The authors, in the theoretical part of the paper, define and explain the concept of emotional competence, as well as skills that should be developed and strengthened within the mentioned concept. Also, the importance of emotional competence in exam situations for the academic success of students has been presented, which is supported by the presentation of research related to this topic. The aim of the study was to examine whether students with different academic achievement and from different study programs showed different levels of emotional competence in exam situations. The research was conducted on a sample of 115 students from the Faculty of Philosophy, University of East Sarajevo. The paper presents the results of examining the differences in the development of emotional competence in exam situations in students with different academic achievement and the results of examining the differences in the development of emotional competence in students in exam situations depending on the study program they study. The findings show that there are no differences in the development of emotional competence in exam situations in students with different academic achievement, but there are differences when it comes to the development of emotional competence in exam situations depending on the study program that students' study. This research is a contribution to a better understanding of students' emotional competencies in exam situations and may have practical implications in terms of understanding the importance of improving the emotional sphere in all study programs by expanding study objectives so that they include developing of students' emotional competencies.