Szigorlattal

Szigorlattal is the instrumental case form of the Hungarian noun szigorlat, which denotes a state or final examination in many Hungarian higher education institutions. The szigorlat is a rigorous assessment historically used to determine whether a student may proceed to graduation and receive a degree. In contemporary contexts, the precise role and structure of the szigorlat vary by institution and field of study, with some curricula incorporating it as part of a broader záróvizsga process and others using different final-examination arrangements.

The term is typically used to describe actions or circumstances connected with the final examination. For example, a sentence such as a student “szigorlattal szerzett diplomát” translates to “the student earned the diploma with the final examination,” indicating that the final exam was a key component of the degree conferment. The instrumental form is also found in phrases like “szigorlatval zárta a tanulmányait,” indicating that studies were concluded with the szigorlat.

Grammatically, szigorlat is a masculine noun, and szigorlattal is its instrumental case. The instrumental case is used to express means, manner, or accompaniment, roughly corresponding to “with the final exam” in English. The word’s use reflects a traditional structure of degree completion in which the final examination plays a central role.

Etymologically, szigorlat is believed to derive from szigor (strictness) with the suffix -lat, forming a noun for a formal examination; the instrumental suffix -val/-vel yields szigorlattal. This form is still encountered in academic discourse in Hungary.