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Organisation of examinations
Pursuant to section 3 sub-section 2 para 1 of the Fachhochschule Studies Act (Fachhochschul-Studiengesetz, FHStG) as amended, an FH study programme is to be designed in such a way that it can be completed it in the prescribed time. Principally, attendance is obligatory for all courses unless this is precluded by the teaching method. For this reason, only one FH degree programme can be attended at a time. For organisational purposes, some FH degree programmes are divided into a basic and a main part. No diploma examinations are planned that cover several semesters or an entire part of the study programme.
Examination schedule
The organisation of examinations in FH degree programmes is characterised by a schedule harmonised with the study programme. The exams take place shortly after the completion of the lectures in which the contents relevant to the exams were taught. Examinations and repetitions of examinations shall be organised in a way that enables the students to continue the programme without missing a semester.
Plagiarism in academic papers
If it is proven that an academic paper is a plagiarism or a partial plagiarism of another academic paper, the approval of the diploma thesis (Approbation) must be declared null and void pursuant to the FH Councils Accreditation Guidelines (cf. Accreditation Guidelines, AR2006, II.E.2.c).
Since the diploma examination at the end of a diploma degree programme is an overall examination that consists of a diploma thesis and a board examination, the diploma examination would also have to be declared null and void and the academic degree awarded would have to be revoked by the competent body for awarding the academic degree.
The resit of the diploma examination that has been declared null and void is to be added to the total number of resits. Any valid individual examinations taken within the scope of the initial diploma examination may be taken into account for the resit of the diploma examination, if applicable. This procedure has been co-ordinated with the Federal Ministry for Education, Science and Culture.
Possibilities to repeat exams and interruption of study programme
Failed exams can be repeated twice, with the second repeat having to be carried out as a board examination. Students who fail the board examination must drop out of the study programme.
An academic year can be repeated once as a consequence of a failed board examiniation, provided that the student submits an application. In light of the previous performance, a decision shall be reached about which exams and courses students have to repeat during the academic year to be repeated, even if they have already completed them sucessfully the first time. At any rate, students have to sit failed exams again and attend the relevant courses when they repeat an academic year.
It is possible for students to interrupt their study programme; to do this, they must file an application with the head of the gegree programme. The reasons for the interruption, the intended continuation and the prospects of a positive completion of the programme need to be proven and convincingly demonstrated. When deciding on the application, the head of the programme will consider compelling personal, health or professional reasons, if possible. During the break no courses can be attended or examinations taken. If a break is also related to negative examination results, the relevant courses have to be attended and the relevant examinations taken again.
Obligatory attendance
If the required attendance rate is not met, the student shall receice a fail grade for the course. In this case, the student shall be given an appropriate opportunity to produce the required performance (first resit). If the students fails, there will automatically be a board examination (second resit).
Board examination procedure
A failed final exam of a course can be repeated twice, with the second resit having to be carried out as a board examination, which my be either an oral or a written examination.
In case of oral resits before a board, the examination senate shall consits of at least three members. If the senate is made up of an even number of member, the chair of the examination senate shall have the casting vote. All members of the examination senate have to be present for the entire exam; if necessary, this obligation can also be met by means of "tele-conferencing".
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