If you have to skip or withdraw from an exam for health reasons, three things decide how you proceed: timely notification, a medical certificate with the right content and the deadline your university sets. Using the guidance of HAW Landshut as an example, this guide shows which requirements are typical, where they can differ, and what happens if a certificate is missing.
Short answer: You must report an exam missed due to illness without undue delay. In the guidance of HAW Landshut, the notice and the medical certificate must be submitted within three days after the exam date. A doctor must be seen on the day of the exam, and retroactive certificates are not accepted. After grades have been announced, withdrawal is generally excluded. Last updated: November 2026. Deadlines and form can differ at other universities.
Key points in brief
- The notice must be given without undue delay (unverzüglich), meaning without culpable hesitation.
- According to the HAW Landshut guidance, the notice and the certificate are due three days after the exam date at the student service centre.
- The certificate must be issued on the exam day or before, and a certificate issued afterwards does not count.
- A sick note for work (Arbeitsunfähigkeitsbescheinigung) does not count as a certificate there.
- Withdrawing during an exam leads to “not sufficient” (nicht ausreichend), unless the reasons are not your responsibility.
- The examination regulations of your degree programme take precedence over general guidance documents.
What deadline applies if I am ill and do not attend the exam?
If you do not appear for a first attempt, the guidance treats the exam as not taken, unless you have proof. For time-limited exams, such as repeat attempts, the result is “not sufficient” unless the reasons are not your responsibility. These reasons must then be reported in writing to the university and made credible, using the prescribed form.
It matters that you do not leave the notice until after the exam date. The guidance asks for notice without culpable delay. A late notice can mean that the reasons are no longer accepted as credible.
What must I do if I have to stop during the exam?
If you stop an exam for health reasons, you inform the invigilator. The written notice with the form follows afterwards. According to the guidance, withdrawing during a running exam leads to “not sufficient”, unless the reasons are not your responsibility.
What does the medical certificate have to contain?
The certificate is the central proof. According to the guidance, it must contain at least the time of examination, the onset of the illness and a prognosis of its duration. It also needs the symptoms and the effect on your ability to perform, the signature and the practice stamp. According to these details, a diagnosis is not required.
| Requirement | Stated in the HAW Landshut guidance |
|---|---|
| Notice | Without undue delay, meaning without culpable hesitation |
| Notice and certificate | Three days after the exam date at the student service centre |
| Doctor visit | On the day of the exam |
| Issue date of the certificate | On the exam day or before, not retroactive |
| Form of the certificate | Original, signed and dated, with practice stamp |
| Not sufficient | E-mail, telephone or a mere reference to inability to sit the exam |
The table summarises the guidance. The guidance gives no date or version, so ask your examination office for the current version. Source: HAW Landshut, guidance on conduct in case of exam inability due to illness.
How do I calculate the deadline in practice?
Worked example (assumption: exam on Tuesday, 9 March): Three days after the exam date is Thursday, 12 March. Notice and certificate must be at the student service centre by then. The guidance does not say explicitly whether calendar or working days apply, so ask if in doubt before you rely on the full period.
- Note the exam date and the time when you noticed that you had to stop or could not attend.
- See a doctor on the same day and describe when the symptoms began and what they are.
- Have a certificate issued with the details listed in the guidance, signed and dated.
- Submit the notice on the form and the certificate on time, most securely by registered letter with return receipt or in person.
- Keep a copy and the proof of receipt, because the burden of proof lies with you.
What are the consequences of a missing or insufficient certificate?
If no qualifying certificate exists, the guidance treats the inability to sit the exam as not credibly shown. You carry the burden of proof for the reason for withdrawal and also bear the cost of the evidence. If your application is granted, the period for taking the exam is extended accordingly.
For a third or fourth attempt, the guidance allows a trusted doctor (Vertrauensarzt) to be consulted in justified cases. If the strain is too much to handle alone, the overview of support in our guide Mental Health at University: Where to Find Help is a starting point.
When is withdrawal excluded?
After an exam performance has been completed, in particular after grades have been announced, withdrawal because of inability to sit the exam is generally excluded according to the guidance. If you already have a grade and still feel unwell, the starting point is different from before the exam. Discuss your next steps with the examination office before you submit anything.
If exam anxiety is making the process harder, the question is a different one from a formal certificate. You can read more in our guide Overcoming Exam Anxiety: Tips for More Success (in German).
Frequently asked questions
Is a certificate that only says “unable to sit the exam” enough?
According to the guidance, a mere reference to examination or work inability is not enough. The certificate must contain the time of examination, the onset of the illness, the prognosis, the symptoms and the effect on your ability to perform. Ask the practice for this content before the appointment, so you do not need to return.
Is a sick note for work a certificate?
No. According to the guidance, a sick note for work does not count as a certificate for the exam. It can confirm your state of health, but it does not replace the required details.
Can I send the certificate by e-mail?
According to the guidance, e-mail or telephone is not sufficient. The original is required, signed and dated by you. Bring it in person or send it by registered letter with return receipt, which the guidance recommends.
What happens if I just miss the deadline?
The examination regulations of your university then determine the consequences. According to the guidance, a notice that does not arrive in time can mean the reasons are not accepted as credible. If you cannot meet a deadline, contact the examination office immediately and ask about a solution.
Can I repeat the exam after a withdrawal?
Whether and how often that is possible is set by the examination regulations. According to the guidance, if an application is granted, the period for taking the exam is extended. For a third or fourth attempt, a trusted doctor may be consulted in justified cases.
Next steps
- Read the examination regulations of your degree programme and the guidance of your university before an exam is due.
- Report the illness without delay using the form, even if the certificate is still missing.
- Have a certificate issued on the exam day with all the required details.
- Submit the notice and the certificate on time and keep copies and the proof of receipt.
- Ask the examination office if you have questions about the deadline or the consequences.
Related articles
- Mental Health at University: Where to Find Help
- University Psychotherapy Clinic: Access, Process and Services
- Overcoming Exam Anxiety: Tips for More Success (in German)
- Find a Psychotherapist: Search, Waiting Time and First Session
Sources: HAW Landshut, guidance on conduct in case of exam inability due to illness (undated, in German).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
