Attendance
Taking the examination is voluntary. Course participants may register for the examination on the first day of the sixth weekend phase. On this date, half of the total number of reports shall have been delivered. The second half of the reports shall be delivered together with the written draft of the practical teaching session and the topic for the discussion, 14 days before the start of the examination.
 
Admission
Prerequisites for the admission to the diploma examination are the regular participation in all seminar activities, the weekly report on the practical work, the proper preparation of the seminar paper and its delivery in due course, and the receipt of the examination fee that falls due on the date of registration for the examination.
 
Diploma Examination
Please read the individual conditions of entry.
 
Delivery of Seminar Paper
The seminar paper shall be typed in duplicate. It shall normally comprise approximately 20 pages. The seminar paper shall be posted by registered letter with the date stamp not later than 30 August. One copy shall be posted to the lecturer of the major subject and another copy to the Institute.
 
Assessment Criteria
Seminar paper, practical examination, colloquium:

• Degree of analysis
• Degree of clarity (central theme, examples, references, quotations, conducting the discussion in the practical section)
• Logical structure
• Degree of creativity
• Degree of target-group orientation (e. g. conducting the discussion)

Each criterion will be assessed with a maximum score of 10 points. The cross total then makes up the overall mark.
 
Points Rating for Examination Results

• 50-45 very good
• 44-39 good
• 38-32 fair
• 31-25 satisfactory
• 24-0 inadequate

If an "inadequate" is given in one subject, then the entire examination will be regarded as "not passed".
 
Withdrawal from Examination
If a course participant does not attend any one part of the examination or not deliver the seminar paper in due course, the examination will be regarded as not passed. In the event of sickness a medical excemption certificate shall be duly submitted. The examination can then be repeated at a later date, as required (see below).
 
Retaking the Examination
The examination may be repeated once, if another seminar with examinations takes place. Attendance at this seminar will be optional but not free of charge. The retaking of the examination will be charged for.
 
Equivalence of the Diploma
The diploma, which will be awarded after an examination has been passed, is comparable with a Montessori diploma, in terms of effort, difficulty and volume of work. To avoid any misunderstanding: Our seminars are not Montessori courses, and we do not teach any specific Montessori educational methods either. The diploma that will be awarded is not comparable with a higher-education diploma because the seminar topics are not offered at German institutions of higher education for training purposes with the same goals.

The diplomas of the seminars "Pre-school Teachers at Schools of Music and Art" and "Early Musical Education in the Musical Society" are regarded as a qualification to teach, by several private institutes, societies as well as private and public schools of music, However, there is no such entitlement.