Studies

Mode of teaching

Teaching is carried out entirely by distance learning, with synchronous and asynchronous education. Asynchronous education also includes assignments set by the teacher, which count towards the mark. Classes are held mainly on working days, in the afternoon, or on Saturday and Sunday, so as to accommodate students who are in employment.

Founding Government Gazette (FEK), Article 6 · Regulation of Operation, Article 7.

Academic calendar

The Programme follows the academic calendar of the University of Western Macedonia. The winter semester begins in October and the spring semester at the end of February or in March. Each semester lasts thirteen full weeks. The timetable is drawn up under the responsibility of the Director and published by the Secretariat.

The timetable for the 2026–2027 academic year will be announced shortly before the start of the semester.

Regulation of Operation, Article 7.

Attendance and examinations

Attendance at classes is compulsory. The limit of absences is eight teaching hours per course, irrespective of whether the absences are justified or unjustified. For a greater number of absences, the Coordinating Committee decides on the repetition of the course or on exclusion from the Programme.

The method of assessment of each course is determined by the teacher before the start of the lectures and may be an examination, an assignment or a combination of the two.
Results are issued at the latest within thirty days of the submission of assignments or of the holding of the examinations.
In the event of failure, the examination or assignment submission procedure is repeated in September. The student also has the right to carry the courses they have failed over to the corresponding examination periods of the following academic year.
If, after a failure, the Programme is deemed not to have been successfully completed, the student is examined, upon their application, by a three-member committee of faculty members with the same or a related field of study, from which the teacher responsible for the examination is excluded.
The student is entitled to ask to see their examination script and the teacher is obliged to show it to them.

Regulation of Operation, Article 8.

Marking

Assessment is on a scale of 1 to 10, with 5 as the pass mark. The overall mark of the Diploma is the weighted average of the marks of the courses and of the dissertation, with the corresponding weighting coefficients.

Classification	Mark
Excellent	8.5 – 10
Very Good	6.5 – 8.49
Good	5 – 6.49

Regulation of Operation, Articles 8 and 9.

Suspension and extension of studies

In exceptional cases and for reasons of force majeure, a suspension of studies may be granted for up to one academic year, that is, for up to two consecutive semesters. The period of suspension does not count towards the maximum duration of studies. After it ends, the student attends all the courses and activities in which they had not been successfully assessed before the suspension. Tuition fees are paid for the period before the suspension and, on their return, the student has no additional financial obligation.

The suspension is granted by decision of the competent bodies of the Programme, following a reasoned application by the student.

Beyond the maximum period of study and in exceptional cases, by decision of the Department Assembly, an extension is possible with a financial charge of €500 per semester.

Regulation of Operation, Articles 5E and 6.

Student rights

An academic ID card.
An email account at the University of Western Macedonia.
Access to the libraries of the Institution.
Access to the electronic databases to which the Institution subscribes, through the Hellenic Academic Libraries Link (HEAL-Link).
Facilities for students with a disability or special educational needs, which the Department is obliged to provide.

Regulation of Operation, Article 6.

Course evaluation

On completion of each course, students are invited to evaluate it by completing an electronic questionnaire, made available by the Quality Assurance Unit (MODIP) of the University of Western Macedonia.

Regulation of Operation, Article 10.

Award of the degree

The Master of Science (M.Sc) in Banking-Insurance and Finance is awarded with a formal declaration, at a public ceremony, and is signed by the Rector of the University of Western Macedonia and by the Director of the Programme. The ceremonial of the award is regulated by decision of the Department Assembly. Those who do not wish to take a religious oath make a simple affirmation on their honour and conscience.

Before the ceremony, the graduate may obtain a certificate stating that they have successfully completed the Programme. The original diploma is issued once and is not replaced; the holder may obtain copies or certificates on payment of a fee.

Regulation of Operation, Articles 13 and 17.

Academic Adviser

Each new student is assigned an Academic Adviser. The assignment is made by the Coordinating Committee, at the latest by 30 November of each academic year. The number of students is distributed equally among the teaching staff and the selection is made at random. The Academic Adviser remains the same until the completion of studies, while the coordination of the advisers is the responsibility of the Director of the Programme.

Their duties include, among others:

Providing information on the vision of the Programme, the professional skills and the qualifications of its graduates.
Identifying the needs and interests of students and supporting their aptitudes and skills.
Facilitating contacts with the university authorities, bodies and administrative services.
Providing information on library services and sending supporting material.
Providing information on the content of courses, methods of assessment, methods of study and the bibliography.
Advising on the selection of a dissertation topic or of other assignments.
Exploring career prospects and providing information on the services of the University, such as student welfare, the Student Ombudsman, the Careers Office and the alumni network.

The Academic Adviser announces a specific time for discussion on the website of the Programme and on their personal page, and holds meetings, in person or remotely, at least once per semester. Any student may request a meeting by application. The role of the adviser is supportive and advisory: final responsibility for their choices on matters of study lies with the students themselves. For the support of students, cooperation is provided for with the Careers Office and the Support Unit for Students from Vulnerable Groups (MYFEO).

Regulation on the Academic Adviser.

Internship and mobility

Internship

There is currently no internship regulation. In accordance with the Regulation of Studies, the matter will be reconsidered once the Programme begins to admit students and depending on the interest expressed.

Erasmus+ mobility

Postgraduate students may take part in the Erasmus+ programme for studies, under the conditions laid down by the Senate of the University of Western Macedonia:

They must be nationals of a country participating in the programme, or nationals of other countries enrolled in the regular study programme of the Institution.
They must have sufficient knowledge of the language in which courses are delivered at the host institution, or of English.
They must be enrolled at least in the first year of studies at the time of the mobility and retain their student status throughout its duration.
Priority is given to those who will prepare their dissertation abroad, with a favourable recommendation from the supervising professor. Otherwise, those who will cover part of the compulsory courses of the Programme are selected.

The supporting documents are submitted to the Academic Coordinator of the Department, within the deadlines announced by the Erasmus Office, and comprise a detailed transcript of marks, language certificates, a Europass-format curriculum vitae and a letter of interest in English, certificates of participation in seminars or conferences, and a copy of the degree. Scoring is based on the level of language competence and on the detailed transcript of marks; in the event of a tie, an interview is held. The ranking list is announced on the website of the Erasmus Office.

During the semester of mobility, only outstanding courses from previous years and those included in the Learning Agreement are declared, while participation in the September resit examination period is permitted. If part or all of the dissertation is prepared abroad with funding from the programme, this is clearly stated in the dissertation.

Regulation of Studies, Internships, Mobility and Dissertations, Sections 2 and 3.

Complaints and appeals

For complaints concerning the quality of educational and administrative services, the University of Western Macedonia applies a single procedure, which also applies to the Programme. The “Complaint Submission Form” is submitted electronically to the Secretariat of the Legal Adviser of the Institution. The Legal Adviser examines the form, informs the Rector and refers it, according to its nature:

Matters of examinations and marking: to the Director of the Programme, who takes the appropriate action. The student is informed within twenty days of how the complaint has been handled.
Matters other than marking and examinations: to the Student Ombudsman, an independent office of the Institution, which mediates for the resolution of the problem and may also investigate cases of its own motion.
Matters of ethics: to the Ethics Committee of the Institution.
Incidents of harassment: to the Gender Equality Committee, which assesses the incident, recommends how it should be handled and may provide mediation services, in full confidence.
Matters of personal data: to the Data Protection Officer of the Institution.

Once the handling of the complaint has been completed, the competent body informs the student and the Legal Adviser of the action taken and of the outcome of the case. The email addresses of the competent services and the submission form are included in the regulation.

Regulation on Student Complaints and Appeals.