12. Graduation

12.1 In order to graduate from EBS and obtain the respective graduation document, learners must fulfil all the graduation requirements of the respective curriculum, incl. complete the prescribed courses (with a GPA of at least 2.00), write a final thesis or pass a final exam. The requirements and the defence of Doctoral theses are regulated by the Procedure for Passing the Doctoral Programme and Defending the Doctoral Thesis.
12.2 Learners who have completed their studies (in full or for the most part) choose a topic and a supervisor for their final thesis based on their major and personal interest. The supervisor of the final thesis is generally a faculty member, a researcher, or a doctoral student of EBS. If the learner chooses a supervisor outside from EBS the one must have at least a master’s degree or equivalent qualification and also a co-supervisor from EBS will be appointed.
12.3 A learner must submit a proposal of the final thesis and enrol in the final thesis course by the deadline specified in the academic calendar. The proposal of the final thesis is coordinated with the supervisor of the thesis and approved by the respective Head of the Academic Unit.
12.4 Final theses are conducted once a semester at the time specified in the academic calendar (generally on the last weeks of the semester).
12.5 The requirements for the bachelor’s theses and the procedure for writing and assessing them is set forth in the guideline of Writing and Assessing EBS Bachelor’s Thesis, approved by the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs.
12.6 The requirements for the master’s theses and the procedure for writing and assessing them is set forth in the guideline of Writing and Assessing EBS Master’s Thesis, which is approved by the Vice-Rector for Academic Affairs.
12.7 Master’s theses are to be presented in public before defence committees formed for this purpose. The defence committee may declare a master’s thesis confidential on the basis of an application submitted. This decision will not change the defence procedure. Defence committees are formed by the decree of the Rector of EBS, which is prepared on the basis of a precept issued by the Office of Academic Affairs.
12.8 Prerequisites of the master’s thesis public presentation are the interim report with a positive result, supervisor’s confirmation about allowing the thesis to final evaluation and a positive result in final evaluation.
12.9 Prerequisites of the submission of the bachelor’s thesis for final evaluation are a positive result for the interim report and a supervisor’s confirmation about allowing the thesis to final evaluation.
12.10 The interim report must be submitted to the supervisor at least 8 weeks before submission of the thesis for final evaluation.
12.11 In case of a negative result for the interim report the learner must submit the proposal of the thesis again in forthcoming semesters.
12.12 The Master’s final examination module in total amount of 15 ECTS, consists of different capstone courses.
12.13 Upon graduating, the results of studies are taken into account regardless of when they were obtained.
12.14 Graduating students can dispute questions related to the procedure or the organisation of the final thesis or examination within three working days of the publication of the results by submitting an appeal to the Study Consultant addressing it to the Rector of EBS, who resolves it within one week.
12.15 A final thesis is considered passed if the thesis is graded at least with a “D”. The following grading scale is used in assessment of a bachelor’s thesis: A = 90 – 100 (excellent) B = 77 – 89 (very good) C = 64 – 76 (good) D = 51 – 63 (satisfactory) F = … – 50 (insufficient, fail). The following grading scale is used in assessment of a master’s thesis: A = 91 – 100 (excellent) B = 81 – 90 (very good) C = 71 – 80 (good) D = 61 – 70 (satisfactory) F = … – 60 (insufficient, fail). The final examination is considered passed if the examination is graded at least with a „E“. The following grading scale is used in assessment of bachelors’ final examination: A = 91 – 100 (excellent) B = 81 – 90 (very good) C = 71 – 80 (good) D = 61 – 70 (satisfactory) E = 51 – 60 (sufficient) F = … – 50 (insufficient, fail).
12.16 Positive grades for a final thesis or final examination cannot be improved.
12.17 If a student fails the final thesis or the final examination for the second time, they are exmatriculated due to failure to make academic progress. Re-matriculation takes place on the basis of the applicant’s reasoned application pursuant to clause 2.5 of these regulations.
12.18 A diploma with honours (cum laude) is awarded to a student who:
– completed the Bachelor’s or Master’s curriculum in full
– received an “A” for the final thesis or all parts of the final examination
– has a weighted GPA of 4.60 or higher, taking into account all grades listed in the academic transcript.
12.19 Students or external learners who have completed their curricula are issued a diploma and a diploma supplement in line with the procedure established by the Government of the Republic. The diploma is issued based on a directive of the rector about exmatriculating the student or declaring the external learner graduated in connection with completing the curriculum. Graduation documents are prepared by the Office of Academic Affairs, and these are generally handed out at an official EBS graduation ceremony.
12.20 Students who wish to graduate with a double diploma on the basis of an agreement between institutes of higher education have the right to apply for the transfer of a final thesis defended or a final examination taken at a partner university to EBS. To this end, students must submit the respective application to the Office of Academic Affairs, the defended final thesis with a summary in Estonian or English (if the thesis is not written in Estonian or English and does not contain it) and documented proof of the positive defence result or the positive examination result. The decision on the recognition of the final thesis or final examination and the grade is made by the Head of the Office of Academic Affairs, involving the Head of the Academic Unit that corresponds to the topic of the thesis.