Examinations with Written and Oral Components

If an examination consists of both a written and an oral component, the two components may not take place more than four weeks apart, i.e. the examiner is obligated to offer a date for the oral part of the exam within this period. If you do not take the oral part of the exam on the first possible date offered, the grade you received on the written part of the exam remains valid nevertheless.

Repeating a Subject Examination

As a general rule, if a subject examination consists of a written and an oral section, successful completion of the written part is the prerequisite for admission to the oral part.

As soon as a student has taken the oral section of the subject exam (successfully or unsuccessfully), the previously completed written section may no longer be repeated.

A positively graded exam may be repeated once within a period of 12 months from the date when it was taken. The last exam before completion of the degree program may not be repeated. Once an exam has been repeated, the previously earned passing grade becomes void. This means that a student can also lower his or her grade by repeating an exam.

Examinations by a Panel

In the introductory and orientation phase (STEOP), the third repeat attempt (i.e. the fourth examination attempt overall) is always held in the form of an examination by a panel of examiners. 

In the main program phase, the third and fourth repeat examination attempts (i.e. attempts number four and five overall) are always held in the form of an examination by a panel of examiners. At the student’s request, the third overall examination attempt can also be held as an examination by a panel. The examination panel usually consists of three faculty members. Applications for an examination by a panel (this applies only to third examination attempts) have to be submitted by email to the Examinations Office.  Examinations by a panel are held in exactly the same way as regular exams, and the sign-up procedures are identical, too. The only difference is that the exam is evaluated by a panel of examiners.

Grading Period

Exams and courses must be graded within four weeks of the exam date or the end of the course.

Viewing Exam Papers

You can view your exam papers within six months of announcement of the grades. You can photocopy the papers, but you are not allowed to take the originals with you.

Your Legal Rights with Regard to Examinations

In principle, it is not possible to file any appeals against grades received for completed examinations. If any substantial shortcomings occur during an examination, however (e.g. a fire alarm or a similar incident), students with a failing grade may submit an application for annulment of the examination within two weeks of announcement of the grades. This application must be submitted to the Study Regulations & Credit Transfer office (Study Service Center, LC building, level 2, counter 3). The application must clearly state and explain the alleged substantial shortcomings that are claimed to have invalidated the examination. Examinations that are declared void will not be counted as a lost examination attempt. Here can you find more information on the Conduct of Examinations and Dealing with Cheating and Fraud

Cheating

If a student is found to be cheating or to have cheated during an exam (e.g. using a crib sheet or other unauthorized aids), a procedure for invalidating the exam in question will be initiated. Exams declared void because of cheating will count as a lost examination attempt. Invalidation procedures are initiated by Study Regulations & Credit Transfer and implemented in cooperation with the Study Support office. If a student attempts to take an exam on behalf of another student, he or she will – without exception – be reported to the public prosecutor’s office for charges of forgery, which may result in a criminal record.