Examinations

All examinations must be registered via heiCO by the deadline.

Please note: Course registration does not constitute examination registration!

In the basic modules (BA), there are lecture and seminar examinations. In the advanced modules (BA) and the compulsory elective modules (MA), there are seminars with small examinations and seminars with big examinations. In the subject-specific part of the MEd, there are only seminars with big examinations.

What is a module?

A module is a self-contained teaching unit consisting of several courses.

In the BA introductory and basic courses, a module usually comprises a lecture and the corresponding seminar. Module G1 also includes a practical exercise, and module G7 also includes a tutorial. Module G3 consists of two lectures. The BA introductory and basic modules G1 – G7 should generally be completed within one semester (no module splitting) and repeated within one year if not passed.

In the BA specialisation area, a module usually comprises two seminars. One of these is a seminar with a big examination (8 ECTS) and one is a seminar with a small examination (2 ECTS). A module therefore totals 10 ECTS.

• The Examination Office recommends that modules in the BA specialisation area be completed in one semester.

In the MA elective area, a module usually comprises two seminars. One of these is a seminar with a big examination component (8 ECTS) and one is a seminar with a small examination component (4 ECTS). A module therefore totals 12 ECTS.

• The Examination Office recommends that modules in the MA elective area be completed in one semester.

What is the scope of the lecture examinations in the BA introductory and basic courses?

The lecture examinations in the BA introductory and basic courses are worth 4 ECTS credits and are generally completed in the form of a written examination.

The lecture examinations (4 ECTS credits) must be registered via heiCO by the deadline.

What is the scope of seminar examination requirements in the introductory and basic BA courses?

The seminar examinations in the BA introductory and basic courses are worth 6 ECTS credits. They are generally completed in the form of a presentation (2 ECTS credits) and a written examination (4 ECTS credits).

The seminar examination (6 ECTS) must be registered via heiCO by the deadline. To do so, you must select the same examination date that you selected for your lecture examination registration.

You may not split two examinations from a module in the BA introductory and basic courses across different semesters or examination dates!

What is the scope of seminar examination requirements in the BA specialisation area?

The seminar examinations in the BA specialisation area are either worth 2 ECTS (seminar with small examination) or 8 ECTS (seminar with big examination).

In seminars with small examinations (2 ECTS), the examination is usually in the form of a presentation (2 ECTS). You must register for the small examination via heiCO by the deadline.

In seminars with a big examination (8 ECTS), the examination is usually in the form of a presentation (2 ECTS) AND a term paper (6 ECTS). You must register for the big examination (8 ECTS) via heiCO by the deadline.

What is the scope of seminar examination in the MA elective area?

The seminar examination requirements in the MA elective area are either worth 4 ECTS (seminar with small examination) or 8 ECTS (seminar with big examination).

In seminars with a small examination (4 ECTS), the examination is usually in the form of a presentation (2 ECTS) and a short written paper (2 ECTS). You must register for the small examination (4 ECTS) via heiCO by the deadline.

In seminars with a big examination (8 ECTS), the examination is usually in the form of a presentation (2 ECTS) AND a big term paper (6 ECTS). You must register for the big examination (8 ECTS) via heiCO by the deadline.

When are examinations considered passed/failed?

Lecture examinations in the BA introductory and basic courses are passed once the lecture examination has been passed and the attendance requirement has been met.

Seminar examinations in a BA seminar with a small examination are passed once the presentation has been passed and the attendance requirement has been met.

All other seminar examination requirements are only passed if all parts of the examination requirement have been completed with a positive result and the attendance requirement has been met.

If the presentation OR the exam/term paper/short paper has not been passed/completed, the entire seminar examination requirement has not been passed and must be repeated.

In this case, the results of part of the examination (e.g. a presentation grade) are generally not retained!

When is the presentation grade retained in the BA introductory and basic courses?

The presentation grade will remain valid for the second examination date in the same semester, regardless of whether the first examination date was not taken, failed, not taken despite registration, or withdrawn for a recognised reason (e.g. medical certificate).

In two exceptional cases, the presentation grade in the BA introductory and basic seminars can also be retained for the following year:

1. A doctor's note is available for both exam dates.
2. One exam date was failed, a doctor's note is available for the other exam date.

In these exceptional cases, you must register to retain your presentation grade at pruefung[at]ipw.uni-heidelberg.de.

• The Examination Office therefore strongly recommends taking the exam on the first date! If you fail or are ill on the second exam date without providing a doctor's note or proof of failure for the first date,
  • you must retake the entire exam and
  • will not be able to retake it until the following year. This may delay your studies.

If I fail the BA introductory and basic courses, do I have to take the seminar again?

If you fail the BA introductory and basic courses, you must retake the course the following year, regardless of whether your presentation grade remains the same or not.

In this case, you must re-register for the course and the examination via heiCO the following year.

When and how can examinations be retaken?

Passed examinations cannot be repeated.

If you fail, you may repeat the examination once.

In the case of BA introductory and basic seminars, BA advanced seminars with big examinations, and MA elective seminars with small and big examinations, this means that you must repeat the presentation AND the written examination/term paper/small assignment.

• To do so, you must re-register and pass the same course in the BA introductory and basic area in the coming year.
• In the BA advanced area and MA elective area, you must register and pass a course from the same module within the following two semesters.

How are grades communicated?

Grades are communicated to students via heiCO.

Before grades are recorded:

• Do not ask examiners about grades before they are recorded!
• Do not ask the examination office about grades before they are recorded!

After grades have been recorded:

• Questions about grading: contact your examiner.
• Questions about ECTS or study plan context: contact pruefung[at]ipw.uni-heidelberg.de

Early grade recording (only for AU students or degree completion):

• For a small examination: email pruefung[at]ipw.uni-heidelberg.de
• For a big examination:
  • Early consultation with the examiner (before the end of the lecture period).
  • Submit your term paper/assignment earlier if necessary.
  • When submitting your work, remind your examiner once again about the early correction of your work.

Ask your examiner to forward your grade to the examination administration department early.

2.1. Registration, deregistration, re-registration

Deadlines for the 2026 summer semester:

• Registration/deregistration for seminar examinations by: tba
• Registration/deregistration for lecture examinations by: tba
• Re-registration period: tba

The registration and deregistration deadlines are binding.

Subsequent registration or deregistration is no longer possible.

It is possible to re-register during the re-registration period:

1. BA introductory and basic seminars: It is still possible to switch between the first and second exam dates.
2. BA advanced seminars: It is still possible to switch between big and small examinations.
3. MA elective seminars: It is still possible to switch between big and small examinations.

The deadline for submitting assignments is 31.03. (winter semester) and 30.09 (summer semester) – please note that deadlines may vary in the heiCO examination details.

2.2 Withdrawal or failure to register for examinations

Examinations that have not been registered cannot be assessed!

Examinations that have not been taken (but have been registered) will be assessed with an X- 5.0 (withdrawal without a recognised reason).

Examination components that you did not attend (but registered for) and from which you withdrew for a recognised reason will be marked with a Q. This will not count towards your number of attempts.

• In the event of illness, it is possible to obtain an excuse from the respective lecturer as soon as possible by submitting a doctor's note. In terms of examination law, the examiner (not the doctor!) will then decide on the basis of your doctor's note whether you are unable to take the examination. The same applies to the extension of the submission deadline for term papers.
• If there is another reason for an extension or withdrawal (e.g. caring for relatives), please notify the Examination Office in advance at tobias.ostheim[at]ipw.uni-heidelberg.de & pruefung[at]ipw.uni-heidelberg.de.

2.3 Do I need to register for the interdisciplinary skill examination?

The interdisciplinary skills offered by IPW are coursework (i.e. ungraded work). The courses only need to be registered for and attended on heiCO, but do not need to be registered for as an examination.

2.4 Exam registration via heiCO

In heiCO, online registration for examinations is done under ‘My Degree Programme’.

The following instructions can be found opposite:

• Illustrated instructions for registering for examinations in the BA introductory and basic courses.
• Illustrated instructions for registering for examinations in the BA advanced courses.
• Illustrated instructions for registering for examinations in the MA elective courses.

Online registration for examinations in courses from other degree programmes can be found under the tile ‘Interdisciplinary examination registration/deregistration’. For information on registration deadlines and procedures, please contact the examination and course administration office for the respective subject.

2.5 Re-registration via heiCO

You can also use heiCO to change your registration between the first and second dates or between a small and big examination.

The following instructions can be found opposite:

• Illustrated instructions for re-registering in the BA introductory and basic courses
• Illustrated instructions for re-registering in the BA advanced courses
• Illustrated instructions for re-registering in the MA elective courses

2.6 Special case: Registration for the second examination date after failing/illness/withdrawal from the first examination date

In this case, you must register for the second examination date by emailing the Examination Office at least one week before the second examination date: pruefung[at]ipw.uni-heidelberg.de.