Al-Madinah International University

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Definitions

Article One:

Terms used in this document are defined below:

1. Study plan:
The set of required and elective courses which a student must pass in order to qualify for an academic degree in a particular specialisation.

2. Subject:
A clearly defined course of study offered as part of the approved study plan for each specialisation.

3. Academic year:
Consists of two main semesters; it is possible to add a short semester, if it is offered.

4. Semester:
A period of not less than 14 weeks for studying academic subjects, not including the registration period and the period of final exams.

5. Short semester:
A period of not more than 7 weeks, not including the registration period and the period of final exams. During this period the amount of time devoted to each academic subject is doubled.

6. Academic level:
Indicates the stage of academic progress attained in accordance with the approved study plan.

7. Academic unit (credit hour):
The amount of time allotted for each lecture of an academic subject.

8. Academic warning:
A notice given to a student when his/her Cumulative Grade Point Average (CGPA) drops below the level stipulated in this guide.

9. Semester coursework grade:
The numerical grade awarded for performance that indicates a student’s achievements during the course of a semester, including exams, research projects and academic activities.

10. Final exam:
The exam for an academic subject given once at the end of the semester.

11. Academic load:
The total number of academic units that a student is allowed to register for each semester. The maximum and minimum academic loads are fixed in accordance with the administrative rules of the university.

12. Final examination grade:
The numerical grade a student gets in the final exam for each subject of the semester.

13. Final grade:
The combined numerical grade for any academic subject.

14. Evaluation:
The letter grade that represents the final grade achieved by a student in any academic subject.

15. Incomplete grade:
An indicator assigned temporarily to any subject for which a student is unable to complete the stipulated requirements in the assigned time period.

16. Grade Point Average or GPA:
The total number of points earned by a student in a given semester divided by the total number of academic units for which he/she registered. The points for any subject are calculated by multiplying the number of credit-hours of the subject times the numerical equivalent of the letter grade earned.

17. Cumulative Grade Point Average or CGPA:
The total number of points earned by a student for all subjects he/she studied after registering at the university divided by the number of credit-hours of those subjects.

18. Academic record:
A file that records the academic history of a student. It includes all the subjects studied by the student each semester, identified by an alphanumeric code. The credit-hour value of each course is listed, along with the numerical and letter grades earned by the student and the equivalent number of academic points. The file also contains the student’s semester grade average as well as the cumulative grade point average and its letter-grade. Finally, it mentions any subjects a transfer student has been excused from studying.

19. Disciplinary infraction:
Any violation of the university’s rules and guidelines or behavior that conflicts with the Islamic Shari’ah or with widely recognized norms of conduct for university students.