20 May 2026

From September 2026, Leiden University will work with a central service for exams delivered at the USC and in the Spui building: the Central Exam Service (CTS). Whereas exam logistics are currently organised separately by each faculty, this will be centralised within the CTS.

What will the CTS do?

The CTS will be responsible for organising and delivering exams at the large exam venues (the USC in Leiden and the Spui building in The Hague, together accommodating 1,800 candidates). As a result, it will handle around two-thirds of all exam sittings.

The CTS will serve as a central point of contact for all matters relating to exams at the USC and Spui, such as:

• Allocation of rooms and timetabling for exam venues
• Deployment and briefing of invigilators
• Logistics relating to paper-based and digital assessment, including Chromebook management
• Provision of a service desk for questions and issues before and during exams
• Appointment of venue managers responsible for exam administration.

Why a centralised approach?

By organising exam logistics through a single central service at the University Services Department (UFB) rather than at the faculty level, we will ensure that exam conditions are the same for all students. This will make timetabling for the exam venues more efficient and provide a clearer overview of the available capacity and resources, such as Chromebooks.

‘A large part of the logistical work involved in exams is already handled by the UFB. By further expanding this through the CTS, we will prevent fragmentation and ensure clarity, quality and efficiency’, said Rogier de Bruin, UFB Director.

What will change for the faculties?

Faculties will remain responsible for the content and assessment of exams, as well as for communication with students, while the CTS will take over responsibility for the logistical processes. This will help reduce the workload of faculty teams.

Close cooperation between the faculties and the CTS will remain essential to ensure quality and effective operation. Faculties will also remain responsible for exams held at their own faculty locations.

What is the timeline?

The CTS will be implemented in phases. Central timetabling for exam venues has already begun, and from 1 September onwards, the CTS will start providing its services where possible. From that point, the CTS will be present during exams at the USC and in the Spui building, and you will be able to contact the venue managers and the CTS service desk.

Services will be expanded during the academic year in close consultation with the relevant teams and HR to ensure a smooth transition.

Contact

For questions or comments, please contact Robert van ’t Sant, CTS project leader.