Uni Siegen gives green light for free trial regulations

It is a great benefit for all students who study according to the framework examination regulations and a step forward in the examination culture: from the winter semester 2025/26, the University of Siegen will for the first time have free examination regulations in all Bachelor's and Master's degree courses in the subject areas and teaching. These changes to the framework examination regulations were approved by a large majority of the Senate at its meeting on April 16. The Education Commission, the ZLB Council (Center for Teacher Training and Educational Research) and the Rectorate had previously given the green light for the new regulations.

From the coming winter semester, students studying in accordance with the framework examination regulations will have a total of three free attempts for examinations on Bachelor's degree courses and two free attempts on Master's degree courses. This means that they can use these flexibly in modules of their choice as "jokers" if they have failed an examination. In this way, a previous failed attempt is canceled. "The so-called 'Siegen model of free attempt regulations' has already been discussed for several years in the Education Commission and in various other committees," says Prof. Dr. Hans Merzendorfer, Vice-Rector for Studies, Teaching and Quality Management. In cooperation with Dr. Barbara Müller-Naendrup, Vice-Rector for Teaching Staff, Continuing Education and Sustainability, the student representatives and the General Students' Committee (AStA), the employees of the Legal Department and many other people, it has now been possible to find this uniform solution for the free trial regulation. At the request of the students, the Senate has also decided that the free attempt regulation should also apply to the last examination attempt and without an opening clause for all degree programs.

The main purpose of the free attempts is to reduce students' exam anxiety and encourage them to take their exams earlier. It is important to note that the regulations apply per capita and not per degree program, i.e. the free attempts are not reset when changing degree programs. In addition, free attempts cannot be used to improve grades, as they can only be used for failed examinations.

According to Vice-Rector Merzendorfer, the additional work involved in correcting examinations seems manageable: "Only very few students will actually need all their attempts. In comparison to the regular, diverse opportunities to retake examinations, the flexibly applicable "jokers" only add a few more attempts.