STUDY

Examinations

Examination dates

Final examinations: You can find an overview of upcoming final examinations on your student portal under Links > Final Examinations.

Re-taking examinations and courses

Re-Taking Examinations: General Information

Counting the number of examination attempts

All attempts to re-take an examination in the same examination subject in all relevant degree programmes at the University of Klagenfurt must be considered when calculating the total number of permissible attempts (§ 77 para. 2 2nd sentence UA); see course chain (German: LV-Kette) as depicted on the course information sheet.

Examination mode

The same examination mode (oral or written examination) shall apply to all repetitions of the examination.

Exception!

In the event that an examination is conducted in a single act using the multiple-choice method, students are entitled to take the last permissible re-take of the exam for which they have received a negative assessment as an oral exam. This switch to a different examination method is contingent upon a formal request, which must be submitted at the time of registering for the exam (§ 15 para. 3a Part B University Statutes).

Comprehensive examinations

Comprehensive examinations must be repeated in their entirety, if more than half of the subjects were assessed negatively. In all other cases, the part to be re-taken is limited to the negatively assessed subjects (§ 15 para. 2 University Charter Part B).

Re-taking negatively assessed examinations

Negatively assessed examinations can be re-taken three times (§ 77 para. 2 University Act), which means that the total number of attempts permitted is four.

In the case of exams which are conducted in the form of a single examination act (lectures), the exam must be retaken.

In the case of a course with continuous assessment that has been assessed as failed, the entire course must be retaken.

If the student fails all examinations, including the third and final attempt to re-take, the student’s admission is annulled to all degree programmes in which the course in question is listed as compulsory course in the curriculum (§ 68 para. 1 subpara. 3 UA). The renewed admission to these degree programmes at the University of Klagenfurt shall be excluded (§ 63 para. 7 UA).

Separate provisions apply to teacher training programmes; see § 63 para. 7 UG and Section 68 para. 1 subpara. 7 UA.

The final examination of the degree programme has been assessed negatively for the fourth time

If a student gets negatively assessed at the 3rd and last retake of the final examination of their degree programme, they are entitled to retake it once more (5th attempt)(§ 77 para. 2, last sentence, of the UA).

If also the fifth attempt is unsuccessful, the student’s admission will be annulled (§ 63 para. 7 UA); see above.

Re-taking an examination within the introductory and orientation period

Exams from the introductory and orientation period (StEOP) can be retaken three times. If the final possible retake (= 4th attempt) of an exam part of the StEOP is failed, admission to the relevant degree programme will be annulled. An enrolment in the degree programme is automatically suspended and cannot be resumed at the University of Klagenfurt. Other degree programmes may still be studied at the University of Klagenfurt, provided that the relevant failed exam is not part of that programme. The enrolment in the same degree programme at another Austrian university (with the exception of teacher training programmes within the consortium) is possible.

Re-taking negatively assessed examinations required within the scope of the University Entrance Qualification Examination

The candidates shall be entitled to repeat a failed examination, which is part of the University Entrance Qualification Examination, two times.

The final repetition permitted shall be held before a board. After failing the final repetition permitted, the admission to the university entrance qualification examination for the respective group of studies shall expire. A further admission to the university entrance qualification examination for the respective group of studies at the university concerned shall be excluded. In the case of jointly offered teacher training programmes, a further admission to the university entrance qualification examination for the group of studies “teacher training programmes” shall be excluded at all educational institutions concerned. See (§ 64a para.12 UA).

Re-taking a positively assessed examination

1. Deadlines for re-taking the examination

The positively assessed examination may only be re-taken once within 12 months following the passed examination. If the degree programme is concluded before the 12-month deadline expires, an attempt to re-take the examination after the completion of the degree programme shall be excluded.

With regard to the different types of courses, the 12-month deadline shall be calculated as follows:

Lecture exam or modular examination or comprehensive examination

The statutory period ends 12 months after the original examination.

Example: Examination on December 25th 2025

Provided that the student’s admission remains active, a re-take of the examination within the same degree programme is admissible up to December 25th 2026. A re-take at a later date is not admissible.

Courses with continuous assessment (this includes all types of courses, such as PS, KU, SE, but excludes lecture courses)

Example: Final assessment on December 25th 2025

In the case of courses with continuous assessment, the first session of the course to be repeated must lie within the stated 12-month period. In the above case, students may register for a course taking place in the summer semester of 2026 or, at the very latest, in the winter semester of 2026/27. This course must be completed within the same degree programme.

2. Effect of re-taking a passed examination

The repeat attempt to take an examination renders the original examination null and void. Specifically, this means that, without exception, the grade awarded for the examination completed most recently shall be the valid grade – this also applies in cases where the student receives a worse grade for the re-taken examination than for the original examination.

Repetition of internships in the framework of the pedagogic-practical studies

In the case of receiving a negative assessment, students shall be entitled to repeat internships in the framework of the pedagogic-practical studies indicated by the curriculum once (§ 77 para. 4 UA). The student is permitted to repeat internships in the framework of the pedagogic-practical studies indicated by the curriculum one more time if the negative assessment of the resit is due to the fact that the student missed (parts of) it without fault of his/her own.

If a student receives a negative assessment for the last permissible repetition of an internship within the framework of the pedagogic-practical studies prescribed in the curriculum of a teacher training programme the admission to the programme of study expires (§ 68 para. 1 subpara. 7 UA).

Re-taking examinations conducted by an examination board

General information

The second retake of an negatively assessed exams which are conducted in the form of a single examination act, must be held before an examination board at the student’s request. The third retake must definitely be held before an examination board (Section 15(1) of the Statutes, Part B).

Written retake examinations before an examination board are generally held on the regular examination dates for the relevant course.

In the case of a course with continuous assessment there is no examination before an examination board. This applies even to the final retake. This is because assessment is based on several partial assessments, and the entire course must therefore be retaken.

Procedure for the registration to re-take an examination conducted by examination board

When registering for the examination in ZEUS, the student in question receives the information that the examination has to be conducted by an examination board. He/she is further instructed to complete the form Application for Admission to Re-take an Examination before an Examination Board” and to submit this form to the Programme Director no later than two weeks before the examination date.
In line with the department’s suggestion, the Programme Director assembles the examination board and records the authorisation on the form.
For the third attempt to re-take an examination, the Rector for Academic Affairs is included as a member of the examination board and shall act as chairperson. It is also advisable to nominate the course lecturer as a member of the examination board.
Following the approval of the admission application, the Programme Director informs the student and the members of the examination board.
The student attends the examination, bringing a copy of the approved application with him/her. The student must present this form, in order to be permitted to take the examination. If the student takes the examination regardless of not being able to present the form, the attempt is not assessed, and no grade is recorded (especially no positive grade).
In the case of electronic examinations, students must contact the Center for University Learning and Teaching (CULT) no later than two weeks before the date of the examination or, respectively, two weeks before the examination week, and should also register their need for a loan device, if required. Students must bring their copy of the approved application to the examination and must present this to the members of the CULT-team, who shall then formally register the students for the examination.
The chairperson of the examination board forwards the examination record to the Admissions Office.
The Admissions Office is responsible for recording the grade in ZEUS.

Do you have any questions about the regulations for resitting examinations?

Please contact the

Office of Academic Affairs
Telephone: +43 463 1006
E-mail: stud_re [at] aau [dot] at

Annulling a failed examination

If maladministration is suspected in the conduct of an examination that was subsequently failed, the Rector of Studies/Vice Rector of Studies may decide to annul this examination upon receiving an application from the student. The application must be made within 14 days of receiving your results (Section 79 Para. 1 of the Universities Act 2002). Circumstances that could be considered serious maladministration in the conduct of an examination include failing to assess an examination in accordance with ZEUS examination criteria and standards (Section 59 Para. 6 of the Universities Act 2002 and Section 10 Para. 6 of the AAUK Constitution Part B).

Application for alternative examination arrangements

When you register for an exam, you may apply to sit the examination in a format other than one of those listed in the programme curriculum. You must provide evidence of an disability that would prevent you from sitting the exam in the usual format and the alternative arrangement should have no negative impact on the content or requirements of the examination (Section 59 Para. 1 Clause 12 of the Universities Act 2002). If the registration or application for alternative exam arrangements is not accepted, the Rector of Studies/Vice Rector of Studies will confirm this upon the request of the student and after consultation with the relevant programme director.

Applications should be made in writing (without an application form) to the Office of Academic Affairs.