Last updated
March 31, 2020, 8:30

With newly emerging or unanswered questions please turn to EHÖK (University Student Union) in the usual way (click here).

New questions and answers

What about the exam period? How will the exams take place?
- According to Section 20 of transitional provisions accepted by the University Concil of PPCU: „ (2)The exam can only be organized electronically using the Neptun system or by other electronic means of communication. If the electronic exam is organized in writing, using the Neptun system, the provisions of this section shall apply, that the examination cannot be organized on the premises of the University. If the oral or written electronic exam is not implemented using the Neptun system, then professors are obliged to inform the students about the conditions of the examination and the rules of use of the given electronic device by the last day of the term time."

How will the final exams be held if the situation persists for months?
- According to the Government Decision No 101/2020. (IV. 10.) Section 13 (1) paragraph (certain measures to be taken in state of emergency affecting higher education institutions and students): „For the duration of the final exam, the student may enter the area of the higher education institution. During the final examination, it must be ensured that the examinee and other persons do not require personal contact, and a distance of at least 1.5 meters must be maintained between the persons."Detailed rules for the organization of final examinations are still being worked out.

To what extent does the current situation affect students before graduation? With special regard to the process of thesis submission, in certain institutes the process of applying for the thesis title. How and when are the semester and state exams going to take place?
Paper-based submission of the thesis is not required during the emergency. Submission shall be done only be via the Neptun system. Submission of statements related to the thesis will also be sufficient in electronic form. Detailed rules are being prepared.
According to transitional provisions accepted by the University Concil of PPCU:
„(1)The provision of Education and exam policy Section 40 (6) for the submission of the dissertation in printed format is suspended.
(2) The provisions of Education and exam policy Section 40 (7) is suspended.
(3) Students shall attach to his/her electronic copy of the dissertation - in a signed, digitized form - his/her statement that the dissertation is exclusively his/her intellectual product and he/she used only the sources indicated therein and only to the extent indicated submitted.
(4) The supervisor's statement that the dissertation is suitable for submission is sent by e-mail - using the form specified by the relevant Faculty - to the organizational unit designated by the respective Faculty."

Can I get my diploma without a language exam?
According to the Government Decision No 101/2020. (IV. 10.) Section 13 (1) paragraph (certain measures to be taken in state of emergency affecting higher education institutions and students): „Anyone who has passed the final examination by 31 August 2020 is exempted from the obligation to pass the language examination required as a precondition for the issuance of the diploma." The exact procedural rules for issuing and issuing language exams are still being developed in our institution.

EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITY

Semester process

How the semester schedule would likely to look like considering the exam-period, summer and spring brakes and public holidays? Can we count on the introduction of distance education? If yes, from when? 
- The visit ban on University buildings will continue (until revoked). Please understand and adhere to this in order to preserve our own and each other's health. Next week there will be an early spring break and university studies shall continue in the form of distance education afterwards. Together with the lecturers we make sure to provide the students with the given curriculum along with many online auxiliaries – within the limits of possibilities - including lectures and practical materials. This is time consuming, so please be patient. Each subject has a different structure, and we are looking for the best solutions among the methodologies. The prepared course materials are going to be posted to the subject homepages (wiki, moodle, own site).
All the Faculties of the University do their best to ensure that Students successfully complete their semester without delay. We ask the entire Student Community to show discipline and a creative attitude to the new learning methodologies in order to pass the exam in as many subjects as possible (in fact, it should be designed with the same hour load as the original - but with free time scheduling).
Currently, the Faculties are planning the end of the semester as originally planned but the outbreak is expected to last several weeks which can even lead to the postponement of the end of the semester. For this reason we urge everyone to exercise prudence when planning their July-August programs. Appropriate information will be provided regarding the timetable and changes to the interim deadlines as the epidemiological situation evolves.

Spring break

Will the original spring break be canceled?
- Due to the state of emergency announced by the Government in early March, the management of Pázmány Péter Catholic University ordered an early spring break between March 14 and March 20, 2020. Thus, from the traditional two-week Easter spring break there is only one week left which will be between April 6 and April 13, 2020. From April 14, the semester will continue in the form of distance learning.

Distance education

What methods of distance learning will take place? What will the lessons be like?
- We are trying to support the students in the acquisition of the given curriculum with many online auxiliaries – within the limits of possibilities - including texts, audio, lecture and practical materials. This is time consuming, so please be patient and understanding. Each subject has a different structure, and we are looking for the best solutions among the methodologies. The prepared course materials are going to be posted to the subject homepages (wiki, moodle, own site). We ask the entire Student Community to show discipline and creative attitude to the new learning methodologies in order to pass the exam in as many subjects as possible (in fact, it should be designed with the same hour load as the original - but with free scheduling).
Please arrange study administration electronically at any university. According to current plans, we shall try to keep the semester schedule. Notifications are going to be sent in case of changes.

How does the University intend to promote the effective implementation of e-learning and distance learning opportunities?
- Professors use Microsoft Teams, Neptun (Neptun Meet Street) to work effectively with our students. Please keep checking your Neptun messages!
Information on the requirements for completing each subject can be obtained from the professor of the course. Please contact them in any case!

Exam-period

Thesis

Literature

We recommend the online databases and useful pages collected by Pázmány EHÖK.

ADMINISTRATION

University administrative bodies

Will university administrative bodies (e.g. Study Departments) continue to function? Are they going to be open for personal appointments? If not, how do the disadvantages of suspending this service charge students (e.g. failure to meet prescribed deadlines if personal administration is required)?
- From now on, all administrations will operate electronically until revoked. Documents requiring a signature shall be kept in the original form. We will ask for it later on paper.
If the ban on institutional visits will be extended to the Offices, how can students handle their affairs? Are Study Department and secretariat staff available online? Can they issue the necessary documents (e.g. proof of student status) and will the documents be sent electronically to the students?
There is a ban on visiting the University until the decree is revoked. Please contact the Student administration electronically / by e-mail in all cases. Please be patient until we can convert the processing of appropriate workflows to electronic formats. It is recommended that statements and documents be scanned (or maybe photographed in good quality) and transmitted digitally to the clerk. We try to issue certificates also in electronic / e-mail formats.

Student card

How will the student card administration work during the semester? Does the statement of the government declaring that there is no obligation to renew the expired documents cover it as well? If not, the students who don't have a sticker for the new semester, can they renew it?
- Unfortunately, due to the visit ban, the stickers can no longer be handed over to the University. The expiring document remains valid for 15 days after the end of the emergency, as defined by Government Decree (41/2020 (III. 11)). When the Government announces the end of state of emergency and the education system is restored, there still will be time to enforce and renew them. Students who have had a passive relationship in the previous semester and thus do not have a sticker on their student card which would automatically be extended in the current situation should request a student status certificate from the Department of Studies and try to present it if necessary. However, unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that it will be accepted.

Applications

How should we submit the different non-electronic applications? Will submission deadlines change? How do students get signatures on certain applications from educators (especially for Study Committee applications)?
- There is a ban on visiting the University until the decree is revoked. Please contact the Student administration electronically / by e-mail in all cases. Please be patient until we can convert the processing of appropriate workflows to electronic formats. It is recommended that statements and documents be scanned (or maybe photographed in good quality) and transmitted digitally to the person responsible (lecturer, Head of Department, etc.)

SCHOLARSHIPS

In cooperation with the Tempus Public Foundation, we provide students with ongoing information on scholarship issues, depending on the type of scholarship.

Step by Step Guide for students and staff taking part in international mobility programmes for the period of the Coronavirus pandemic.

Erasmus

We ask our foreign students to consult their home university, they are subject to the rules of procedure there.

Support, insurance

Students receive their scholarships and housing support on an ongoing basis and their insurance is paid. Virus-related care is a public health issue, which goes beyond insurance and is free.

OTHER

Infection

One must follow the rules published on the university's website (https://ppke.hu/en/news/latest-news/coronavirus) and the epidemiology protocol as well.

Contact details of International Offices of Faculties

Faculty of Law and Political Sciences
Faculty of Information Technology and Bionics 
Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

Useful links for information on coronavirus

National Public Health Center:

• Coronavirus Disease (COVID-19) FAQ
• General precautions in relation to the new Coronavirus infection
• Isolation, quarantining, and self-surveillance concerning the coronavirus COVId-19 outbreak
• Opportunities to reduce contact numbers – community events in relation to COVID-19 virus infection
• About Hungary
• Website of the Hungarian Government
• World Health Organization