New "free attempt regulation" at the University of Siegen applies from the current winter semester
From the current winter semester 2025/26, the new free attempt regulation will apply for the first time at the University of Siegen. It will be applied for the first time in the upcoming examination phase. Three free attempts are available in all Bachelor's degree courses and two free attempts in all Master's degree courses. In concrete terms, this means that anyone who fails an examination can use one of these flexible "jokers" and have the failed attempt deleted. This is particularly useful for a final examination attempt, for which the new regulation gives you an additional final attempt if you fail. However, it is not possible to improve your grade, as the free attempts only apply to failed examinations. It is important to note that the free attempts apply per student and not per degree program, i.e. they are not reset when changing degree programs.
The main aim of the regulation is to help reduce exam anxiety and give students more security and freedom in their individual study plans. "Free attempts are a signal that should give students flexibility in organizing their studies. Anyone who takes an exam early but then fails it no longer has to fear that this will have immediate negative consequences," explains Prof. Dr. Hans Merzendorfer, Prorectors for Studies, Teaching and Quality Management at the University of Siegen. Merzendorfer considers the additional work involved in correcting examinations to be manageable: "Only very few students will actually use all their "jokers". In comparison to the regular, diverse opportunities to retake examinations, the flexibly applicable free attempts only add a few more attempts."
The so-called "Siegen model of free attempt regulations" was adopted by the (University) Senate in spring 2025. Prior to this, the Education Commission, the ZLB Council (Centre for Teacher Training and Educational Research) and the Rectorate were involved, as well as Prof. Dr. Barbara Müller-Naendrup, Prorector for Teacher Training, Further Education and Sustainability, student representatives, the General Students' Committee (AStA) and the Legal Department.
