Nachtermine

Nachtermine is a term used in German-speaking education to describe a later examination date offered after the standard exam date. It serves as a make-up or retake opportunity for students who were unable to take the original exam or who did not achieve a passing grade. The availability and rules governing Nachtermine are determined by the institution’s examination regulations and can vary between universities, schools, and cantons.

Typically, a student must apply to the examination office or the appropriate committee, providing justification such as illness, accident, or compassionate grounds. Medical certificates or other documentation may be required. There are deadlines for requesting a Nachtermin, and some institutions limit the number of opportunities within a term or academic year. Certain modules or courses may not offer a Nachtermin, or they may require passing an interim assignment or completing a remedial course.

During a Nachtermin, the examination is scheduled on a later date; the form of the exam may be the same or adapted, depending on the program rules. The result is typically either added to the student’s record as the final mark or used as the basis for the final grade if the institution allows the better result to count. The precise handling varies: some schools permit only one Nachtermin per exam component; others count it as a new attempt that may be subject to the same pass/fail standards.

Terminology: In German-speaking contexts, Nachtermin is common; Nachholtermin and Nachprüfung are used as synonyms in some regions. In Austria and Switzerland, the term is widely used in education; outside this context, late or make-up deadlines may be referred to as such in project management or administrative procedures. See also: Nachholtermin, Nachprüfung.