All academic programmes at Bahria University’s constituent units follow the semester system (except the Medical and Dental College which runs on the annual system).
The semester system is simply a different way of managing time during the academic year. Instead of having classes spread over one year with a summer break in between (as in the annual system), the semester system consists of two semesters:
- Spring semester: from February to June.
- Fall semester: from September to January.
Each semester is made up as follows:
- Teaching: 15 weeks
- Mid-semester and final examinations: 3 weeks
- Total semester time: 18 weeks
Please note that for the Engineering programmes there is only one student admission each year during the fall semester.
A 10-week summer semester is offered from June to August, in which a limited number of regular courses are offered.
The student’s performance is evaluated in each course on a continuous basis throughout the semester. Final grading for each course is based on performance in:
- Quizzes.
- Assignments.
- Practical projects.
- Term papers.
- Class participation.
- Mid-semester examination.
- Final semester examination.
Credit Hours
A credit hour is the unit measuring educational credit consisting of one weekly class lasting about an hour. For practical work, the period duration is twice that of theory.
Department
A Department is a division of a faculty that deals with a specific branch of instruction or study. For example, Department of Management Sciences.
Discipline (a Subject Area)
A discipline is a branch of learning or field of study.
Double / Dual Majors
In academic programs (non-engineering only), to have more than one major is called Double or Dual Majors. Students may simultaneously register for two majors provided both of the majors lead to the same degree. For example MBA students can register for courses that relate to two majors: Finance and Marketing.
The request to take a second major must be made formally; i.e., the student must meet with his/her Head of Department to initiate the process, for which an official notice of acceptance will be issued. Completion of the second major will be based on the degree requirements in force at the time of the request. Only one degree will be issued, but the transcript will depict bi-majors.
Full Course Load
Full course load is determined as given in respective course catalog.
Over load
More than the required load of credit hours.
Pre-Requisite
A course that a student must complete before being admitted to another.
Probation
A period during which students must maintain a specified academic standing. Failure to do so results in having to discontinue studies.
Programme
A prescribed syllabus of study leading to a degree, certificate, or academic credential.
Semester
Either one of the two main periods of instructions into which the academic year is usually divided; the Spring semester begins in February and ends in June, while the Fall semester begins in September and ends in January.
Transcript
An official copy of the student’s academic record produced by the examination department.
Course Registration
Students are required to register for courses for each semester. Course registration of the fresh students is done automatically by the respective programme coordinator or department representative. For subsequent semesters the students have to go through the registration process one week prior to commencement of the Semester.
Class Attendance
One credit hour of theory is equivalent to one contact hour, and one credit hour of practical/laboratory is equal to two contact hours.
It is mandatory for every student to attend at least 75% of the contact hours, failing which he/she will not be allowed to take the final examination and awarded letter grade “F”.
Schedule Adjustments
The University reserves the right to cancel any course if there are not enough students enrolled, or if faculty is not available to teach that course. The University also reserves the right to form new sections, and adjust or transfer students to other sections during any stage of the course.
Course Repeat Policy
The following are the conditions for repeating a course:
- Repeating is only permitted in cases where the grade obtained is C+ or less.
- For Students relegated, see details under Probation, Relegation and Dismissal.
- All attempts by a student in a subject, regardless of the reasons, will be recorded on the transcript.
- Only the highest of all attempts will be used in calculation of the CGPA.
- The course can only be repeated within one year of the declaration of result.
Grading system
Bahria University uses the following grading system to evaluate student performance. Total marks obtained in a single course will be rounded off to the nearest whole number.
| Grade | Percentage | Grade Point |
| A | 87 – 100 | 4.00 |
| B+ | 80 – 86 | 3.50 |
| B | 72 – 79 | 3.00 |
| C+ | 66 – 71 | 2.50 |
| C | 60 – 65 | 2.00 |
| D | 50 – 59 | 1.50 |
| F | Below 50 | 0.00 |
| W | Withdrawal | |
| I | Incomplete |
- A An outstanding performance
- B+ Very good performance
- B Above average performance
- C+ A generally satisfactory and intellectually adequate performance
- C Barely Acceptable performance
- D Poor performance
- F An unacceptable performance
- I Incomplete
Probation
A student is placed on Probation if his CGPA falls below 2.00, but remains above 1.50 at any given time.
He/she will be allowed:
· Three probations for a four-year programme
· Two probations for a two-year programme
· One probation for a one-year programme.
After this the student will be placed on Chance Status.
Chance
To avoid being dropped, a student placed on Chance Status has to:
Achieve minimum of 1.50 CGPA if he/she has not availed probation(s).
Maintain a CGPA above 2.00 or equivalent if he/she has availed permissible probation(s).
Minimum CGPA for the Award of Degree
At Bahria University, in order to qualify for the award of a degree the student needs to have the following minimums:
· 2.00 CGPA for the Undergraduate Degree programme
· 2.50 CGPA for the Masters Degree programme.
For Four-year Undergraduate Programmes
A maximum of three Probations and one Chance shall be allowed during the entire programme.
If after availing three Probations and one Chance, the CGPA falls below 1.50 or does not improve to 2.00 or above, the student will be removed from the programme.
For Two-year Graduate Programmes
A maximum of two Probations and one Chance will be allowed during the entire programme.
If after availing two Probations and one Chance, the CGPA falls below 1.50, or does not improve to 2.00 or above, the student will be removed from the programme.
For 1.5-year Graduate Programmes
A maximum of one Probation and one Chance shall be allowed during the entire programme.
If after availing the Probation and Chance opportunity, the CGPA falls below 1.50, or does not improve to 2.00 or above, the student will be removed from the programme.
[/vc_column_text][/vc_tab][vc_tab title=”Honours” tab_id=”1393517589671-17-2″][vc_column_text]The student can graduate with honours if he/she achieves high or outstanding academic standards. Honours designations are indicated on the transcript, while medals and merit certificates are awarded at the convocation ceremony. The University offers three separate honours designations for scholastic excellence reflected in the student’s cumulative average:
- Summa Cum Laude 3.95-4.00
- Magna Cum Laude 3.80-3.9.
- Cum Laude 3.60-3.79
Graduation Time Frame
Students are required to finish their degree requirements within some maximum time limits, which are as follows:
- 4-year programme 6 years
- 2.5-year programme 4 years
- 2-year programme 3 years
- 1.5-year programme 2 years
Academic Calendar
A calendar of study programme and extracurricular activities for the academic year is issued before the start of each semester.
Freezing of Semester
Students are permitted to Freeze their semester, due to illness or circumstances beyond their control, by providing a written application on the prescribed form. Conditions for this are as follows:
• A student is permitted to freeze the semester before the start of the academic session provided he/she has passed the final examination of the previous semester with the minimum GPA/CGPA required for remaining enrolled in Bahria University.
- A student is also permitted to freeze the semester during the course of study. However, fee of such student will not be refunded or adjusted once classes have commenced.
- Students have to resume their studies in the following semester; otherwise their names will be struck off from the roll of the University.
- Students are not permitted to freeze more than two semesters simultaneously.
- Fresh students are not permitted to freeze the semester without payment of admission fee, as well as submission of complete document required for meeting the basic eligibility criteria for admission.
- A student is permitted to freeze the semester within the overall degree-awarding time frame (i.e., the maximum time allowed by the University to complete the degree).
- A student is permitted to freeze the semester in special cases, i.e. suffering from a life threatening disease, marriage and maternity, etc.
Criteria for Dropped Students
| Programme | Minimum CGPA | No. of Probations |
| Undergraduate | 2.0 | 3 Consecutive |
| Masters (MBA/ MS/ MPhil) | 2.5 | 2 Consecutive |
| Doctorate (PhD) | 3.0 | 2 Consecutive |