The course methodology is based on short lectures by the professor, problem-solving during class time and flipped learning (that is, students will complete the lectures with readings and work at home). In some classes, time will be kept for reviewing and correcting the evaluative practices.

There will be a weekly classroom-based practical component, in which students will work both individually and collectively.

Annotation: within the schedule set by the centre or degree programme, 15 minutes of one class will be reserved for students to evaluate their lecturers and their courses or modules through questionnaires.

Assessment may be carried out in two ways: single assessment or continuous assessment.

Continuous assessment

Continuous assessment consists of two midterm exams, each worth 35% of the final grade, and a set of practical assignments to be completed weekly, worth 30%. In order to pass the course, students must obtain a minimum final grade of 5, calculated as the weighted average of the three components, and the minimum grade for each midterm exam may not be lower than 3.5. If the grade for one of the midterm exams is lower than 3.5, that part must be retaken in the resit exam, even if the average grade of the three assessment activities is 5 or higher.

In order to be assessed for the practical assignments component, students must have submitted at least 8 practical assignments.

Single assessment

Single assessment will consist of one exam, worth 100% of the final grade. Students who choose single assessment must submit, on the day of the exam, all the practical assignments completed during the course, following the instructions provided by the teaching staff, as a condition for being allowed to sit the exam.

Resit

In order to sit the resit exam, the average grade of the three assessment activities, in the case of continuous assessment, or the grade of the exam, in the case of single assessment, must be equal to or higher than 3.5. For students following continuous assessment, the resit will consist of an exam that may take one of three forms: resit of the first midterm exam, resit of the second midterm exam, or resit of both midterm exams. For students following single assessment, the resit will consist of one single exam.

Review of grades

After each assessment activity, the teaching staff will inform students via Moodle of the grades obtained, as well as of the procedure and date for grade review.

Not assessable

Students will receive a “Not assessable” grade if they do not sit one of the two midterm exams, in the case of continuous assessment, or if they do not sit the single assessment exam.

Irregularities

Any irregularity that may significantly alter the grade of an assessment activity will result in a grade of zero for that activity. In the event of multiple irregularities, the final grade for the course will be zero, regardless of any disciplinary proceedings.

Exchange students who request to take an exam earlier than scheduled must submit to the instructor a written document from their home university justifying their request.