Studieportaler

Exam appeal

Before you file an appeal

If, after an exam, you feel you have been treated unfairly, you may consider submitting an examination appeal.

Before doing so, you should clarify what you want to achieve by filing a complaint.

Request a detailed assessment from the examiner

If you are considering appealing the assessment of your exam, it may be a good idea to ask the examiner for a more detailed evaluation of your work before submitting an appeal.

Your examiner can help clarify what aspects were emphasized in the assessment.

However, you should be aware that the examiner is not obliged to provide feedback before the complaint deadline.
 

Write things down while your memory is clear

If you have taken an oral exam, it is a good idea to write down everything you can remember as soon as possible.

It is also advisable to keep any notes from your preparation time prior to the oral evaluation.

Grounds for appeal

You may submit an appeal about the following aspects of an exam:

  • The basis of the examination (questions, assignments, etc.)
  • The conduct of the exam (how it was carried out)
  • The assessment (the grade)
  • Legal issues (violations of study regulations, executive orders or laws)
  • Errors or deficiencies related to the exam (noise disturbances or errors in the exam paper)

You cannot file a complaint about supervision and/or teaching in an exam complaint. Issues of this kind should instead be addressed in course evaluations or raised with the head of studies for your programme.

How to appeal an examination

Submit your examination appeal here.
 

Justification

It is recommended that you provide a justification for your appeal. This improves your chances of success if it is clear what you are complaining about and why.

It may be helpful to review any marking guidelines and the learning objectives for your course when writing your justification.
 

Deadline

Your appeal must be submitted no later than 2 weeks after the assessment has been published.

  • For oral exams: the deadline runs from the day you take the exam and receive your grade.
  • For written exams: the deadline runs from the day the assessment is published, but not earlier than the announced publication date in the exam schedule.

Processing an exam complaint typically takes 2–3 months (July is not included).
 

You are allowed to take a re-examination while your appeal is being processed.

You have the right to continue your studies while your appeal is being processed, including taking a re-exam if you failed.

You do not need to wait for the outcome of your appeal before taking a re-exam.

If the appeal results in a better outcome than the re-examination, the higher grade will be the one that counts.

What can you achieve with an appeal?

Aarhus University decides the outcome of exam appeals. 

Possible outcomes include:

  • An offer of reassessment, only for written exams
  • An offer of a new exam (re-examination)
  • A combination of the above (for exams with both written and oral components, where the complaint is only partially upheld)

or

  • The appeal is rejected

You should be aware that reassessment or a new exam may result in a lower grade, and you cannot appeal the new grade.

If your complaint concerns the examiners (for example regarding the assessment or the conduct of the exam), the decision will be based on statements from the examiners, which you will also have the opportunity to comment on.

Complaints about exams are handled according to Chapter 8 of the Ministerial Order on Examinations and Tests in University Programmes, which can be read in full here.

Contact

Revideret 06.05.2026
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Health Studieservice