Article (1)
These regulations shall be referred to as the “Diploma Program Study Regulations for Government Colleges and Community Colleges for the Year 2015.” They shall come into effect starting from the first semester of the academic year 2015/2016.
Article (2)
The following terms and expressions shall have the meanings assigned to them below, unless the context indicates otherwise:
| 1- Ministry |
The Ministry of Higher Education and Scientific Research |
| 2- Minister |
The Minister of Higher Education |
| 3- College |
The Smart University College for Modern Education |
| 4- Dean / Director |
The Dean/Director of the College |
| 5- Department |
A department that offers one or more specific educational programs leading to an academic degree |
| 6- Program |
A field of education and training beyond the secondary level, consisting of no less than four semesters, and including one or more specializations |
| 7- Specialization |
A set of courses within a specific field of a program, the successful completion of which leads to the awarding of a college certificate, provided the specialization is accredited by the National Accreditation and Quality Assurance Authority |
| 8- College Student |
Any student who has completed the registration procedures and is regularly attending classes in the specified semester |
| 9- Course |
A study subject (with or without a practical component) offered during one semester and assigned a specific number of credit hours.
|
| 10- Credit Hours |
One theoretical study hour (50 minutes) per week for 16 weeks |
| 11- Semester |
Sixteen actual study weeks, including examination and evaluation periods
|
| 12- Summer Semester |
Eight actual study weeks, including examination and evaluation periods |
| 13- Academic Year |
The academic year consists of two semesters and an optional summer semester |
| 14- College Requirements |
Mandatory courses that all college students must study and pass, regardless of their specialization |
| 15- Department Requirements |
Mandatory courses that all students in a specific department must study and pass |
| 16- Specialization Requirements |
Mandatory courses that all students in a specific specialization must study and pass. |
| 17- Withdrawal |
A student’s withdrawal from a course during the add/drop period (as per regulations).
|
| 18- Add/Drop |
A student’s addition of a course during the add/drop period (as per regulations). |
| 19- Late Withdrawal |
Withdrawal from a course or courses after the designated withdrawal period (as per regulations).
|
| 20- Postponement |
Delaying the registration of a course or courses to a later semester with official approval.
|
| 21- Absence |
Failure to register for a semester or absence from studies without official permission (as per regulations). |
| 22- Prerequisite |
A course that a student must study and pass before registering for another course, as per the study plan (no student may register for a course if they have failed its prerequisite due to absence).
|
| 23- Co-requisite |
A course that a student must study in a previous semester or register for in the same semester as the course in question, as per the study plan (coordinated by the department head and approved by the dean).
|
| 24- Passing Grade |
A student must achieve a grade of 50% or higher in a course |
| 25- College Zero |
The minimum failing grade (35%). |
Article (3)
The Ministry shall approve the study plans leading to the awarding of an intermediate university degree (Diploma) in the specializations offered by the colleges, based on recommendations from the college councils.
Article (4)
Admission and Enrollment:
- A student who has achieved a minimum of 50% in the General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihi) or its equivalent may apply for admission to one of the diploma programs offered by the college.
- Admission and enrollment shall open at the beginning of the first semester of the academic year. Enrollment for the second semester may be opened if resources and available seats permit.
- Students shall be admitted to colleges based on the following:
- The student’s secondary education stream, in accordance with approved admission criteria.
- The student’s preference.
- The college’s capacity.
- The ranking of the student’s secondary education grades.
- The student’s fitness for the chosen specialization.
- Passing an aptitude test, if required.
- Compliance with the Ministry’s regulations and instructions.
- A student’s admission or registration shall be canceled in the following cases:
- Failure to complete registration procedures within the specified period.
- Failure to join the program within the specified enrollment period.
- Submission of falsified documents.
- Admission in violation of the issued regulations.
The college’s period of study and academic quorum
Article (5)
The duration of study for a specialization shall be a minimum of four semesters and a maximum of seven semesters, excluding summer semesters.
Article (6)
- The maximum course load for a student in a semester is 18 credit hours.
- The maximum course load may be increased to 21 credit hours in the following cases:
- If the specialization requires 70 credit hours or more.
- If the semester is the student’s graduation semester.
- If the student’s cumulative GPA is 80% or higher.
- The maximum course load for a summer semester is 10 credit hours, which may be increased to 11 credit hours only if the summer semester is the student’s graduation semester.
- The minimum course load for a student in a semester is 12 credit hours. In exceptional cases (if no other courses are available for registration), the dean may reduce the minimum to 9 credit hours.
- A student’s course load may be reduced to less than 12 credit hours after the fourth semester of study.
- Physical education courses are not counted toward the maximum course load.
- A student may be granted one exceptional semester if they have successfully completed all specialization requirements but need to raise their GPA to 60%.
Article (7)
- The total grade for a course is 100%, distributed as follows:
- Final exam: 40%.
- Midterm exams: 40% (with at least two announced exams).
- Research, reports, and participation: 20%.
- All graded papers from midterm exams must be returned to students at least two weeks before the next exam. Practical exams and research grades must be communicated to students.
- Students must be informed of their semester grades (coursework) at least one week before the final exam period and may review their grades with the department head.
- The final exam schedule must be announced at least two weeks in advance by the Admissions and Registration Department.
- The course instructor is responsible for grading papers and submitting them to the designated form.
- Final exam answer sheets must be kept by the Admissions and Registration Department or the dean’s office for one semester after results are announced, after which they are destroyed.
- Final results are announced by the Admissions and Registration Department after approval by the college council.
- The passing grade for a course is 50%.
- No final grade below the college zero (35%) shall be recorded.
- The grade distribution for courses with both theoretical and practical components shall be based on the credit hours assigned to each component.
- The grade for practical courses (without a theoretical component) shall consist of:
- Coursework: 60%.
- Final exam: 40%.
Article (8)
- The semester GPA is calculated by dividing the sum of the products of each course’s grade and its credit hours by the total credit hours studied in that semester.
- The cumulative GPA is calculated by dividing the sum of the products of all courses’ grades and their credit hours by the total credit hours studied up to that point (repeated courses are counted once, with the new grade replacing the old one).
- Courses studied at another college may be included in the cumulative GPA if approved by the dean and aligned with the current specialization’s study plan.
Article (9)
- Each college shall maintain comprehensive records of students’ grades in various courses, organized by semester.
- If a student is absent from the final exam without an acceptable excuse, they shall receive a grade of zero. If the absence is excused (with documentation submitted within three working days), the student shall receive an “Incomplete” mark and must take the exam within two weeks of the next semester.
- If a student is absent from a midterm exam without an acceptable excuse, they shall receive a grade of zero. If the absence is excused, the student shall take the exam as arranged by the course instructor.
- A student may request a review of their final exam grade within one week of results being announced, subject to payment of the required fees.
- A committee consisting of the academic vice dean, the department head, and at least one instructor shall review the exam papers and confirm the grades, submitting the results to the dean for approval.
- Each college shall send student grade records to the Ministry within three weeks of the semester’s end, after verification and approval by the relevant authorities.
- Semester and cumulative GPAs, as well as course grades, shall be evaluated as follows:
| GPA Evaluation |
| Minimum % |
Maximum % |
Appreciation |
| 90 |
100 |
Excellent |
| 80 |
89.9 |
Very Good |
| 70 |
79.9 |
Good |
| 60 |
69.9 |
Acceptable |
| 55 |
59.9 |
Weak |
| Below 55% (after the first semester) |
Under warning |
| Below 50% (in the first semester) |
Dismissed |
| Course Grade Evaluation |
| Minimum % |
Maximum % |
Appreciation |
| 90 |
100 |
Excellent |
| 80 |
89 |
Very Good |
| 70 |
79 |
Good |
| 60 |
69 |
Acceptable |
| 50 |
59 |
Weak |
| 35 |
49 |
Fail |
Article (10)
- A student may retake any failed course, and the new grade shall replace the old one, marked with an “R” (Repeated).
- A student with a cumulative GPA below 70% may retake any course in which they scored below 70% to improve their GPA, with the new grade replacing the old one, marked with an “R.”
- Courses are counted once in the semester and cumulative GPA calculations.
- A student may register for a course they failed in its prerequisite, based on the department head’s recommendation and the dean’s approval, provided the failure was not due to absence.
Registration, Withdrawal and Addition
Article (11)
The Ministry shall approve the annual academic calendar at the beginning of each academic year, based on recommendations from college councils, specifying admission, registration, add/drop, exam, and holiday periods.
Article (12)
- A student may withdraw from or add courses during the first week of the semester (or three days in the summer semester), with fees adjusted accordingly.
- A student may withdraw from courses until the end of the tenth week of the regular semester (or sixth week of the summer semester) with written approval from the department head, losing fees for withdrawn courses, provided the student’s course load does not fall below the minimum requirement.
- A student may withdraw from all courses before the final exam period (two weeks in the regular semester, one week in the summer semester) with college council approval, losing fees for that semester.
Attendance
Article (13)
A student’s absence is counted from the start of the semester. Absence is excused in the following cases:
-
- Illness, supported by a medical report submitted within three working days of return.
- Extraordinary circumstances approved by the dean.
Article (14)
- If a student’s unexcused absence exceeds two lectures (or equivalent practical sessions) per credit hour, they shall be barred from the final exam and receive a grade of 35%.
- If a student’s excused absence exceeds three lectures (or equivalent practical sessions) per credit hour, they shall be considered withdrawn from the course, provided documentation is submitted within one week of return.
- The Admissions and Registration Department shall notify the student in writing upon reaching the maximum allowed absences.
Study postponement
Article (15)
- A student’s study may be postponed for up to four semesters.
- The college council may approve a study postponement and inform the Ministry within two weeks of the decision.
- Postponement requests must be submitted in writing, with reasons provided, and decided upon within two weeks.
- Postponement periods are not counted toward the maximum study duration.
- A student who withdraws from a semester after registration shall be considered postponed.
- New or transferred students may not postpone their studies until after completing one semester.
Dropping out
Article (16)
A student is considered withdrawn if they do not register for a semester without official approval. They may only return with college council approval, under the following conditions:
-
- Submission of an acceptable excuse.
- The withdrawal period does not exceed two semesters.
- The student has successfully completed at least 12 credit hours.
- The student submits a re-registration request before the end of the first week of the semester.
- The student must adhere to the study plan in effect upon their return.
Moving to another college
Article (17)
- A student may transfer from one college to another at the beginning of any semester (except the first semester) to study the same or a different specialization, provided:
- The student’s secondary education GPA meets the admission requirements for the new specialization.
- There is an available seat in the new specialization.
- The student’s cumulative GPA is at least 60%.
- The student has not been dismissed for disciplinary reasons from the previous college.
- The student submits a transfer request to the dean, with approval from the new college’s dean, along with a certified transcript, before the end of the first week of the new semester.
- All courses completed at the previous college that align with the new specialization’s study plan shall be counted.
- A student shall take the Comprehensive Exam for Community Colleges from the college where they completed more than 50% of the specialization’s credit hours.
- With the dean’s approval, a student may take up to 9 credit hours at another college for graduation purposes.
- A student who has completed all courses but failed some or has a low GPA may not transfer.
Moving from university to college
Article (18)
A bachelor’s degree student may transfer to a diploma program, with courses in which they scored 60% or higher counted toward the new specialization’s study plan, provided:
-
- There is an available seat in the new specialization.
- The student’s cumulative GPA is at least 60%.
- No more than 50% of the new specialization’s credit hours are transferred.
- No more than two years have passed since the student’s withdrawal from the previous specialization.
- The student submits a transfer request before the start of the semester.
- The student provides a certified university transcript.
- The student has not been dismissed for disciplinary reasons from the university.
Academic warning and dismissal
Article (19)
- A student shall be academically warned if their cumulative GPA falls below 55% in any regular semester after the first semester.
- A warned student may not register for more than 15 credit hours.
- A student shall be dismissed from their specialization in the following cases:
- If their GPA is below 50% in the first semester.
- If they receive two consecutive academic warnings.
- If they are absent for more than 20% of the semester without an acceptable excuse.
- The summer semester is considered an extension of the second semester for warning or dismissal purposes.
- A student shall be dismissed from the college in the following cases:
- If they are absent for two or more consecutive semesters without an acceptable excuse.
- If they repeatedly cheat on exams, as per Ministry regulations.
- If they are dismissed from a second specialization after being academically dismissed from the first.
- If they exceed the maximum study duration for their specialization.
- If they commit a violation warranting dismissal, as per Ministry regulations.
Article (20)
- A student dismissed from their specialization under Article (19) may register as a new student in another specialization at their college once, or transfer to another college in a different specialization, subject to admission criteria.
- Courses completed in the previous specialization that align with the new specialization’s study plan shall be counted, provided the student scored at least 55% in those courses and no more than two years have passed since dismissal.
- One semester shall be deducted from the maximum study duration for every 15 credit hours transferred.
Change of Major
Article (21)
- A student may change their specialization with the dean’s approval, subject to admission criteria.
- Specialization change requests must be submitted in writing to the Admissions and Registration Department before the start of any semester, with the dean’s approval within one week.
- All courses completed in the previous specialization that align with the new specialization’s study plan shall be counted.
- A graduate who wishes to study a new specialization may have up to 50% of the new specialization’s credit hours counted from their previous specialization, provided no more than three years have passed since graduation.
Graduation
Article (22)
A student is considered a graduate if they successfully complete all required courses for their specialization with a cumulative GPA of at least 60%.
Article (23)
- The college shall issue the graduate a certificate stating that they have completed their specialization, in a format approved by the Minister of Higher Education.
- The college shall issue transcripts to students upon request, listing all credit hours completed, in a format approved by the Minister of Higher Education.
Article (24)
A graduate may take the Comprehensive Exam for Colleges, as per the study plan in effect at the time.
General Provisions
Article (25)
The Ministry shall decide on cases not covered by these regulations.
Article (26)
These regulations shall replace any previous regulations on the matter.
Article (27)
Deans, directors, academic vice deans, and heads of admissions and registration departments are responsible for implementing these regulations.
The system followed by the college is derived from higher education regulations, and among the most important guidelines are those published on the college’s website and in its official handbook.
Admission Requirements for the Program
The educational system followed in the study is the same academic system adopted by the Ministry of Higher Education for the diploma degree. It includes exams and assessments in most courses, such as midterm exams, final exams, assignments, research projects, and laboratory work. As for the admission requirements for the proposed program, it is open to holders of the General Secondary Education Certificate (Tawjihi) from all streams.
Grade Review
Students have the right to request a review of their grades in any course by submitting a formal request. The student’s department will receive and re-evaluate the exams and assessments conducted during the semester. This process is carried out by a committee chaired by the department head and including the course instructor and another instructor from the same specialization.
Evaluation of Student Progress
Students are monitored by academic advisors who track their academic performance, provide guidance for improvement, and help resolve academic issues. The college also has a Student Affairs Department that oversees students’ social and psychological well-being.
During teaching and learning, especially in technical skills, instructors monitor and evaluate students, taking into account individual differences, characteristics, abilities, and potential. This approach helps identify talented students and develop their abilities through internal and external projects, technical and artistic works, as well as educational and instructional skills.
Additionally, the Public Relations Department includes a Graduate Follow-up Unit. Its role is to track the progress of graduates, search for job opportunities, scholarships, competitions, seminars, and exhibitions, and notify graduates about them. The unit also organizes specialized professional courses for graduates, receives their suggestions, and studies them to take appropriate action. Furthermore, the unit builds and maintains cooperation and communication between graduates and local community institutions, including unions, universities, and private organizations. The unit also gathers feedback from graduates about the academic programs and plans they studied, which is used to improve and update academic plans.
Program Validity and Course Updates
The college develops a comprehensive strategic plan every five years, outlining the introduction of new specializations, the closure or modification of existing ones, and the development of academic staff through scholarships and training programs. The plan also supports research and encourages scientific research. Additionally, all departments in the college prepare a comprehensive development plan every five years at most to update the academic plans for active specializations. Courses are updated based on recommendations from the Quality Assurance Department, which gathers feedback from instructors, graduates, and employers.
