How to complete a 'Qualifying Exam' (QE)?

General information

The qualifying exam is an examination required for certain new PhD candidates to prove their capabilities to apply and synthesize the skills and knowledge during the PhD program. A qualifying exam (QE) is mandatory if your degree does not fulfill the entree requirements of Wageningen University. The supervisor will establish a QE which needs to be approved by the Doctoral Service Centre, before the PhD candidate can execute the QE.

Registration for BSc/MSc course(s)

If you need to take a course as part of a QE approved by the Academic Board:

1. Send an email to team Admission of the Doctoral Service Centre ([email protected]) in which you indicate that you want to register for course(s) as part of your QE. Include the code of the course(s);
2. Doctoral Service Centre will check if the QE courses are known in Hora Finita;
3. Doctoral Service Centre will generate a ‘Course registration form’. This form can also be generated by the PhD candidate. This form will become available in the Hora Finita environment of the PhD candidate and can be downloaded;
4. On the ‘Course registration form’ you will find pre-filled information. Check this information and fill in the missing information on the registration form (when the pre-filled information is incorrect, contact Doctoral Service Centre);
5. Print the document and sign the form at the bottom. Send the signed form to [email protected].

Submitting the proof a Qualifying Exam  

1. Go to your dashboard > Go to your PhD checklist

2. Click on “requirement” below ‘Requirement: Take Qualifying Exam”

3. Click on Browse to upload your proof of your QE

If this Qualifying Exam comprises a course of Wageningen University, you can ask the Student Service Centre (via [email protected]) to send you a 'transcript of records' of that course. Please mention your WUR account number in your email. Within 3 days you will receive the transcript of records.

4. Click on Submit to submit your QE for review.

If you want to submit the QE later, click on Save and submit your QE when you are ready.

After you have submitted your QE, you will receive the following message at the top of your screen:

Approval or rejection

After the Doctoral Service Centre has reviewed the QE, you will receive an email from Hora Finita about their approval or rejection. If your QE has been rejected by the Doctoral Service Centre, you can resubmit the new version of your QE by following the previous steps.