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Teaching and learning – FAQs for teachers

Poto Modell: Colourbox.de / #81285

Examination certificate/course certificate – planning and acceptance

  • Which types of coursework and examinations must I/may I offer?

    As a lecturer, you are obliged to offer the forms of examination that are required in the modules to which your course is assigned. You can find out what these are in the module descriptions (GER).

    If the module descriptions (see field “Requirements for awarding credit points”) offer several options (e.g., written exam OR oral presentation), you (not the students) may decide which format(s) of examination you offer. Announcement in the course catalogue.

    For specific detailed questions about the modules of the individual degree programs, please contact the academic advisors.

  • When should I schedule my exams?

    Term papers and other written examinations during the semester: The submission deadline for these is:
    15 March (winter semester) or 15 September (summer semester). 

    WH (retake) deadlines for HA (term papers) and other examinations during the semester are four weeks after the original deadline: 
    15 April (winter semester) or 15 October (summer semester). (As the retake dates fall in the following semester, students must still be enrolled in the same degree program at this time).

    Written examinations should be taken in the period:
    between the last two (or three) weeks before the end of the lecture period and the end of the first lecture-free week (cf. also §24 of the General Regulations).

    WH (retake) dates for written examinations are usually offered in the last three weeks of the lecture-free period, always in the same semester.
    The WH (retake) dates must also be scheduled so that there are at least four weeks between the announcement of grades from the regular examination date and the WH (retake) date.

  • Why should I ask students to submit the completed sample cover sheet?

    This ensures that examination results are entered quickly, correctly and without further queries to you or your students.

    We have created a sample cover sheet (docx) that contains fields for all these details. We recommend that you have it completed in full for all examinations and compulsory coursework (including oral examinations).  
    On 28.02.2023, the Dean of Studies sent a further recommendation by e-mail to the examiners to simplify submissions in MARVIN in connection with the submission of term papers and to streamline correspondence in this regard, including specific templates. If you do not or no longer have this, please ask your responsible main office.

  • Can I accept exams from students who are not on my MARVIN exam registration list?

    In principle, examinations (e.g., term papers) submitted by students who are not registered for the examination should not be accepted and students who are not registered for the examination should not be admitted to the examination (e.g., written examination).

    In our experience, in individual cases that students may appear for an examination (written examination) who are not on the list (but have a right to take the examination). In such individual cases, we therefore recommend that you obtain a certificate stating that the examination is accepted with the reservation that you contact the examinations office before grading. If no examination authorization has been granted, no grade will be awarded.

  • When should I set my deadlines for submitting term papers and other assignments?

    Written examinations can be submitted at any time during the semester up to the deadline set by the examination committee: 

    15 March (winter semester) > WH (retake) date: 15 April 
    15 September (summer semester) > WH (retake) date: 15 October

    If the deadline is on a weekend or public holiday, the deadline is postponed to the next working day.

    If no thesis is submitted despite the examination registration, this must be entered accordingly in the examination system (MARVIN).
    If an examination is submitted after the deadline, it is considered “not submitted on the examination date”. In this case, the grade for this examination performance can be entered in MARVIN under the WH (retake) date. To do this, the candidate must have registered for the WH (retake) examination in MARVIN before the deadline.

  • What should I do if the candidate does not, cannot or does not want to take the exam?

    Variant 1: If students who have registered for the examination are ill (or are unable to take the examination for other reasons beyond their control) and can prove this (e.g., by means of a medical certificate attesting to their inability to work/examine), please enter the note “AT” (for “Attest” meaning “doctor’s note” or “medical certificate”) in MARVIN for this examination date. For correct entry, all the information requested on the sample cover sheet (docx)  is also required.

    In this case, the student is considered to have withdrawn from this examination attempt/date and does not receive a failed attempt and can register for the retake date.

    Variant 2: If students who have registered for the examination fail to attend, they are considered “did not attend” (NA). They will receive 0 points. The attempt will be counted as one failed attempt and they can register for the examination again only in the following semester (provided they still have enough examination attempts).

    Variant 3: Anyone wishing to withdraw from the examination for other reasons must notify you in writing BEFORE the start of the examination, stating all the information required according to the sample cover sheet (docx). You can then enter this as a “recognized justified withdrawal” (RAN) without a failed attempt. These students can register for the examination again only in the following semester.