Frequently asked questions about minors

A minor is a compulsory six-month elective course worth 30 credits (ECTS). A minor will provide you with new insights and lend colour to your studies.  This will be important when you start applying for jobs later, as it will allow you to stand out from the crowd. Your choice of minor is a good indicator of where your interests lie. 

Here at Saxion, you can choose from a wide variety of minors, the topics of which range from very broadly defined themes, such as general development and creative problem-solving, to in-depth examinations of specific aspects of your chosen discipline. As you can see, there is plenty of choice!

> Interested in finding out about the minors you can take at Saxion? Go to the Minor selector!
> Interested in more general information about minors (at Saxion and at other universities of applied sciences)? Go to Mysaxion.nl/minors (applies to Saxion students only)

You generally take a minor in your third or fourth year. Before you can start your minor, you must have passed your first-year examination. If there are specific entry requirements for the minor that you want to take, you must also be able to demonstrate that you meet these. 

All minors start either in August/September (terms 1-2) or in February (terms 3-4). You will be working full-time on your minor during these six months, as you would do for an internship. 

1. Have you already decided which minor you would like to take? You can use the minor selector to explore the various options.
2. Important dates in relation to minors, such as enrolment periods, are shown in the diary. This will allow you to make your choice in good time. Discuss your preference with your study career counsellor. The key question is whether it is useful/wise to take a particular minor in view of the competences that you want to develop or any further study.
3. Do you have any questions about a specific Saxion minor? If so, get in touch with the contact for the minor. You’ll find his or her name in the fact sheet on the minor in question.
4. Make your choice and apply for your chosen minor.

As from 2 October 2023 (19:00), you can apply for a Saxion minor scheduled for terms 3-4 of the 2023-2024 academic year. The application period lasts until 24 November 2023.

The application procedure varies, depending on where you are studying.

• Are you a Saxion-student? If so, you should use Bison to apply.
  Please see mysaxion.nl/minors for further information about the application procedure, and also about how to switch to a different minor or terminate your application. You can also read about the procedure for taking a minor at another university of applied sciences.
   
• Are you a student at another university of applied sciences?  If so, you should use Kiesopmaat.nl to apply.
  There is a direct hyperlink for each minor on the list. You should ask your educational institution how you can get permission to take a minor at another university.

In most cases, you will not find out until the start of the academic year whether your minor courses will take place in the morning or in the afternoon. This is occasionally announced beforehand, in which case it will be mentioned in the minor description. For full-time minors, courses normally take place from Monday to Friday between the hours of 08:30 and 18:15, with some courses running later into the evening. For part-time minors, courses and exams are timetabled for no more than one evening per week.

The formalities for completing your minor depend on where you are studying.

• Are you a Saxion student?
  If so, and if you have taken a minor at Saxion, the name of the minor and the relevant exams you have taken are listed on the supplement to the degree certificate awarded to you at your graduation You will not receive a separate certificate. You will not receive a separate certificate. Have you taken a ‘free minor’? If so, it will be listed as ‘Free minor’. Tip: ask the educational institution/organisation for a recommendation as evidence of the work you have done during your minor.
   
• Are you a student at another university of applied sciences taking a minor at Saxion?
  If you are a student at another university of applied sciences, and you are taking a minor at Saxion, you may wish to find out how you can transfer your grades to your own university. Provided that you have successfully completed the minor in question, Saxion will issue you with a certificate. Present this certificate to the examination board at your university. They will ensure that the grades appear on your transcript.

Do you have any further questions about minors after reading this? 

• For questions regarding a specific minor, please get in touch with the contact person for that minor. You'll find the contact details at the minor page.
• For questions regarding the minor process, please contact International Office.