Digital Competence Assessment

Examination Language

The language of examination depends on the language of program delivery:

• Students enrolled in programs delivered exclusively in English or in two languages (bilingual) take their exams in English;

• All other students take their exams in Russian.

Exam Grade

Exam grades are announced no later than 3 weeks after the end of the examination period. Grades are recorded in the Diploma Supplement and are given on a 10-point scale.

The grade for each individual exam contributes to the current academic rating with a credit weight of 3 and is included in the rating for specific years of study in accordance with the curriculum of the educational programme.

Grade rounding rules:

• For grades above 4, standard arithmetic rounding applies.
  Example: a grade of 4.5 is rounded to 5; 6.4 is rounded to 6.

• For grades below 4, rounding is performed by discarding the decimal part (truncation).
  Example: 3.9 is rounded to 3.

If a student receives an unsatisfactory grade (below 4) in any of the digital competence exams, they will incur an academic debt. This debt must be cleared within one year from the date it is incurred.

Recognition of Results (Credit Transfer)

In accordance with the Regulations on Interim and Final Assessment of Students at HSE University (POPATKUS) , students may have their positive result from the Digital Competence Exam (DCE) recognized as the grade for the prerequisite discipline, provided that such a discipline is included in the student's individual curriculum (RUP) within their educational programme.

The recognition of results (credit transfer) is carried out centrally; students are not required to submit an application for this purpose. 

The Impact of Grades on Scholarships and Discounts

The grades obtained by students in the independent examinations on digital competences are incorporated into the current academic rating and serve as a basis for the allocation of scholarships and tuition discounts, as stipulated by the local regulatory acts of HSE University.

Organisation and Conduct of Examinations

The Academic Office publishes the examination schedule on the educational programme website 10 days before the start of the examination period. 3 working days prior to each exam, the Academic Office notifies students of the date, platform, and time of the examination.

- Students are required to register for the exam independently.

- Registration for the Digital Competence examinations opens 3 weeks before the first available slot. Students may choose the date and time of their exam based on the available registration slots.

- Students must submit their selected slot details via the registration forms no later than 3 working days in advance.

If a student requires special arrangements due to medical reasons, they must submit a written request addressed to Vice‑Rector C.Ю. Рощин to the Academic Office no later than one month before the examination period begins. The request must include a description of the required accommodations and supporting medical documentation.

Exam Rescheduling

Rescheduling an examination after the registration slots have closed is permitted only for valid reasons.

Valid reasons for missing an assessment component include:

• Illness, confirmed by a medical certificate;

• Other valid reasons (circumstances related to the student's employment do not qualify as valid).

A medical certificate in form 095/U only must be submitted on the day the student is required to return to classes (as indicated in the certificate). Other valid reasons must be documented online no later than 3 working days after the missed examination.

To submit a request, students must send the relevant documents (medical certificate or other supporting materials) via the electronic service.

The examination date and/or time may be rescheduled no more than twice during the independent examination period.

Examination Procedures

The Digital Competence Examinations are conducted online with synchronous proctoring on the edu.hse.ru platform. Prior to the start of the examination, students are required to familiarise themselves with the examination rules and procedures.

Appeals

– No appeal against the results of the Independent Examination in Digital Competences is provided for.

– In cases of technical issues or malfunctions in the examination form during the IEC, the student has the right to submit a substantiated statement to the Academic Office of their educational programme via corporate email, as well as through the automated service in the Electronic Information and Educational Environment, no later than 23:59 on the day of the IEC. The statement must include a description of the technical malfunctions and be accompanied by supporting materials (screenshots showing the system time of capture, photos, video recordings, etc.).

– If the substantiated statement submitted to the Academic Office is upheld, the student's work shall be annulled, and the student shall be given the opportunity to take the IEC on a reserve day.

– To do so, the student must submit a request to the Academic Office to take the IEC on a reserve day no later than 2 working days before the scheduled reserve day period. The Academic Office will then register the student for the IEC on the reserve day. A template for the substantiated statement is available.

Statements that will NOT be considered:

• Appeals concerning the structure of examination forms, the settings of task validation plugins, the rules governing task assessment methods, or the weighting of individual tasks;

• Appeals related to the student's violation of the established examination requirements;

• Appeals concerning the wording of the IEC tasks.

Retakes

Retakes of the Digital Competence Examinations are held twice a year (in spring and autumn).

The retake is conducted in accordance with the specification of the corresponding independent examination, valid at the time of the retake.

A student shall not be admitted to the Final State Assessment (FSA) if their academic debt in the independent examinations in digital competences has not been cleared by 1 April of their final year of study.

Special Cases

1. If a student has not completed the disciplines specified in the educational programme curriculum for preparation for the Independent Examination in Digital Competences, the student may submit a request for these disciplines to be re‑included in their Individual Curriculum. In such cases, the Independent Examination in Digital Competences shall be postponed to the following year, and this postponement shall not be considered academic debt.

2. If a student has missed the Independent Examination in Digital Competences while on academic leave, maternity leave, or parental leave, they shall study the relevant preparatory disciplines in the sequential order prescribed by the educational programme curriculum and take the examination upon completion of those disciplines.

Preparation Resources