It is a necessary prerequisite for a successful completion of studies at TU Dresden, that all examinations as defined by the examination regulations of the course of study have been successfully passed. Each course of study comprises several module examinations as well as a final examination, frequently with a defence or a colloquium. Each failed module examination can be repeated up to two times. Typical types of examinations are e.g. written exams ("Klausurarbeiten"), oral exams ("mündliche Prüfungsleistungen"), seminar papers ("Seminararbeiten") and presentations ("Referate").

The admission to an examination can be subject to requirements (e.g. so-called “Prüfungsvorleistungen” i.e. prerequisites for admission to the written examination). A timely registration for the examination is necessary in all cases. After the registration, many examination regulations provide the option of deregistering within a certain period of time, without giving any reasons. The deadlines for registration and deregistration are specified for each course of study by the corresponding Examination Board. Once the deadline for deregistration has expired, the registration for the examination is binding and in case of non-attendance it will be marked as “failed”. Only if the student provides valid and credible reasons (e.g. proof of acute illness), can the Examination Board deem the non-attendance a withdrawal from examination. In that case, a new date for this examination shall be set.

The principles of the examination procedure and further information (deadlines, assessment, credits, free attempt “Freiversuch” etc.) are listed in the examination regulations of the course of study in question. The module descriptions (Annex to the study regulations) detail all necessary examinations and prerequisites for each module and explain how the module grade is calculated.

TU Dresden does not have a central examination office. The examination administration is done by the individual, decentralised examination offices.