The lecture is a teaching method whereby the lecturer makes an oral presentation to a large number of students. Lectures are usually given by a single lecturer or professor; in a few courses, lectures are presented by several lecturers in turn. Lectures often involve an in-depth presentation of one or more topics from the course materials, or an introduction to the materials that will be dealt with in that week’s tutorials. In general, attendance is not required, but note that lectures are only meant to be attended by students registered for the course.

Some lectures serve a specific purpose; they might give a summary overview of the materials, go into a particular topic in greater depth, or highlight examples from actual practice. These lectures are then referred to as (for instance) summary lectures, in-depth lectures, or guest lectures.

Most master’s courses offer tutorials. Tutorials generally have no more than 30 students and provide an opportunity to actively work on the materials in smaller groups. Students are expected to prepare for and actively participate in tutorials. Attendance can be obligatory. The Course Catalogue for each course states what is expected of tutorial group participants and the consequences of (a lack of) active participation.

The way tutorial groups are organised can vary. The course descriptions in the Course Catalogue indicate what is expected of the participants in that course’s tutorial groups.

Please also refer to the Teaching and Examination Regulations for the Master’s programme.

The seminar is a teaching method usually encountered in Master’s programmes. Group size is generally greater than in a tutorial, but there is more interaction than at a lecture. In some courses, seminars are considered to be the equivalent of large tutorial groups. Consult the Course Catalogue for more information.

Do you want to sit an examination without attending the tutorials? If so, register for the TGOW tutorial option. If you are registered for the TGOW tutorial you will automatically be granted access to Canvas and you will also be automatically registered for the exam and the resit. You can join the lectures as well if the course offers separate lectures next to the tutorials.

Please note that not all courses offer the possibility to participate in the exam without attending the course. Check the Course Catalogue to see if this applies to the course for which you want to take the exam.

You can register for the TGOW tutorial the same way as you register for any other tutorial on uva.nl/courseregistration. Registration is possible until the day of the resit.