Examinations

All students at TH Köln are required to register prior to taking an exam. Each semester, there are special registration periods during which students can register for the exams they want to take. Registrations are normally done through PSSO (Online Examination and Student Services). In some cases, students register by putting their name down in a list in the Office of Examination Services or by submitting a registration form. 

The Examination Board of each program determines and publishes the registration deadlines. Students can also check the current deadlines by logging in to PSSO.

In order to register for examinations, students must be properly enrolled in the respective program at TH Köln and in some cases must meet certain requirements, such as having passed certain exams during earlier stages of their program. Detailed information is provided in each program's examination regulations.

Has my registration been approved?
Once students have registered for an examination, the Office of Examination Services will verfiy that they meet all requirements to take the exam. The Office of Examination Services will then publish a list of all students whose registration has been approved. This information is also available through PSSO. In case of discrepancies, please contact the Office of Student Services. 

How to register for a Bachelor's or Master's thesis
Students are required to register for their Bachelor's or Master's thesis and the final oral examination ("Kolloquium") in writing. Registration forms are available from the Office of Student Services or online. 
For more information: Bachelor's and Master's theses

Students can generally cancel their registration for an exam up until one week (sometimes two weeks) prior to the examination date. Students are not required to present a reason for cancelling their registration and they do not lose an attempt to take this particular examination.
Cancellations are usually done through PSSO, however, some exceptions apply. If you are required to submit a form to the Office of Examination Services and choose to submit it by mail, please make sure you meet the cancellation deadline. The date of receipt is relevant, not the date of the postmark. 

If you fail the first attempt of a course or module examination, you may retake each examination twice. If you do not pass the thesis or final oral examination, you may retake each once.

In general, a passed examination cannot be retaken. However, in Bachelor's programs, up to two passed examinations can be retaken to achieve a better grade (additional examination attempt). Some Master's programs have adopted regulations on free attempts ("Freiversuch"), please check your program's examination regulations for details. 

Students enrolled in Bachelor's programs at TH Köln can use up to four "additional examination attempts" in case they have failed an examination three times in a row or if they are unhappy with the result of their first (passed) attempt. These regulations replace all previous regulations on free attempts ("Freiversuche") and apply to all examinations taken on or after September 1, 2018. 

It is gerenally possible and allowed to take examinations earlier than the scheduled in the examination regulations of the respective program (§ 94 (4) of the North Rhine-Westphalia Higher Education Act). This can only be done, however, if all prerequisites to take the examination (such as having passed certain examinations during earlier stages of the program) have been met.