Examinations and assessments

Overview

How students are assessed

The Board of Studies and University Life (Commission de la formation et de la vie universitaire – CFVU) sets out and approves the procedures for examinations and assessments before the end of the first teaching month. The university then publishes these procedures, specifying the number of assessments students can expect, as well as the type, duration, weighting and format of each assessment, including whether it is a continuous assessment, a final examination or requires formal attendance.

Students are assessed in two ways:

Continuous assessment (contrôle continu) – students obtain marks through assignments, practical work, seminars and other taught sessions throughout the semester
Semester examinations (partiels) – these are held at the end of each semester to review students’ knowledge and progress

Some courses use a combination of continuous assessment and examinations, while others use a single assessment method.

Teaching methods

Lectures

Lectures (cours magistraux – CM) are usually theoretical sessions that introduce the main ideas and concepts of a subject. They are delivered to the entire cohort at once.

Seminars

Seminars (travaux dirigés – TD) are smaller group sessions where students explore the ideas and concepts introduced in lectures in more detail. Students can practise applying the methods needed for examinations and ask questions in a more interactive setting.

Practical sessions

Practical sessions (travaux pratiques – TP) are smaller, hands-on group sessions where students apply lecture concepts through experiments, lab work or other practical activities. They focus on developing practical skills rather than discussion or theory.

Combined lecture and practical sessions

Combined lecture and practical sessions (cours intégrés – CI) mix theoretical explanations with hands-on exercises, helping students understand concepts through practice.

General rules for examinations and assessments

The general rules for examinations and competitive assessments are based on the regulations governing national diplomas, exams and competitions. They apply to all programmes at the University of Strasbourg and must be followed by everyone in the university community, including students, teaching staff and administrative staff.

These rules are designed to:

Ensure assessments are fair, transparent and clearly communicated to students
Clarify the roles and responsibilities of examination boards
Provide teaching and administrative staff with a framework and support for planning and conducting assessments

Read the general rules for examinations and competitive assessments

General rules for assessing Bachelor's and Master's students

The general rules for assessing Bachelor’s and Master’s students cover how students are evaluated, how they progress from one stage to the next, how credits can be compensated or carried forward, as well as attendance expectations. These rules also serve as a reference point for each programme’s specific assessment methods, and any programme wishing to deviate from them must provide a justification.

Course-specific rules

Each course implements the general rules and adapts them within regulatory limits, including specific exceptions and practical details. In a table, the specific course will also specify the number of assessments students can expect, as well as the type, duration, weighting and format of each assessment, and the weighting of the teaching units (unités d'enseignement – UE) and topics specific to each course. Together, the rules and the table provide the complete framework for assessment in each course.

You can find assessment information for your specific course in the Documents section of the University of Strasbourg Course Catalogue.

Elective courses

Many programmes allow students to take a few courses outside their main field of study to explore other disciplines. These elective courses (unités d’enseignement – UE libres) help students build on their main area of study, gain insights from other fields and open doors in case they want to change direction. Assessment details for each elective course are listed on the module page of the University of Strasbourg Course Catalogue.

Go to the elective course descriptions in the University of Strasbourg Course Catalogue