Rules & Regulations

1. Student Admissions

The admission requirements and processes for accepting both new students and international ones will be presented here.

A.1 Admission of Freshmen

The general requirements for admission to Shaqra University can be listed as below;

• The new student should be a holder of a secondary school certificate or its equivalent from within the Saudi Arabia or from outside it.

• He should not have obtained a high school or equivalent for more than five years. While, the university council may exempt from this condition if there are convincing reasons.

• He should have a good behavior registry.

• He should successfully pass any personal interview or test that the University Council requires.

• He should be medically fit.

• He should obtain his approval for study if he works in any governmental or private organization.

• He should meet any other conditions determined by the University Council at the time of submission.

According to the admission of freshmen, the University Council determines on the proposal of the College Council the number of students who can be admitted in the next academic year. If there are excess in the applicant’s number, the selection is done according to their grades in the general secondary certificate, personal interview and admission tests (if found). In addition, the result of the general capability test, which is prerequisite for all applicants, is considered.

The ratio of each applicant is calculated as follows: 40% of the general cumulative average for the secondary year, 30% for the general capability test and 30% of the acquisition test score.

It is worth mentioning that the specialization in the College of Engineering, Shaqra University requires that the student passes successfully all the courses of the curriculum for the full preparatory year with rate to be at least (4).

A.2 Admission of International Students

The admission process for international students is somewhat as same as national ones with the addition of the following:

• To pass the requirement scores of both capabilities and acquisition tests.

• The equivalent cumulative ratio (40% secondary - 30% capabilities - 30% acquisition) should be a total higher than 85 degrees.

• Not to exceed 25 years of age.

• The student must be a regular resident in the Saudi Arabia.

2. Transfer Students and Transfer Courses

B.1 Transfer Students

The transfer of students is classified into three categories as shown below:

1. Transfer from other Universities

The student may, upon the approval of the head of the department and the dean of the college in Shaqra University, accept his transfer from outside the university according to the following rules:

• The student has studied at a recognized college or university.

• The student should not be separated from the University for Disciplinary Reasons.

• The student has spent at least two semesters at the university from which he wishes to transfer, provided that the number of student credit hours recorded in his academic record is not less than (24) hours.

• The student has at least the cumulative rate of conversion at (3.75) of (5.0).

• The student should study at Shaqra University at least 60% of the graduation requirements.

• The student must apply for transfer before the beginning of the semester at least five weeks.

2. Transfer from college to another within the university

After the approval of the head of the department and the dean of the college in Shaqra University, accept his transfer from according to the following rules:

• The student must have spent at least one semester in the college that he wants to transfer from with at least (14) credit hours.

• The student should not be interrupted, delayed or apologized for the study from the college from which he wishes to transfer.

• His cumulative average should not be less than the limit determined by the College Council and should not be less than (2 of 5).

• Transfers between university faculties are permitted only twice during the entire period of university study.

3. Transfer from one specialization to another within the college

After the approval of the Dean of the College, the student may transfer from one specialization to another within the College according to the following rules:

• Completion of entry requirements for the specialization to be transferred to.

• Not violating the capacity of the department.

• The student has spent at least one semester in the specialization in which he wishes to transfer with 14 credit hours.

• The student should not be interrupted, delayed or apologized for the study from the specialization in which he wishes to transfer.

B.2 Transfer Courses

The College Council should compare the courses studied by the student outside the university on the recommendation of the departments that provide these courses. The student's academic record should be confirmed in the student's academic records, and should not be included in the calculation of his cumulative average according to the following rules:

• The student has studied at a recognized college or university.

• The number of hours studied by the student in the course he wants to equal should be equal to or more than the number of hours spent at Shaqra University. This rule may be to consider exceptions by a maximum of one hour.

• The content of the material studied by the student must be identical to the content of the material in the Shaqra University by not less than (70%).

Additionally, the transfer courses can be done for the visiting students. The visiting student is defined as the student who is studying some courses at another university or in a branch of the university to which he belongs without transferring him. His credit hours can be calculated according to the following rules;

• The acceptance of the department, the faculty and the grant acceptance and registration to allow the student to study as a visiting student.

• To be studied at a recognized college or university.

• The course topics being taught by the student outside the college are equivalent to the course topics in his college by 70% or more.

• The maximum number of academic credit hours outside the university is 25% of the total number of credit hours required to graduate from Shaqra University.

• The number of credit hours for the course which the student has studied outside the university should be equal to or more than the number of credit hours in Shaqra University.

3. Advising and Career Guidance

Each student has an academic advisor from the teaching staff. The academic advisor is supposed to provide educational advising for the student, to evaluate the student's study plan, and to confirm the College and the University requirements. In addition, he should be interested in fulfilling the student's specific needs. The advisor must distinguish that each student has different interests, abilities, experiences and needs. Consequently, his attitude in dealing with students can vary from one to another.

C. Graduation Requirements

The Admission and Registration Deanship Office of the University is responsible for ensuring that graduating students have met all graduation requirements which can be classified as below:

C.1 Preparatory Year

The preparatory year aims at enhancing the skills of the student through intensive English courses and courses that improve their communication and computer skills. The preparatory year is 32 credit hours.

C.2 Course Requirements

After successfully passing the preparatory year (32 credit hours) and to complete the graduation requirements for a B.S. in Electrical Engineering, the students are required to successfully pass a total of 134 credit hours as shown in Table 1.1.

Table 1.1: Summary of B.S. degree requirements in Electrical Engineering

C.3 Graduation Projects I & II Requirements
 

According to the senior design project requirements, the design project is divided into two parts (2 credit hours each). The student is eligible to register for Senior Design Project (1) if he completes successfully at least 100 credit hours excluding preparatory year.  Senior Design Project (2) can be taken during the first and second semesters only (not during summer semester).

C.4 Summer Training Requirements

Prior to graduation, after completion of at least 65 credit hours, each Electrical Engineering major must complete an approved Engineering Summer Training Program.  Summer training extends over a period of 10 weeks, excluding weekends and official holidays, and must be undertaken in companies or establishments accepted by the college. The student’s performance is evaluated by the training company and by both the Department and College coordinators.

Upon completion of graduation requirements, the student must complete the graduation requirements according to the study plan, provided that his cumulative average is not less than (2 of 5). The Council of the College, upon the recommendation of the Department Council, determines the appropriate courses taught by the student to raise the cumulative rate in the event of success in the courses and the average failure.

Table 1.2 shows the Graduation Grading System for each course. The general estimated cumulative average at the graduation of the student based on his cumulative average is as follows:

• (Excellent): If the cumulative average is not less than 4.50.

• (Very good): If the cumulative average of 3.75 to less than 4.50.

• (Good): if the cumulative average of 2.75 to less than 3.75.

• (Pass): If the GPA is 2.00 to less than 2.75.

The first honorary degree is awarded to a student with a cumulative average of 4.75 to 5.00 at the time of graduation. The second honorary degree is awarded to a student with a cumulative average of 4.25 to less than 4.75 upon graduation. The first or second honors are awarded according to the following requirements:

• The student has not failed in any course he studied at the university or at another university

• The student has completed his graduation program within a period of 5 to 6 years.

• The student must have studied at the university at least 60% of the credit hours.

Table 1.2: The grading policy