The examination regulations (Prüfungsordnung) are the most important rulebook for your degree. They set out which exams exist, when you must register, how many attempts you have and how the final grade is formed. Students who know the regulations for their course avoid most of the mistakes that later cost them deadlines and grades.
Short answer: An examination regulation is a statute of your university. It governs exam formats, registration, repeat attempts, deadlines and the calculation of the overall grade. The state higher education acts provide the legal basis, so rules differ between federal states and universities. The version that applies to your intake year is always the binding one. Last updated: November 2026.
What matters most in brief
- An examination regulation is a statute of the university, not a recommendation. It applies to everyone who studies under it.
- As a rule, the version in force when you enrolled applies, unless the transitional rules say otherwise.
- Registration deadlines, repeat rules and free attempts are set out in the regulation, not in lecture slides.
- The state higher education acts form the basis, which is why rules differ between federal states and universities.
- A change to the study regulations can determine which old or new rule applies to you.
What does an examination regulation contain?
Most examination regulations follow a similar structure. The overview below shows the components you need most often.
| Component | What you find there | Why you need it |
|---|---|---|
| Scope | Course, degree and validity of the version | You check whether the rule applies to you |
| Exam formats | Written exam, oral exam, term paper, presentation or project | You know how you will be assessed |
| Admission and registration | Prerequisites, registration route and deadlines | You avoid missed exam dates |
| Repeat attempts | Number of attempts and rules for the free attempt | You plan repeats realistically |
| Assessment | Grade scale, weighting of modules and calculation of the overall grade | You understand how your grade is formed |
| Final thesis | Processing time, extension, examiners and submission | You know your deadlines and rights |
| Transitional rules | Which version applies when changes are made | You know whether a change affects you |
Where do you find the examination regulation for your course?
Universities publish their examination regulations in official announcements, often in the faculty area or on the examinations office page. Check the date of the version and the note on the semester from which it applies. If you find several versions, the one matching your enrolment year belongs to your studies. When in doubt, ask the examinations office. An overview of the approach is given in Reading the module handbook: how to find what you need for your studies (in German).
Why the rules differ from state to state
Examination regulations are statutes of individual universities. They rest on the higher education law of the respective state, which defines what powers universities have. In Bavaria, for example, Art. 84 of the Bavarian Higher Education Innovation Act (BayHIG) provides that university examinations are held on the basis of examination regulations, which universities issue as statutes. This is one example: other states regulate this in their own higher education acts. The practical effects are explained in Higher education act: why exam rules differ from state to state (in German).
How do you read an examination regulation step by step?
Many students only read the regulation when a problem already exists. A fixed order helps you find the important passages faster:
- Check the scope and the date of the version, so that you read the correct text.
- Enter all registration and submission deadlines into your calendar before you read on.
- Read the sections on exam formats and admission, because they set out the prerequisites.
- Clarify the rules on repeats, the free attempt and grade calculation if you want to improve a grade or repeat an exam.
- Read the transitional rules so you know what applies to you after any later change.
What applies when the examination regulation changes?
Changes to an examination regulation usually come with a transitional rule. It determines whether you are examined under the old or the new version. Study regulations changed: does the old exam rule still apply to you? (in German) covers in detail which rule still applies to you.
Frequently asked questions
Does today’s examination regulation also apply to my older course of study?
That depends on the transitional rule. Some universities allow students to be examined under the version valid when they started. If the rule is unclear to you, a written question to the examinations office is worthwhile. Study regulations changed: does the old exam rule still apply to you? (in German) describes how changes are handled.
Where does it say how often I may repeat an exam?
The number of attempts is set out in the examination regulation, usually in the section on repeats. Repeating a module exam: how often you may sit it (in German) gives an overview. Also check any special rules for the free attempt, because they affect how attempts are counted.
What happens if I miss a registration deadline?
Whether you can still register is governed by the examination regulation together with the requirements of the examinations office. Missed the registration deadline for an exam: what is still possible (in German) describes the options after a missed deadline. It is important to contact the office before the deadline has finally passed.
How is my overall grade calculated?
The weighting of individual modules and the rule for the overall grade are set out in the examination regulation. Universities weight differently, for example by credit points. Calculating your Bachelor grade: how universities weight your modules (in German) explains the method.
Do I have to agree to the examination regulation?
No. The examination regulation applies to you once you have enrolled in the course. Questions about how it is interpreted are best clarified in writing with the examinations office.
What to do now
- Download the examination regulation for your course in the version that matches your start of studies.
- Mark all deadlines, registration steps and repeat rules and enter them into your calendar.
- Compare the regulation with the module handbook, because it lists the modules that go with these rules. Reading the module handbook: how to find what you need for your studies (in German) helps with this.
- Put open questions to the examinations office in writing and keep the answer.
Related reading
The following articles expand on the topics of this group. They are arranged by subtopic.
Cheating, plagiarism and exam law
- Cheating with AI: what a ruling on exclusion from an exam means (in German)
- Finally failed: what you can do now (in German)
- AI in the exam: which aids are permitted under supervision (in German)
- Attempted cheating in an exam: what happens to your grade (in German)
- Suspected cheating: what to know about the clarification meeting (in German)
- Suspected plagiarism: the examination procedure and your rights (in German)
- Incorrect declaration of authorship: what consequences may follow (in German)
- Ghostwriting for term papers: why commissioned work is risky (in German)
- Proofreading a term paper: what is allowed and where the line is (in German)
Registration, deadlines and repeats
- Requesting to view your exam: deadlines and procedure at the university (in German)
- Free attempt in the Bachelor: which exams count and which deadlines apply (in German)
- Repeating a module exam: how often you may sit it (in German)
- Missed the registration deadline for an exam: what is still possible (in German)
- Online exam registration: typical mistakes and how to avoid them (in German)
- Bachelor thesis submitted late: what happens now (in German)
- Improving your Bachelor grade: is repeating an exam worth it? (in German)
Grades, credit points and graduation
- Calculating your Bachelor grade: how universities weight your modules (in German)
- ECTS grades explained: what the letters A to F mean (in German)
- ECTS credit points explained: how many you need per semester (in German)
- Transcript of Records: what you need the record of achievement for (in German)
- Extending your Bachelor thesis: reasons, application and deadlines (in German)
- Changing the examiner for your thesis: is it possible at all? (in German)
Admission and exam formats
- Admission to an exam: requirements and proofs in your studies (in German)
- Oral exam at university: procedure, record and your rights (in German)
- Study achievement or exam achievement: what the difference is (in German)
- Exam prerequisite: what you must complete before the exam (in German)
- Technical problems in online exams: what counts as proof (in German)
- Attendance requirements at university: what institutions may demand (in German)
Study regulations and study planning
- Reading the module handbook: how to find what you need for your studies (in German)
- Creating a study plan: planning exams across all semesters (in German)
- Higher education act: why exam rules differ from state to state (in German)
- Study regulations changed: does the old exam rule still apply to you? (in German)
Sources:
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
