General Organization of Activities
The semester is part of the academic year during which classes are held. The academic year begins on October 1st and ends on September 30th of the following year, and it is divided into two semesters: fall and spring.
- the fall semester starts on October 1st and lasts until February 14th of the following year, while
- the spring semester starts on February 15th and ends on June 30th.
The fall semester starts on October 1st and ends on February 14th of the following year, with classes running from October 1st to January 15th of the following year. It lasts for 18 weeks (12 weeks of classes + 2 weeks of midterms + 4 weeks of preparatory and examination periods).
The spring semester starts on February 15th and ends on September 30th, with classes running from February 15th to May 31st. It lasts for 21 weeks (12 weeks of classes + 2 weeks of midterms + 2 x 3-week examination periods in June and September).
Schedule of Activities
Students in each study program typically have lectures 2 to 3 days per week, which is convenient for those who commute. The lectures are held according to the following general schedule:
First Semester:
- Six weeks of lectures (beginning of October to mid-November)
- One preparatory week for midterms
- One midterm week (mid to end of November)
- Six weeks of lectures (mid-November to end of December)
- One preparatory week for midterms
- One midterm week (end of December/beginning of January)
Second Semester:
- Six weeks of lectures (mid-February to mid-March)
- One preparatory week for midterms
- One midterm week (end of March)
- Six weeks of lectures (beginning of April to mid-May)
- One preparatory week for midterms
- One midterm week (end of May)
Lectures in Sveti Nikole and Bitola
Classes are held in Bitola and Sveti Nikole, and each student attends classes at the location where they are enrolled. The lecture schedule is adapted for commuting students, with classes held 2 to 3 days per week.
The exact lecture schedule is published one week before the start of classes and is available to all students on E-learning and E-index. In the meantime, you can review the Academic Calendar, which provides general dates for lectures and exam sessions.
It is important to check the lecture schedule on E-index and E-learning at the beginning of the year. Note the days when you have lectures and attend them regularly. Follow the instructions of your course professor, work on project activities, and prepare your seminar paper.
Course materials can be found in the bookstore, downloaded for free from E-learning, or borrowed from the library.
Midterm Exams
Midterms are knowledge tests conducted twice during a semester:
- First midterm: Mid-semester, after 6 weeks of lectures
- Second midterm: End of the semester, after another 6 weeks of lectures
Passing the first midterm is mandatory to take the second midterm. Students who fail one or both midterms must take the final exam during the exam sessions.
By passing both midterms, students are typically exempt from taking a written final exam, but this depends on the course.
Midterm dates are published on E-index. Keep track of the midterm dates and prepare well. If you need more information, you can contact your course professor or assistant.
Exams
During an academic year, there are six exam periods (sessions), three regular and three additional.
Regular sessions are in:
- January
- June
- September
Additional sessions are in:
- April
- October
- November
The first regular exam session is in January, where exams for courses taken in the first semester are held. If a student does not pass all exams in January, they can retake them during the April (additional) session. There are no penalties for taking exams in the additional session.
The second regular exam session is in June, where exams for second-semester courses are held. If a student does not pass the exams in June, they can retake them in the September session, also without penalties, unless the student has not met the requirements for enrollment in the next year. Additional sessions are in October and November.
Typically, exams for both even and odd semesters can be taken during any session.
Before the session, regardless of whether the student has previously passed both midterms, exams must be registered electronically (via E-index). Exam results will be available in the student’s account as soon as the professor publishes them.
Traineeship
All full-time students at ISU participate in a traineeship during their studies, organized in collaboration with various institutions and companies in Macedonia.
During the summer, students engage in independent traineeship, choosing a company or institution where they will perform their training. They can select from the institutions that have agreements with the university or choose one independently.
The traineeship itself is free, with the only cost being the purchase of a Traineeship Journal (once a year), which costs 100 denars.
Grading System
Students at the faculty can enroll as full-time or part-time students, and this status affects various aspects of their academic experience.
Full-time students must attend all classes regularly and can take each subject through 2 midterms during the semester.
Part-time students, if they attend at least eight weeks of lectures (four weeks before the first midterm and four weeks before the second midterm), are allowed to take the subject through midterms.
The final grade for each subject is based on the total points accumulated from midterms, attendance and participation, and project work. The grade is formed based on the points earned throughout the semester. For example:
- first midterm (up to 35 points)
- second midterm (up to 35 points)
- project work (up to 10 points)
- attendance and participation (up to 20 points)
For part-time students who do not take the first and second midterms, the maximum points they can earn on the final exam is 70 points.
The maximum number of points is 100. Depending on the study program and the subject, the point distribution for activities may vary. For the exact points for each subject, please consult the course professor or check the course details on E-learning or E-index.
Below are the grades based on the number of points:
- grade 6: 51-60 points
- grade 7: 61-70 points
- grade 8: 71-80 points
- grade 9: 81-90 points
- grade 10: 91-100 points