State Final Exam
The state final exam represents the formal end of the given degree of study. It consists of the defense of the final thesis and an oral examination.
Detailed information is provided by the Directive No. A/S/961/6/2021 – Qualification Theses and Execution of State Final Examinations in Bachelor and Master Study Programmes (in the documents below).
For more advice and tips from a student perspective, see the Freshman Guide.
Bachelor State Final Exam
In order to take the SFE exam, you must fulfil all study obligations:
- Submit a bachelor's thesis and receive a Course Credit for it.
- Complete the study plan and at the same time obtain min. 180 ECTS for the entire bachelor's studies, including 4 ECTS / 2 ECTS (SoB) for physical education.
- Apply in SIS for a check of study obligations before the final state exam.
* Some study programmes do not have enough compulsory and compulsory elective subjects in their study plan to earn the 180 ECTS required in six semesters. Check this and, if necessary, enroll in an elective subject in good time (you can find out where to look for interesting elective subjects here).
What to do if you are unable to complete everything according to your study plan? You can find the answer and help here.
TIP! If you want your maiden name to appear on your diploma, you must request this before your final examinations. For more information, see I'm nearing the end – What to do after your final examinations.
First, you will be invited to present your bachelor's thesis in the form of a presentation. After reading your supervisor's evaluation, an open discussion follows, where the members of the committee ask questions about the bachelor's thesis.
After the discussion about the thesis, the examination of the individual topics starts. Each member of the committee examines one topic, and the others can ask additional questions.
Each topic is then separately assessed with a grade, just like the thesis. The final grade from the SFE is the average of these partial grades. You will know the results on the same day (depending on the committee: either immediately after the examination, or after the morning/afternoon block, or at the end of the day).
The entire SFE usually lasts one hour.
Registration for the final state examination takes place in SIS. You can find out the dates and any further information from your study advisor or department, please check your university e-mail carefully.
You will receive an official invitation to the State final exams together with the Thesis Report about a week before the chosen date of the SFE.
Bachelor's exams usually take place in two periods, in June and August (see Studying – Organization of the Academic Year). The particular date of the SFE of your study program is determined by the secretary of your department or the dean's office within the period of the state examination.
You choose the period (June/August) in which you want to take the exam – based on your fulfilment of the prescribed obligations and when you plan to submit your bachelor's thesis.
TIP! Registration for the first state examination date is before the deadline for submitting your bachelor's thesis and fulfilling your obligations. You may find that you are unable to complete everything in time – in this case, you can deregister, or you will be removed from the list (if you do not meet the conditions).
Bachelor’s SFE consist of 3 areas which are listed on the faculty’s webpage
- FCHT – SFE topics
- FTOP – SFE topics or here
- FPBT – SFE topics
- FCHI – SFE topics
- SoB – contact the International Programs Assistant
If you fail any part of the SFE, you must repeat the exam. You repeat just the area that you failed. If you failed the thesis defence, you can repeat just the defence (not the exam as a whole). If you fail the SFE, your studies might be interrupted (see Study and examination rules).
The August term of the SFE is intended for students who did not manage to fulfil the prescribed obligations and hand in the final thesis on time or did not pass some parts of the SFE in the June term. It is necessary to inform the dean's office/study department on time about the interest in the August term, or to withdraw from the first June term.
If you take the SFE in August, it is possible to submit the diploma/proof of completion of the bachelor's degree for the admission procedure for the master's degree after completion of the SFE.
Master Final State Exam
To enter the last semester of your master’s studies, you must have completed all compulsory and compulsory elective courses from previous semesters and earned at least 90 ECTS by the end of the 3rd semester.
If you do not meet this requirement, you will be assigned an exceptional study plan, which may even lead to extending your studies by one year—so pay attention to this (see information on extending studies*).
In order to take the SFE exam, you must fulfil all study obligations:
- Submit a diploma thesis and receive course-credit for it.
- Complete the study plan, and at the same time obtain min. 120 ECTS for the entire master's studies.
- To fulfil the mandatory internship (you can find out in your study plan if it is mandatory in your study programme).
- Apply in SIS for a check of study obligations before the SFE.
Tip! If you would like your maiden name to appear on your diploma, you must request this before the final exam.
* Extending your master’s studies by one year (for example, due to Erasmus) is not a failure. It can give you more time to deepen your knowledge, explore extracurricular activities, or gain work experience. However, it also comes with compromises: it must be agreed upon with the dean’s office/study department, and it may involve financial costs.
Master's state exams usually take place in June. The dates are governed by the current decree of the Organization of the academic year (see Studying – Organization of the Academic year). The particular date of the SFE of your study program is determined by the secretary of your department or the study office within the period of the state examination.
In the event of a sudden situation that would prevent the completion of the SFE in the June term, a postponement can be arranged. The alternative date is usually in August, but this date is not mandatory, and the situation is always solved individually. Check with your study officer, it is important to deal with the problems and search for a solution on time.
You can register for the Master's final examination and thesis defence in SIS, according to the instructions from the Study Department (sent by e-mail, around mid-April). In SIS, it may also be necessary to register for the second term.
If you have any questions or problems with the assigned term, please contact the department where you are writing your thesis.
First, you will be invited to present your master's thesis. After reading your supervisor's and opponent's evaluations and ratings, their questions will follow. You will receive the questions in advance together with the evaluation and you are obliged to prepare written answers. You will hand the answers to the committee before the start of the SFE. The questions will be read, you will answer them in your own words and a free discussion about the diploma thesis will follow.
After the discussion about the thesis, the examination of the individual topics starts. Each member of the committee examines one topic, and the others can ask additional questions.
Each topic is then separately assessed with a grade, just like the thesis itself. The final grade from the SFE is the average of these partial grades. You will know the results on the same day (depending on the committee, either immediately after the examination, after the morning/afternoon block, or at the end of the day).
The entire SFE usually lasts one hour and a half.
TIP! You are most likely the only person in the room who understands the topic of your thesis in detail. Your lecturers are more familiar with it on a theoretical level, which is why they are REALLY interested in what you actually did and want to understand it. When they ask questions, they don't just want to hear that they are right, but they will be happy to see that you know what you researched and why. So don't be afraid to discuss and argue. But always with humility and without arrogance.
Master’s SFE consist of 4 areas which are listed on the faculty’s webpage
- FCHT – SEE topics
- FET – SEE topics
- FPBT – SEE topics
- FCHI – SEE topics
- SoB – contact the International Programs Assistant
If you fail any part of the SFE, you must repeat the exam. Just the area that you failed is repeated, or the thesis defence can be repeated (not the exam as a whole). If you fail the SFE, your studies might be interrupted (see Study and examination rules).
How to Prepare for the State Exam
It is best to discuss the content of your presentation with your supervisor. Since the defence is the first part of the exam, take your time preparing it and practice it in advance (with classmates, your supervisor etc.) to make a strong first impression.
TIP! To create a professional UCT-style presentation, use the templates available in e-learning under “Presentation Templates” or on the intranet (poster templates are also provided).
- Start from the end. Before preparing your slides, think about the answers to: “What do I want to say?”, “Why is it important?”, and “What should the audience remember?”. Start from the last point and build your story so that someone unfamiliar with the topic can understand it. Follow the structure of your thesis (Introduction, Theory, Results, Conclusion).
- Learn the essentials. Prepare how to start your talk (simply reading the title is not enough) and key sentences for each slide. Plan smooth transitions between slides and remember a strong final summary to “wrap up” the story. Avoid memorizing the presentation word-for-word—it doesn’t sound natural and can increase stress if you forget something.
- Speak loudly. Practice your presentation out loud several times. This will help you find phrases that are easier to say and improve your confidence. Using a timer helps ensure you stay within the time limit.
- Remember: the audience is on your side. They are interested in your story, not judging you personally. You are the vehicle that makes your research engaging and understandable. Treat it like performing in a theatre: they want you to succeed.
- Breathe. Practice deep nasal breathing several times a day. It helps you relax, manage stress, and maintain a steady breathing pattern during your presentation. Never forget to breathe—it keeps your voice strong and reduces tension.
TIP! Participating in the Student Scientific Conference is an excellent way to practice presenting in front of an audience, allowing you to fine-tune your performance before the state exam.
Tips from senior students:
- Focus on the basics first. You won’t have time for very detailed answers during the exam.
- Create a study system and routine: avoid jumping between topics, get enough sleep, eat well, and exercise.
- Avoid burnout. Don’t try to study non-stop for days. If you struggle, change your environment or study with friends.
- Study all materials evenly, so you don’t master the beginning but run out of energy for later chapters.
For efficient preparation, explore study methods and apps available in e-learning under Learning, Mental Wellbeing, Life Management.
Tip! Check the composition of your exam committee and their specializations in advance. Members often ask questions related to their field of expertise.
What to Do After the State Exam
After completing your bachelor's or master's degree, you need to keep an eye on the validity of your student status, various discounts associated with it, or social security and health insurance contributions.
A complete guide to post-exam steps is available in the section “Approaching Graduation – What to Do After the State Exam.”