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Information about exams

Last updated on 23 October 2023
Most courses at VU Amsterdam are completed with an exam. Here you will find information about exam times and locations, resits and exam regulations. 

Exam information

  • Exam timetable

    Check your timetable for the date, time and location of your exam. Make sure to arrive at least 15 minutes before your scheduled exam. This leaves you with enough time to find the right classroom, a seat and put away your personal belongings.

    VU Amsterdam applies short and longer examination blocks:

    Examination times - Regular (length)
    Block 1 (long): 08.30 – 11.15 AM (2.45 hrs)
    Block 2 (short): 12.15 – 2.30 PM (2.15 hrs)
    Block 3 (short): 3.30 – 5.45 PM (2.15 hrs)
    Block 4 (long): 6.45 – 9.30 PM (2.45 hrs)

    Examination times - Extra time (length)
    Block 1 (long): 08.30 – 11.45 AM (3.15 hrs)
    Block 2 (short): 12.15 – 3.00 PM (2.45 hrs)
    Block 3 (short): 3.30 – 6.15 PM (2.45 hrs)
    Block 4 (long): 6.45 – 10.00 PM (3.15 hrs)

    Exam block 1 (morning) and block 4 (evening) amount to 2:45 hours. Exam blocks 2 and 3 (afternoon) have a length of 2.15 hours. This makes a distinction between short and long examinations.

  • Exam locations

    Most examinations are on our VU campus. 

    In regular exam weeks, there is not enough room at the campus to accommodate all pen&paper exams. Therefore, off-campus locations are arranged. Regular off-campus exam locations are RAI in Amsterdam, Emergohal in Amstelveen or VU Sports Centre at Uilenstede. 

    The DigiTent at the VU campus offers more than 500 digital exam spots. Digital exams are also held in regular classrooms (on VU laptops) and in computer rooms. For digital exams you will need your VUnetID and password. Make sure you know these in advance.

    Please make sure to check your exam schedule in advance! Is your exam planned in multiple rooms? Your teacher will probably have shared a room breakdown with you. You will have to take place in one of the planned rooms, which one this is will be shared via Canvas.

    During the 2023-2024 academic year, the VU campus square will be renovated. This can affect the accessibility of, among other things, the DigiTent. Before your exam, check the current state of affairs via the information about the campus square.

    Exams 18 - 22 December 2023

    In the week of 18 - 22 December, examinations will take place in the Emergohal in Amstelveen. Read more information about accessibility, etc.:

    Please note: Cancellation of Emergohal shuttle buses

    From academic year 2023/2024, shuttle buses from bus/tram stop Ouderkerkerlaan to Emergohal will no longer be in use. We advise you to take traffic and public transport into account; planning extra travel time if necessary.

  • Registration and deregistration deadlines

    Registration and deregistration for exams/resits is possible within the (de)registration deadlines for the period in which the course or exam takes place.

  • Examination regulations

    Specific rules of conduct and rules regarding fraud apply at off-campus examination locations such as RAI and Emergohall but also in the DigiTenT and computer rooms.

    If you arrive late for your exam, you will be accommodated to a waiting room. After 30 minutes, you will be admitted to the examination. By arriving late, you lose 30 minutes of exam time. If you are more than 30 minutes late (from the start of the examination), you will no longer be admitted.

    • Make sure to bring a valid ID to your examination. Participating in exams without an ID is possible. However, your grade will not be announced.
    • Toilet visits are permitted 1,5 hours into the exam.
    • Eating is not allowed during the exam; drinking is (bring a closable bottle).
    • Avoid bringing any valuable personal items (laptops, expensive jackets or bags). You are not permitted to have these at your desk.
    • Smartphones, watches with internet functions, etc. must be switched off and handed in before the exam. If you get caught with one of these devices, during your exam, it is considered fraud. 
    • If you need to visit the toilet, the invigilator will ask you to show that you don't have any devices. Contact with other students during toilet visits is strictly forbidden.
    • Students may be assigned a seat by the examination board. 
    • Students who didn't register for the exam cannot participate if the examination venues cannot accommodate you (for example, lack of space).
    • Please deregister for your exam if you are unable to attend (for example due to illness). 

  • Retake an exam

    Students get two exam opportunities per course each academic year. 

    • A resit cannot take place within ten working days after the results are announced.
    • You will be registered for a resit automatically if you have failed to pass the first exam. 
    • If you have registered for a resit but do not participate, a No Show will be registered. The previously obtained result will remain valid.
    • It is also possible to retake an exam or course, even if you passed it. Please note that in this case, the last obtained result will be valid, even if it is lower than the result of your first try.

    The registration process for retaking practicals, internships, or your thesis might differ from the standard procedures. You will find more information about this in your study or internship manual or the thesis arrangements of your study programme. 

    In exceptional circumstances, students are granted additional examination opportunities. Students must submit their request to the Examination Board of their programme. Please make sure to carefully read the explanation here. 

  • Examination facilities for disabled students

    Students with a disability can apply for arrangements and support through their academic advisor. If possible, you will sit exams at regular examination locations and not in a separate classroom. 

    During exams, the following facilities are available:

    • extra exam time (see 'Exam timetable' above);
    • additional toilet visits;
    • food, walking or administering medication;
    • use of a laptop;
    • use a quiet room.

    Please visit Studying with a disability for more information about these facilities.

  • Overlapping exams?

    Every effort is made to avoid exam schedule conflicts. If you are a student in a regular study programme, there should be no overlapping exams. However, sometimes conflicts occur when combining electives or retaking a course from a previous year. 

    The entity you have to contact about overlapping exams differs per faculty. For the process and rules at your faculty, please check the tab of the faculty at the bottom of this page. 

    TIP: As soon as your schedule has been published, please check on which day(s) and time(s) the (re)examinations of your courses are scheduled! For most faculties, you will have take action at least three weeks before your exam to make sure you will be able to sit both exams.

Examination regulations per faculty

The terms and conditions for exams may differ per faculty.

  • ACTA

    Students of the Faculty of Dentistry (ACTA) can find more information on ACTA.nl [in Dutch].

  • BETA

    You have two exams that overlap

    If you have registered for two exams that are organised at the same time, the following procedure applies: 

    • Report your exam schedule conflict to your student advisor, 3 week before your scheduled exams and ask for a solution.
    • Your student advisor decides if your request is reasonable; 
    • If your request is considered reasonable, your student advisor will try to arrange with the Beta Exam Office for you to sit both exams;
    • Beta Exam Office will inform you and your student advisor one week in advance. 

    The combined exam arrangement often follows:

    • You take exam 1; 
    • After completing exam 1, an invigilator accompanies you to Beta Exam Office;
    • Beta Exam Office will have organised an examination room and surveillance so you can sit your second exam (immediately following exam 1)

    * Every effort is made to avoid exams from overlapping. However, there is no guarantee that you will be able to sit both exams. Please note that in this situation students have to retake one of your exams. 

    Hardship clause

    If there’s no practical solution for your conflicting exam schedules, the Examination Board decides on facilitating another solution or not. 

    Copy of your exam

    You can request a copy of your exam, up to 20 days after the result of your written exam. Apply for a copy of your exam here. 

    Overview of teaching and (re)examination periods

    You can find an overview of the teaching and (re)examination periods 2022-2023 here.

    You can find an overview of the teaching and (re)examination periods 2023-2024 here.

    Please note: from the 'overview of teaching and (re)examination periods' no rights can be derived!

  • FBMS

    Protocol for overlapping exams

    It is possible that two of your exams/resits take place on the same day and time. The Examination Board will look for a suitable solution if both exams are for FGB courses. Please note: there is no guarantee that you will be able to take both exams. Take into account that you might have to take one of the two exams during the next exam opportunity.

    Submit the request to the Examination Board using the form no later than three weeks before the examination date. Requests that are submitted too late will not be processed! 

  • FRT

    Faculty Religion and Theology

    If you have registered for two exams that are organized at the same time, the following procedure applies: 

    • Are you enrolled in two study programmes at VU Amsterdam of which at least one is a study programme at the Faculty Religion and Theology, and the exams of both programmes fall on the same time? Then you will take the exam that is part of your main study on the scheduled time. For the other exam, we refer you to the resit.
    • Are you taking exams for electives that are both offered by the Faculty Religion and Theology? Then you can decide for yourself which exam you will take at the scheduled time, and for which exam you will take the resit. In case you fail for this resit, you can submit a request for an extra exam opportunity. You can make this request at the Examination Board no later than three weeks after the date of the resit. You can do this using this form:  Self-Service Portal - Additional examination opportunity (vu.nl)

    Please indicate in the form which course you wish to resit, including the course code and the day and time of the resit. The Examination Board will then inform you within 30 days of the solution chosen.

    Resit

    • Are you enrolled in two study programmes at VU Amsterdam of which at least one is a study programme at the Faculty Religion and Theology?  Then you will take the resit which is part of your main study on the scheduled time. For the other resit you can request an extra opportunity.
    • In the case of a resit of electives that are both offered by the Faculty Religion and Theology you can decide for yourself which resit you will take part in at the scheduled time, and for which resit you will request an extra opportunity. You can make this request at the Examination Board no later than three weeks after the date of the resit. You can do this using this form:  Self-Service Portal - Additional examination opportunity (vu.nl)

    Please indicate in the form which course it concerns, including the course code and the day and time of the resit. The Examination Board will then inform you within 30 days of the solution chosen.

    Examination rules

    Download the Examination Protocol

    Extra facilities

    If, as a student, you are entitled to extra facilities, the faculty will make an extra effort and incur costs to arrange these facilities for you. Do you wish not to make use of the extra facilities? Please let us know as soon as possible, but no later than one week before the examination. If you want to cancel an exam, you are urgently requested to do so at least one week before the start of the exam. You can do this at onderwijsbureau.frt@vu.nl or by phone at 020 5986618.

  • FSS

    Protocol for overlapping exams

    You may be scheduled to take two (re)exams at the same date and time. The Examination Board will look for an appropriate solution if:

    • Both exams are FSW courses or
    • You are enrolled in two study programmes at VU Amsterdam, and the exams of these programmes overlap. 

    In this situation, please contact the Examination Board no later than three weeks up to your scheduled exams. Contact the Examination Board by using the following form. 

    Please include the following information:

    • which subjects that are involved 
    • include code, date and time of (re)exams

    The Examination Board will inform you about the chosen arrangements. In most cases, you will have the opportunity to take both (re)exams one after the other.

    Testing Policy

    Read the FSW testing policy here.

  • HUM

    If you have registered for two exams that are organized at the same time, the following procedure applies: 

    • Are you enrolled in two study programmes at VU Amsterdam of which at least one is a study programme at the Faculty of Humanities, and the exams of both programmes fall on the same time? Then you will take the exam that is part of your main study on the scheduled time. For the other exam, we refer you to the resit.
    • Are you taking exams for electives that are both offered by the Faculty of Humanities? Then you can decide for yourself which exam you will take at the scheduled time, and for which exam you will take the resit. In case you fail for this resit, you can submit a request for an extra exam opportunity. You can make this request at the Examination Board no later than three weeks after the date of the resit. You can do this using this form:  Self-Service Portal - Additional examination opportunity (vu.nl)

    Please indicate in the form which course you wish to resit, including the course code and the day and time of the resit. The Examination Board will then inform you within 30 days of the solution chosen.

    Resit

    • Are you enrolled in two study programmes at VU Amsterdam of which at least one is a study programme at the Faculty of Humanities?  Then you will take the resit which is part of your main study on the scheduled time. For the other resit you can request an extra opportunity.
    • In the case of a resit of electives that are both offered by the Faculty of Humanities you can decide for yourself which resit you will take part in at the scheduled time, and for which resit you will request an extra opportunity. You can make this request at the Examination Board no later than three weeks after the date of the resit. You can do this using this form:  Self-Service Portal - Additional examination opportunity (vu.nl)

    Please indicate in the form which course it concerns, including the course code and the day and time of the resit. The Examination Board will then inform you within 30 days of the solution chosen.

    Examination rules

    Download the Examination Protocol

    Extra facilities

    If, as a student, you are entitled to extra facilities, the faculty will make an extra effort and incur costs to arrange these facilities for you. Do you wish not to make use of the extra facilities? Please let us know as soon as possible, but no later than one week before the examination. If you want to cancel an exam, you are urgently requested to do so at least one week before the start of the exam. You can do this at onderwijsbureau.fgw@vu.nl or by phone at 020 5986618.

  • LAW

    Do you have two exams that take place at the same time? Then we will refer you for one of the exams to the second opportunity. You can discuss with the study advisor which exam has priority for you. 

  • MED

    Regulations for registering and / or deregistering for (re) exams

    How do I register and how do I deregister for a resit? You can register or deregister for a (re) exam and (re) station test via a link in a CANVAS course under the heading modules / testing.

    Register in time. You can cancel a regular exam by sending an email to studentenbalie@vumc.nl.

    See the Regulations for registering and / or deregistering for (re) exams.

  • SBE

    Protocol for overlapping exams

    Do you have two exams at the same time? In some cases, you can apply for a combined exam arrangement. This allows you to do both exams, one after another. The combined exam arrangement only applies to SBE students with overlapping exams of two electives, both of which are either:

    • recommended within the programme or
    • a  compulsory course and a recommended elective

    In all other cases, requests will be rejected! 

    Apply 

    Send an email to your study secretariat to request a combined exam arrangement: studiesecretariaat.sbe@vu.nl

     Please include the following information:

    • name
    • student number
    • study programme
    • exams in question
    • exam date

     Applications for combined exam arrangements are accepted up three weeks before the exam date. Applications submitted later will not be accepted!

    Exam abroad

    SBE students can take one VU Amsterdam exam abroad, if the partner university can facilitate this. Please contact courses.exchange.sbe@vu.nl well before departure, if you want to use this option. You will receive a form that must be completed and signed by the partner university, declaring that it will use the correct examination method. The conditions are:

    • You must register for the relevant (re-sit) exam
    • You may take a maximum of one exam abroad
    • It must be possible to take the exam at exactly the same time as it is taken at VU Amsterdam. (Due to time difference, this will therefore not be possible in all countries).
    • The exam may only be taken at the university
    • The partner university will provide space and surveillance
    • These regulations only apply to SBE exams
    • The confirmation of the partner university must arrive at VU Amsterdam no later than 2 weeks before the exam

    Please contact courses.exchange.sbe@vu.nl for questions. 

Students of the Faculty of Dentistry (ACTA) can find more information on ACTA.nl [in Dutch].

You have two exams that overlap

If you have registered for two exams that are organised at the same time, the following procedure applies: 

  • Report your exam schedule conflict to your student advisor, 3 week before your scheduled exams and ask for a solution.
  • Your student advisor decides if your request is reasonable; 
  • If your request is considered reasonable, your student advisor will try to arrange with the Beta Exam Office for you to sit both exams;
  • Beta Exam Office will inform you and your student advisor one week in advance. 

The combined exam arrangement often follows:

  • You take exam 1; 
  • After completing exam 1, an invigilator accompanies you to Beta Exam Office;
  • Beta Exam Office will have organised an examination room and surveillance so you can sit your second exam (immediately following exam 1)

* Every effort is made to avoid exams from overlapping. However, there is no guarantee that you will be able to sit both exams. Please note that in this situation students have to retake one of your exams. 

Hardship clause

If there’s no practical solution for your conflicting exam schedules, the Examination Board decides on facilitating another solution or not. 

Copy of your exam

You can request a copy of your exam, up to 20 days after the result of your written exam. Apply for a copy of your exam here. 

Overview of teaching and (re)examination periods

You can find an overview of the teaching and (re)examination periods 2022-2023 here.

You can find an overview of the teaching and (re)examination periods 2023-2024 here.

Please note: from the 'overview of teaching and (re)examination periods' no rights can be derived!

Protocol for overlapping exams

It is possible that two of your exams/resits take place on the same day and time. The Examination Board will look for a suitable solution if both exams are for FGB courses. Please note: there is no guarantee that you will be able to take both exams. Take into account that you might have to take one of the two exams during the next exam opportunity.

Submit the request to the Examination Board using the form no later than three weeks before the examination date. Requests that are submitted too late will not be processed! 

Faculty Religion and Theology

If you have registered for two exams that are organized at the same time, the following procedure applies: 

  • Are you enrolled in two study programmes at VU Amsterdam of which at least one is a study programme at the Faculty Religion and Theology, and the exams of both programmes fall on the same time? Then you will take the exam that is part of your main study on the scheduled time. For the other exam, we refer you to the resit.
  • Are you taking exams for electives that are both offered by the Faculty Religion and Theology? Then you can decide for yourself which exam you will take at the scheduled time, and for which exam you will take the resit. In case you fail for this resit, you can submit a request for an extra exam opportunity. You can make this request at the Examination Board no later than three weeks after the date of the resit. You can do this using this form:  Self-Service Portal - Additional examination opportunity (vu.nl)

Please indicate in the form which course you wish to resit, including the course code and the day and time of the resit. The Examination Board will then inform you within 30 days of the solution chosen.

Resit

  • Are you enrolled in two study programmes at VU Amsterdam of which at least one is a study programme at the Faculty Religion and Theology?  Then you will take the resit which is part of your main study on the scheduled time. For the other resit you can request an extra opportunity.
  • In the case of a resit of electives that are both offered by the Faculty Religion and Theology you can decide for yourself which resit you will take part in at the scheduled time, and for which resit you will request an extra opportunity. You can make this request at the Examination Board no later than three weeks after the date of the resit. You can do this using this form:  Self-Service Portal - Additional examination opportunity (vu.nl)

Please indicate in the form which course it concerns, including the course code and the day and time of the resit. The Examination Board will then inform you within 30 days of the solution chosen.

Examination rules

Download the Examination Protocol

Extra facilities

If, as a student, you are entitled to extra facilities, the faculty will make an extra effort and incur costs to arrange these facilities for you. Do you wish not to make use of the extra facilities? Please let us know as soon as possible, but no later than one week before the examination. If you want to cancel an exam, you are urgently requested to do so at least one week before the start of the exam. You can do this at onderwijsbureau.frt@vu.nl or by phone at 020 5986618.

Protocol for overlapping exams

You may be scheduled to take two (re)exams at the same date and time. The Examination Board will look for an appropriate solution if:

  • Both exams are FSW courses or
  • You are enrolled in two study programmes at VU Amsterdam, and the exams of these programmes overlap. 

In this situation, please contact the Examination Board no later than three weeks up to your scheduled exams. Contact the Examination Board by using the following form. 

Please include the following information:

  • which subjects that are involved 
  • include code, date and time of (re)exams

The Examination Board will inform you about the chosen arrangements. In most cases, you will have the opportunity to take both (re)exams one after the other.

Testing Policy

Read the FSW testing policy here.

If you have registered for two exams that are organized at the same time, the following procedure applies: 

  • Are you enrolled in two study programmes at VU Amsterdam of which at least one is a study programme at the Faculty of Humanities, and the exams of both programmes fall on the same time? Then you will take the exam that is part of your main study on the scheduled time. For the other exam, we refer you to the resit.
  • Are you taking exams for electives that are both offered by the Faculty of Humanities? Then you can decide for yourself which exam you will take at the scheduled time, and for which exam you will take the resit. In case you fail for this resit, you can submit a request for an extra exam opportunity. You can make this request at the Examination Board no later than three weeks after the date of the resit. You can do this using this form:  Self-Service Portal - Additional examination opportunity (vu.nl)

Please indicate in the form which course you wish to resit, including the course code and the day and time of the resit. The Examination Board will then inform you within 30 days of the solution chosen.

Resit

  • Are you enrolled in two study programmes at VU Amsterdam of which at least one is a study programme at the Faculty of Humanities?  Then you will take the resit which is part of your main study on the scheduled time. For the other resit you can request an extra opportunity.
  • In the case of a resit of electives that are both offered by the Faculty of Humanities you can decide for yourself which resit you will take part in at the scheduled time, and for which resit you will request an extra opportunity. You can make this request at the Examination Board no later than three weeks after the date of the resit. You can do this using this form:  Self-Service Portal - Additional examination opportunity (vu.nl)

Please indicate in the form which course it concerns, including the course code and the day and time of the resit. The Examination Board will then inform you within 30 days of the solution chosen.

Examination rules

Download the Examination Protocol

Extra facilities

If, as a student, you are entitled to extra facilities, the faculty will make an extra effort and incur costs to arrange these facilities for you. Do you wish not to make use of the extra facilities? Please let us know as soon as possible, but no later than one week before the examination. If you want to cancel an exam, you are urgently requested to do so at least one week before the start of the exam. You can do this at onderwijsbureau.fgw@vu.nl or by phone at 020 5986618.

Do you have two exams that take place at the same time? Then we will refer you for one of the exams to the second opportunity. You can discuss with the study advisor which exam has priority for you. 

Regulations for registering and / or deregistering for (re) exams

How do I register and how do I deregister for a resit? You can register or deregister for a (re) exam and (re) station test via a link in a CANVAS course under the heading modules / testing.

Register in time. You can cancel a regular exam by sending an email to studentenbalie@vumc.nl.

See the Regulations for registering and / or deregistering for (re) exams.

Protocol for overlapping exams

Do you have two exams at the same time? In some cases, you can apply for a combined exam arrangement. This allows you to do both exams, one after another. The combined exam arrangement only applies to SBE students with overlapping exams of two electives, both of which are either:

  • recommended within the programme or
  • a  compulsory course and a recommended elective

In all other cases, requests will be rejected! 

Apply 

Send an email to your study secretariat to request a combined exam arrangement: studiesecretariaat.sbe@vu.nl

 Please include the following information:

  • name
  • student number
  • study programme
  • exams in question
  • exam date

 Applications for combined exam arrangements are accepted up three weeks before the exam date. Applications submitted later will not be accepted!

Exam abroad

SBE students can take one VU Amsterdam exam abroad, if the partner university can facilitate this. Please contact courses.exchange.sbe@vu.nl well before departure, if you want to use this option. You will receive a form that must be completed and signed by the partner university, declaring that it will use the correct examination method. The conditions are:

  • You must register for the relevant (re-sit) exam
  • You may take a maximum of one exam abroad
  • It must be possible to take the exam at exactly the same time as it is taken at VU Amsterdam. (Due to time difference, this will therefore not be possible in all countries).
  • The exam may only be taken at the university
  • The partner university will provide space and surveillance
  • These regulations only apply to SBE exams
  • The confirmation of the partner university must arrive at VU Amsterdam no later than 2 weeks before the exam

Please contact courses.exchange.sbe@vu.nl for questions. 

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