Examination regulations - your guide through the regulations

Dear student,

the examination regulations are a central companion to your degree programme; they provide orientation, create transparency and ensure fair conditions for everyone. They contain all the regulations that are relevant to the planning, organisation and assessment of your examinations. To make it easier for you to get started, we have summarised the most important general terms and regulations in a clear, easy-to-understand and practical way, with information on where you can find further information.

Please note that this is overarching information. The specifics of your examination regulations, as well as the procedures within your faculty, must be observed. This is a guide and does not replace your specific examination regulations.

 

You can find the following information on this website:

Structure of the examination regulations: General vs. special provisions

Frequently asked questions - simply explained

Important information for your academic success

Further help & links

Do you still have questions?

The examination regulations are the central set of rules for all examination matters at Paderborn University. They stipulate

  • When and how examinations can be taken,
  • what work must be completed,
  • how and when grades are announced,
  • what repetition options are available.

It is legally binding - for both students and the university - and forms the basis for fair and transparent examination practices.

Struc­ture of the ex­am­in­a­tion reg­u­la­tions: Gen­er­al vs. spe­cial pro­vi­sion

Our examination regulations are divided into two parts:

General provisions (AB)

These contain information about the general conditions - such as

  • The duration of the degree programme (e.g. 6 semesters Bachelor, 4 semesters Master),
  • the credit points,
  • the recognition of credits from other study programmes or universities,
  • the role of the Examinations Board,
  • the regulations for the Bachelor's or Master's thesis.

Special provisions (BB)

These contain the specific regulations for your particular study programme. These include, for example

  • The study programme plan,
  • the modules and module descriptions,
  • the requirements for the Bachelor's or Master's thesis,
  • requirements for admission to examinations.

Tip: Always start your research with the General Provisions - the Special Provisions contain the details that are particularly relevant to you.

Fre­quently asked ques­tions - simply ex­plained

Here are a few questions that you may have already asked yourself in connection with your studies. As we cannot cover every possible case, please always make sure to check your examination regulations.

Gen­er­al pro­vi­sions:

You can usually start your degree programme in the winter semester. Whether it is also possible to start in the summer semester can be found in the special provisions of your study programme.

Here you will find general information on the requirements (e.g. university entrance qualification), while the Special Provisions may contain more specific requirements - such as certain previous knowledge, language certificates or a completed Bachelor's degree for the Master's programme.

At Paderborn University, the successful completion of a Bachelor's programme requires

  • a Bachelor's degree programme six semesters (180 LP) and for the
  • a Master's degree programme four semesters (120 LP)

are planned.

Credit points (CP) are awarded for each module completed and, as a rule, each semester comprises 30 CP.

The programme content is divided into thematically related modules. Each module comprises one or more classes, has a fixed scope (at least 5 CP) and is usually completed with an examination.

Further details can be found in your General Terms and Conditions.

  • organisation of the examinations and monitoring their implementation,
  • compliance with the examination regulations, in particular the procedural regulations,
  • Decisions on appeals against decisions made in examination procedures,
  • recognition of achievements.

What is the Bach­el­or's or Mas­ter's ex­am­in­a­tion?

The Bachelor's or Master's examination consists of the examinations to be taken in the modules. (see the Special Provisions)

How is a mod­ule com­pleted? How can cred­it points be ac­quired?

As a rule, a module is successfully completed by means of a module examination and, if applicable, qualified participants. If this is the case, credit points are awarded for this module.

How do I re­gister for an ex­am­in­a­tion? And what are the re­quire­ments?

You must register for each individual examination in the campus management system "PAUL" in good time, within the specified deadlines. These will be announced in the system or via other communication channels. Please note that different procedures may apply in your faculty.

When and where is the form of the ex­am­in­a­tion an­nounced?

The form of the examination will be announced in Paderborn University's campus management system "PAUL" or in another suitable manner within the first three weeks of the lecture period at the latest.

What forms of ser­vice pro­vi­sion are avail­able? By when must the as­sess­ment be an­nounced?

The General Provisions provide an overview of possible forms of examinations such as written examinations, oral examinations, presentations, projects or assignments. You can find further types specific to your degree programme in the Special Provisions and in the module descriptions.

How of­ten can an ex­am­in­a­tion be re­peated?

Further details can be found in your General Terms and Conditions.

How are grades cal­cu­lated?

Further details can be found in your General Terms and Conditions

When is the Bach­el­or's/Mas­ter's ex­am­in­a­tion passed?

You have passed the Bachelor's or Master's examination if:

  • All required modules have been successfully completed and
  • the required credit points have been achieved.

Are there can­cel­la­tion dead­lines for ex­am­in­a­tions?

You can deregister for your examination in Paderborn University's campus management system "PAUL" up to a specified date without giving reasons.

Tip: You can find the cancellation deadline in the General Provisions, campus management system "PAUL", PAUL information pages, Examinations Management.

What hap­pens if I do not at­tend the ex­am­in­a­tion and what do I have to sub­mit?

Further details can be found in your General Terms and Conditions.

What are the con­sequences of de­cep­tion?

Further details can be found in your General Terms and Conditions.

What is the Bach­el­or's/Mas­ter's thes­is?

The Bachelor's/Master's thesis concludes the study programme.

What should I bear in mind when writ­ing my Bach­el­or's/Mas­ter's thes­is?

Further details can be found in your General Terms and Conditions

In what form, how and where should the Bach­el­or's/Mas­ter's thes­is be sub­mit­ted?

Further information: Examinations Management

Who car­ries out the as­sess­ment and eval­u­ation?

Further information: Examinations Management

By when must the valu­ation be an­nounced?

Further information: Examinations Management

Is an or­al de­fence re­quired for the Bach­el­or's/Mas­ter's thes­is?

The Special Provisions determine whether an oral defence is required.

The overall grade is calculated from the weighted grades of the individual modules.

Additional achievements are further examinations that go beyond the achievements required in the study programme. You can elect them within the modules of your study programme.

They must be marked accordingly when registering and cannot be subsequently credited to the modules to be completed in accordance with the Special Provisions. They are also not taken into account when calculating the grade for the module or Bachelor's examination. However, they will be listed in the "Transcript of Records".

A module is definitively failed if a module examination or partial module examination can no longer be repeated. Any options for deselection are regulated in the Special Provisions.

For example, there are extended processing times, special preferences for examinations or digital aids.

Paderborn University promotes a good balance between studying and family life.

Tip: Find out more about the services offered by the Student Counselling Service or the Equal Opportunities Office.

  • If the Bachelor's/Master's examination has been passed and all credit points of the modules to be completed have been achieved, the degree programme has been successfully completed.
  • If a module has been definitively failed and it is not possible to deselect the module, the Bachelor's examination has been definitively failed.
  • Certificate,
    • Transcript of Records,
    • Diploma Supplement, as a certificate supplement in English and German,
    • Certificate certifying the award of the Bachelor's or Master's degree.
  • Yes, after the grades have been announced.
  • Access to the Bachelor's or Master's thesis is granted on request within one year of the certificate being issued.

Spe­cial pro­vi­sions:

The professional and interdisciplinary competences required for qualified employment and personal development, which are (or can be) acquired during the course of the degree programme, are named and described.

This indicates whether the programme can only be started in the winter semester or also in the summer semester.

For example, a degree with certain study components may be required in order to enrol on a Master's degree programme and/or certain foreign language skills may be expected.

You will receive an overview of the compulsory and compulsory elective modules to be completed, together with the corresponding credit points (CP). Further information can be found in the study programme plan and in the module descriptions, which are an appendix to the Special Provisions.

What are the re­quire­ments for tak­ing ex­am­in­a­tions?

Further details are set out in your Special Terms and Conditions.

What oth­er forms of ex­am­in­a­tion are there in my study pro­gramme?

Further details are set out in your Special Terms and Conditions.

How many ex­am­in­a­tion at­tempts do I have?

Further details are set out in your Special Terms and Conditions.

How of­ten can I re­peat a mod­ule?

Further details are set out in your Special Terms and Conditions.

How can a mod­ule be com­pensated or deselec­ted?

Further details are set out in your Special Terms and Conditions.

What re­quire­ments must be met in or­der to be ad­mit­ted to the Bach­el­or's/Mas­ter's thes­is?

Further details are set out in your Special Terms and Conditions.

How long do I have to write my Bach­el­or's or Mas­ter's thes­is?

Further details are set out in your Special Terms and Conditions.

What scope must it have?

Further details are set out in your Special Terms and Conditions.

In which lan­guage should it be writ­ten?

Further details are set out in your Special Terms and Conditions.

Is there an or­al ex­am­in­a­tion?

Further details are set out in your Special Terms and Conditions.

Further details are set out in your Special Terms and Conditions.

The examination regulations for which you are enrolled apply. You can check this in the campus management system "PAUL". Under the path “Studies > Semester Administration > Registration for Modules and Courses,” you can find out how to locate your published examination regulations in the Official Notices of the Paderborn University.

The study plan shows you an example of which modules you can study in which semester.

Module descriptions provide information about the classes offered, course content and competences, forms of examination, workload and credit points, rotation, duration and language.

Im­port­ant in­form­a­tion for your study suc­cess:

  • Always check the current examination regulations:
    Which version applies to you? Examiner this in the campus management system "PAUL".
  • Use the resources of the university:
    The Examinations Management advises on questions.
  • Keep to deadlines:
    Pay attention to registration and submission deadlines.
  • Plan with the study plan:
    This shows you in which semesters you should take which modules.

Do you have any ques­tions?

We cannot cover all cases - and that is not our intention. But we would like to make it easier for you to get started. If you cannot find something in your specific examination regulations, or if you do not understand something, please feel free to contact:

  • Examinations Management: For all matters relating to examinations (e.g. recognition, resits).
  • The Subject-Specific Academic Service at your faculty: For subject-related questions about modules or examination forms.

 

 

 

 

Note: This guide does not replace the official examination regulations.