade point average (cGPA) calculations.

Students are not encouraged to take a breadth module in their declared major. If, however, for students who do so, the accumulated modular credits will not be counted towards the modular credit requirement for graduation. They, however, will count towards the GPA and cGPA calculations.

For single major, students are expected to pass a minimum of 24 modular credits of Level 4000 modules in their major subject (They are some variations to this requirement for the different programmes. Please refer to the relevant programme regulations).

In some Faculties, students may be allowed, in lieu of their Level 4000 modules, to read a maximum of 8 modular credits of Level 5000 modules (subject to Programme approval and module prerequisites, if any).

The rest of the Level requirements can be read at either Level 2000 or Level 3000 modules.

Students are free to choose modules from different levels of study (except for modules with prerequisites) in any one semester. With the flexibility, however, comes responsibility. Students are strongly advised to consult their GenNEXT Coordinator, Programme Leaders or Academic Advisors before signing up for modules.

It is also important to emphasize that in selecting modules, it is the student’s responsibility to ensure that there are no time-table and examination clashes. Students cannot sign up for modules where there is a time-table clash for lectures or an examination clash. Students are strongly advised

As GenNEXT emphasises both depth and breadth in education, all modules (except some of those taken during the Discovery Year) will count towards the Grade Point Average (GPA) of a student.

Given the importance of the Capstone modules, the weightage of the different level modules are as follows:

Level 1000 modules = 20%
Level 2000 modules = 20%
Level 3000 modules = 20%
Level 4000 modules = 40 %

For students who choose to read Level 5000 modules, the weightage will be the same as Level 4000 modules.

Students can declare their major in the first semester of candidature and before the commencement of their fourth semester. It is expected that most students will declare their major after the second semester (For all Majors in BHSc, refer to PAPRSBIHS rules & regulations). Students who do not declare their major will be put under probationary status and additional penalties will be imposed.

In the GenNEXT degree, students are required to participate in the Discovery Year programme to broaden their knowledge and give invaluable experience in a real world setting. As such, the Discovery Year is an integral part of the GenNEXT degreee as it encourages real world and design centric learning. This is normally undertaken in the third year of study, in the 5th and 6th semesters of a candidature. Students must fulfill all Faculty and Discovery Year Unit requirements before they can proceed for their Discovery Year.

The Discovery Year options are as follows:

1. Study Abroad Programme (SAP)
2. Community Outreach Programme (COP)
3. Internship Programme
4. Innovation or Incubation Projects

Students are required to undertake any one or a combination of the 4 possible options in the Discovery Year. The actual programme to be undertaken should be worked out with the Faculty, Programme Leaders and Academic Advisors and is subject to the availability of places as well as a selection process. All students must have declared their major prior to leaving for their Discovery Year.

For SAP, modular credits and GPA are calculated on a per module taken. However, Internship, COP and Innovation/Incubation Projects, each have a value of 16 modular credits for one semester.

In cases where an SAP module is taken on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory or pass/fail basis, the modular credits count towards the credit requirement. However, for graded SAP modules, the modular credits will count towards the credit requirement, GPA and cGPA calculations. Internship, COP and Innovation/Incubation Projects can only be used for credit transfer (that is, they are graded on a satisfactory/unsatisfactory basis). Students who do not satisfy their Internship, COP and Innovation/Incubation Projects will have to fulfill their modular credit requirements for graduation by reading breadth modules in UBD.

Students may, in special cases, and on medical and compassionate grounds, be exempted from the Discovery Year programme. This will be considered on a case by case basis. For such students, they will have to take breadth modules offered by UBD. Recommendation must be made by the Dean of the faculty for such exemption and approved by the Assistant Vice Chancellor (Academic Affairs).

For students who are admitted on the Higher National Diploma (HND) route, students who transfer to UBD from another university, and articulation student who convert from Diploma programmes to the GenNEXT degree, please see the separate regulations and procedures set out for these students.

For these students, the residency requirement of 4 semesters at UBD remains in force.

In the GenNEXT programme, there are no supplementary examinations (For BHSc programme, refer to PAPRSBIHS rules & regulations).

A student is only allowed two attempts to pass a Degree Core or Major Core. If a student fails a Degree Core or Major Core, the student is required to repeat the particular compulsory module when it is next offered. After the second failed attempt, a student’s candidature in a particular degree programme or major will be terminated. The student can apply for a transfer of degree programme or major. If the student is unsuccessful in effecting a transfer of programme or major, his/her candidature in the University will be terminated.

In cases where the student is absent from the examinations, and has a valid reason acceptable to the University Examinations Board, the student will be allowed to resit the examination the next time it is offered. The student will retain his/her continual assessment marks and just sit for the examinations. For retakes, it will be counted as a first attempt in the calculation of the GPA (For rules and regulations regarding retakes, please refer to the University Examination Regulations and Procedures).

If a student fails a major option or a breadth module, he/she may choose to repeat the module or opt to take an alternative module in the same category.

Transfer of degree or major whether within a Faculty or to another Faculty must be completed within the first 4 semester of a student’s candidature. Students are only allowed one transfer of major or degree programme in their candidature.

a) Involuntary transfer

If a student fails a Degree Core or Major Core twice, he/she may apply for a transfer of degree programme or major. The maximum period of candidature (6 years for a single major student) will remain in force. All modules taken prior to the transfer (with a certain number of modules void) will be carried forward with the permission of the university.

A student may choose, if he/she fails a Major core twice to transfer to another major. A student must obtain the permission of the Programme Leader and Dean to effect a transfer of major. At the discretion of the receiving faculty, the student may be allowed to void up to 16 modular credits.

If the transfer is to another degree programme, the student must obtain the approval of both Deans of Faculties. At the discretion of the receiving faculty, the student may be allowed to void up to 20 modular credits.

b) Voluntary transfer

This applies to students who wish to apply for transfer of degree programme or major on their own accord. A student must obtain the permission of the Programme Leader and Dean to effect a transfer of major. If the transfer is to another degree programme, the student must obtain the approval of both Deans of Faculties. All modules taken prior to the transfer will be carried forward to the new degree programme or major.

The GenNEXT degree works on a Cumulative Grade Point Average (cGPA) system (see below)

The Formula for calculation cGPA is as follows:

cGPA = Sum (Module grade point x modular credit point assigned to Module x Level weightage of modules)
______________________________________________________
Sum (modular credit assigned to modules x Level weightage of modules)

Students are advised that although most modules carry 4 modular credits, there are some modules that are assigned between 2 to 8 modular credits.

There will be some modules, especially those taken during the Discovery Year where there is credit rather than grade transfer. Internship Programme, COP and Innovation/Incubation Projects, modules will count towards the modular credits required for graduation, but will not count towards the GPA. Notwithstanding this, students must still pass these modules taken in the Discovery Year and the grades achieved will be reflected in the transcript.

If a student fails the Internship / COP / Innovation / Incubation projects component of their degree requirements, the student must fulfill the credit requirements by taking additional modules at UBD.

The maximum period of candidature for a Bachelor’s degree is 6 years (For BHSc-Medicine, refer to PAPRSBIHS rules & regulations). For those who are selected and opt for the Double Degree programme, the maximum period of candidature is 7 years.

A candidate may be awarded the degree of Undergraduate if he/she has:

(a) Maintained a cGPA of 1.5;
(b) Fulfilled all the requirements of these Regulations and the Regulations governing the degree for which he/she is a candidate;
(c) Been recommended for the award of the degrees by the University Examination Board; and
(d) Paid all fees prescribed, where applicable.

All students will be assigned an academic advisor. Students are strongly encouraged to meet with the academic advisors regularly, and to consult them with regards to the programme they want to undertake or in the selection of modules to read.

A double degree consists of a combination of two separate degrees in 2 disciplines from 2 different Faculties.

Students can choose from a number of customized Double Degree or choose to devise their own Double Degree.

Students who wish to enrol in a Double Degree must apply for admission before the end of their second semester. They must meet the required qualifications for the intended Double Degree. If selected, students on Double Degree must maintain a cGPA of 3.5 for both subjects in any 2 consecutive semesters to remain in the Double Degree. If they fail to do so, they will be required to withdraw from the Double Degree and revert back to a single degree.

Students who intend to devise their own Double Degree must obtain the permission from Deans of both Faculties. Like the customized degrees, student must maintain a cGPA of 3.5 average in any two consecutive semesters to remain in the Double Degree.

The maximum period of candidature for Double Degree is 7 years.

Double major allows students an opportunity to broaden their knowledge yet with a significant degree of depth by pursuing a second major. The second major can be taken within the same Faculty or from a different Faculty (Please see Faculty rules and regulations for the double majors offered and the requirements for each major). Students can declare their double major in the first semester of candidature and before the commencement of their fourth semester.

For Double major students, the maximum period of candidature is 6 years and must maintain a cGPA of 2.5 to remain pursuing a Double major. If they fail to do so, they will be required to withdraw from the double major and revert back to a single major.

In some Faculties, students can choose to read a Combined major. Combined majors are a combination of two disciplines combined as a single major. For rules and regulations governing Combined majors, please refer to the respective Faculty rules and regulations for module requirements.

Students may plan their degree so that it includes a minor. The minor is based on taking a number of modules from a particular programme within a Faculty or from another Faculty.

As a general rule, a student will read 24 modular credits worth of modules to satisfy the minor programme requirement (For specific requirements on minors, please refer to the rules and regulations governing minors of the different Faculties).

The student may, on medical or compassionate grounds, and with the approval of the Board apply for leave of absence from the University. The maximum period of Leave of Absence allowed is 4 semesters in a student’s candidature.

The leave of absence does not count towards the maximum period of candidature allowed.

A student who obtains a conditional pass (P) will be allowed to proceed to the next level of study and the modules in which a student obtains a conditional pass grade will be counted towards the GPA and modular credit requirements (For BHSc-Medicine, refer to PAPRSBIHS rules & regulations).

A student is only allowed to accumulate 2 conditional passes in his/her period of candidature. If a student receives a third conditional pass, it will constitute having failed that module and while it will be counted towards the GPA, it will not be accepted for the modular credit requirements. The student will have to repeat (if it is a degree core or a major core module) or if it is a major option or breadth module, repeat the module or switch to another module in the same category.

If students fail modules that are for credit transfer during the Discovery Year they will have to read additional breadth modules at UBD to accumulate sufficient modular credits for graduation.

Students intending to submit an appeal for review of examination results, transfer of programmes, probation, and termination of candidature, please refer to the Examination Regulations and Procedures of UBD for the proper procedures on Appeals.

Students are strongly encouraged to attend all lectures. Attendance at tutorials /Laboratory sessions is compulsory. If a student fails to attend 60% of the tutorials/Laboratory sessions for a particular module, the student will be barred from taking the examinations for that particular module (For rules and regulations regarding barring of students, please see the University Examination Regulations and Procedure).

Students must maintain a cGPA of 1.5. If, in any semester, his/her cGPA drops below 1.5, the students will be placed on probation. In the following semester, the student must raise his/her cGPA above 1.5 to remove the probationary status.

A student who is on probationary status for 2 consecutive semesters will have his/her candidature at UBD terminated (Please see the University Examination Regulations and Procedures regarding probation and termination). The student may apply for a transfer in major or degree programme (Please refer to the section on “Transfers”).

In order to graduate with a degree from UBD, a student must obtain a minimum cGPA of 1.5 and satisfy all University, Faculty and major requirements (For BHSc-Medicine, refer to PAPRSBIHS rules & regulations).

Students are required to register for their modules at the beginning of each semester. Students are advised to choose their modules carefully, and consult with their Programme Leaders or Academic Advisors when selecting modules. It is also the students’ responsibility to ensure that there are no time-table or examination clashes. Students are not allowed to register for modules that they have already passed.

There will be a 2 weeks period at the beginning of each semester when students register and can add or drop modules without penalties. After the confirmation of the module registration (3rd week of term) there will be penalties for withdrawal (Please refer to the University Examination Regulations and Procedures regarding registration for modules, add/drop and withdrawals).

Students will not be allowed to sit for the semester examinations if they do not register for their modules.

Students are assessed on the overall performance in each module, a combination of continual assessment and examinations. Some modules may have 100% continual assessment. Continual assessment grade is a combination of grades from different pieces of class work. (Please refer to the rules and regulations of the different Faculties & Programmes for information on continual assessment and examinations.)