Abstract:

The COVID-19 pandemic has led to a significant increase in students enrolling in postgraduate programs. Online exams have become a common method for evaluating students' knowledge, both in fully remote courses and hybrid models. This article aims to analyze postgraduate students' perspectives on two types of exams: online and face-to-face. The study focuses on assessing remote exams, identifying factors that influence students' preferences for a particular format, and exploring their decisions regarding postgraduate program choices. A survey-based study was conducted to collect data on students' perceptions of different examination formats. A large majority of respondents (74.1%) preferred the hybrid model. The most frequently mentioned advantages included the elimination of the need to commute to campus (88.9%), increased comfort from using personal equipment (81.5%), and a better ability to balance exams with professional responsibilities (70.4%). Most respondents (57.7%) considered online and in-person exams equally reliable. The main challenges of online exams involved organizational and logistical issues related to exam administration, while organizational and psychological factors appeared less significant. The findings provide a foundation for discussions on how to organize examinations in higher education programs. This analysis can also serve as a guideline for universities developing assessment systems that meet the needs of today's students.