Student Performance Assessment (SPA)

Understanding SPA

In the Regulations for Interim and Ongoing Assessments of Students at HSE University there was recently introduced a new term "Student Performance Assessment" (SPA)—a crucial measure for evaluating students based on the academic calendar and curriculum of their degree programme.

SPA Calculation

The process for evaluating examination periods' results or retakes remains as before. The programme manager is responsible for calculating the SPA for each student after examination periods, taking into account the entirety of the student's performance. SPA calculation involves assessing unsatisfactory grades and unexplained absences in interim assessments, independent exams, and external assessments, completed within ten working days following each exam period.

SPA Calculation Criteria

1. Two unsatisfactory grades in the same course across two examination periods are consolidated into one unsatisfactory grade.
2. An unsatisfactory grade in a course selected outside the standard curriculum but included in the student’s Individual Curriculum (IC), even if elective, is treated the same as any unsatisfactory grade.
3. Unsatisfactory grades from open optional courses do not affect the total SPA.
4. Missing a mandatory external examination or not selecting a topic for mandatory thesis or term papers on time are counted separately in the SPA.
5. The criteria for independent examinations are specified in relevant clauses, affecting SPA calculation.
6. First-attempt unsatisfactory grades in courses taken under the degree programme agreement are excluded from SPA.
7. Unsatisfactory grades from past retake opportunities or special-schedule independent examinations follow general SPA rules, except first retakes for repeated courses, which are exempt from SPA.

Critical SPA Threshold

Regular SPA has a critical value of 2.

For students in specific categories exceeding this threshold for the first time, a critical SPA of 5 is applied, and subsequent assessments for students in special categories will use the regular SPA to determine the conditions for continuing their studies.

Students surpassing the critical SPA value (taking into account their status in a special student category and the repeated occurrence or absence of critical situations) are subject to dismissal for not fulfilling their obligations to diligently pursue the degree programme and follow the curriculum.

Detailed information on students in special categories.