diff --git a/.github/pull_request_template.md b/.github/pull_request_template.md
index 76bd0bfef..b4187f16e 100644
--- a/.github/pull_request_template.md
+++ b/.github/pull_request_template.md
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ For new tutorials or tutorial cases:
 - [ ] I followed the [tutorial folder structure](https://precice.org/community-contribute-to-precice.html#contributing-tutorials)
 - [ ] I added/updated the tutorial `README.md`
 - [ ] I added/updated the tutorial `metadata.yaml`
-- [ ] I added tests in `tools/tests/tests.yaml`
+- [ ] I added tests in `tests/tests.yaml`
 - [ ] I submitted a pull request to the website with:
    - An entry in [`_config.yaml`](https://github.com/precice/precice.github.io/blob/master/_config.yml)
    - A [sidebar entry](https://github.com/precice/precice.github.io/blob/master/_data/sidebars/tutorial_sidebar.yml)
diff --git a/.github/workflows/generate-reference-results.yml b/.github/workflows/generate-reference-results.yml
index 6d94b8b6a..ac7e0d1a1 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/generate-reference-results.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/generate-reference-results.yml
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ jobs:
         rm -rf ./*
         rm -rf ./.??*
         ls -la ./
-    - name: Check out Tutorials for the system tests (tools/tests/)
+    - name: Check out Tutorials for the system tests (tests/)
       uses: actions/checkout@v7
       with:
         ref: ${{ inputs.from_ref }}
@@ -71,7 +71,7 @@ jobs:
         fetch-depth: 0
     - name: Install Python dependencies
       run: |
-        pip install --user -r tools/tests/requirements.txt
+        pip install --user -r tests/requirements.txt
     - name: Cleanup Docker cache
       if: ${{  inputs.clean_docker == 'TRUE' }}
       # Remove all Docker containers, images, and build caches
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ jobs:
         docker system prune --all --force
     - name: Run tests
       run: |
-        cd tools/tests
+        cd tests
         SUITES_ARGS=()
         if [ -n "${{ inputs.suites }}" ]; then
           SUITES_ARGS+=(--suites "${{ inputs.suites }}")
diff --git a/.github/workflows/system-tests.yml b/.github/workflows/system-tests.yml
index 2105aea44..42983d7c3 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/system-tests.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/system-tests.yml
@@ -29,10 +29,10 @@ jobs:
       run: |
         echo "Initiated by: ${{ github.actor }}"
         echo "Test suites: ${{ inputs.suites}}"
-        echo "System tests branch (tools/): ${{ inputs.system_tests_branch }}"
+        echo "System tests branch (tests/): ${{ inputs.system_tests_branch }}"
         echo "System tests log level: ${{ inputs.log_level }}"
         echo "Uploading the runs folder on success: ${{ inputs.upload_artifacts }}"
-        echo "Running the following command inside tutorials/tools/tests/:"
+        echo "Running the following command inside tutorials/tests/:"
         echo "python3 systemtests.py --build_args=${{inputs.build_args}} --suites=${{ inputs.suites}}"
         echo "All workflow inputs: ${{ toJSON(github.event.inputs) }}"
     - name: Prepare the Markdown step summary
@@ -41,11 +41,11 @@ jobs:
           echo "Job inputs:"
           echo "- Initiated by: @${{ github.actor }}"
           echo "- Test suites: \`${{ inputs.suites}}\`"
-          echo "- System tests branch (\`tools/\`): [\`${{ inputs.system_tests_branch }}\`](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/tree/${{ inputs.system_tests_branch }})"
+          echo "- System tests branch (\`tests/\`): [\`${{ inputs.system_tests_branch }}\`](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/tree/${{ inputs.system_tests_branch }})"
           echo "- System tests log level: \`${{ inputs.log_level }}\`"
           echo "- Uploading the runs folder on success: \`${{ inputs.upload_artifacts }}\`"
           echo ""
-          echo "Running the following command inside \`tutorials/tools/tests/\`:"
+          echo "Running the following command inside \`tutorials/tests/\`:"
           echo "\`\`\`"
           echo "python3 systemtests.py --build_args=${{inputs.build_args}} --suites=${{ inputs.suites}}"
           echo "\`\`\`"
@@ -63,7 +63,7 @@ jobs:
         rm -rf ./*
         rm -rf ./.??*
         ls -la ./
-    - name: Check out Tutorials for the system tests (tools/tests/)
+    - name: Check out Tutorials for the system tests (tests/)
       uses: actions/checkout@v7
       with:
         repository: precice/tutorials
@@ -75,10 +75,10 @@ jobs:
         /home/precice/runners_root/scripts/map_origin_to_local.sh ./
     - name: Install Python dependencies
       run: |
-        pip install --user -r tools/tests/requirements.txt
+        pip install --user -r tests/requirements.txt
     - name: Run tests
       run: |
-        cd tools/tests
+        cd tests
         python systemtests.py --build_args=${{ inputs.build_args}} --suites=${{ inputs.suites}} --log_level=${{ inputs.log_level}}
         cd ../../
     - name: Archive system test logs
diff --git a/tools/tests/README.md b/tests/README.md
similarity index 95%
rename from tools/tests/README.md
rename to tests/README.md
index cb6ebd129..d570d235b 100644
--- a/tools/tests/README.md
+++ b/tests/README.md
@@ -20,7 +20,7 @@ The [System tests (manual)](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/actions/workflo
 
 On the workflow page, click `Run workflow`. The default values will execute the `release` test suite using the latest `develop` branches of every component. If you want to override the version of some component, specify it in the respective field. Commit hashes, branches, and tags are all accepted. Branches and tags will get automatically resolved to their current commit on GitHub before starting any test, and all tests will use the same version of any common component.
 
-The available test suites are found in [`tests.yaml`](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/blob/develop/tools/tests/tests.yaml) and common values are:
+The available test suites are found in [`tests.yaml`](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/blob/develop/tests/tests.yaml) and common values are:
 
 - `quickstart`, `elastic-tube-1d`, or any other tutorial (see [exceptions](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/issues/448))
 - `openfoam-adapter`, `micro-manager`, `fmi-runner`, or similar test cases involving the respective component
@@ -53,13 +53,13 @@ More arguments are available, for example:
 gh workflow run system-tests-manual.yml -f suites=release -f build_args="PLATFORM:ubuntu2404,PRECICE_REF:develop" -f log_level="DEBUG" --ref=develop
 ```
 
-The `build_args` override the defaults set in `tools/tests/components.yaml`.
+The `build_args` override the defaults set in `tests/components.yaml`.
 
 ### Running locally
 
 To run locally, you will need Docker, Docker Compose, and Python 3.
 
-Navigate into the directory `tools/tests/` of the tutorials, make a Python virtual environment, and install the dependencies:
+Navigate into the directory `tests/` of the tutorials, make a Python virtual environment, and install the dependencies:
 
 ```bash
 python -m venv .venv && source .venv/bin/activate
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ When the tests fail at the results comparison step, this typically means that th
 - `diff-results/`: Numerical difference of the results in the two directories (computed with `fieldcompare dir --diff precice-exports/ reference/`). These are only present on failed comparisons.
 - `iterations-logs/`: The `precice-*-iterations.log` files of the test run. Only present in test cases using implicit coupling. The comparisons to references only take into account the file SHA-256 checksums.
 
-To reproduce the comparison locally, use the [same fieldcompare command](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/blob/develop/tools/tests/docker-compose.field_compare.template.yaml):
+To reproduce the comparison locally, use the [same fieldcompare command](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/blob/develop/tests/docker-compose.field_compare.template.yaml):
 
 ```bash
 fieldcompare dir \
@@ -130,7 +130,7 @@ When a system test fails in CI, download the **full** artifact:
 
 ```text
 runs/
-├── tools/                              # Dockerfiles and helpers (shared)
+├── tests/                              # Dockerfiles and helpers (shared)
 └── <tutorial>_<cases>_<timestamp>/     # one folder per system test
     ├── docker-compose.tutorial.yaml
     ├── docker-compose.field_compare.yaml   # written at build time when compare is configured
@@ -143,7 +143,7 @@ runs/
 
 To re-run one test locally:
 
-1. Extract the zip and keep the `runs/` layout (the test folder needs the sibling `tools/` directory).
+1. Extract the zip and keep the `runs/` layout (the test folder needs the sibling `tests/` directory).
 2. `cd` into the test folder.
 3. Run `./rerun-system-test.sh` (or `sh rerun-system-test.sh`).
 
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ Fieldcompare requires reference results in the artifact. If not already unpacked
 
 ### Adding new tests
 
-Tests and test suites are defined in [`tests.yaml`](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/blob/develop/tools/tests/tests.yaml). By convention, every tutorial defines a test suite with the same name as its directory, and several test cases using combinations of the available participants. These test cases are later referenced by other test suites: these are typically the `release` and the test suites of different tested components.
+Tests and test suites are defined in [`tests.yaml`](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/blob/develop/tests/tests.yaml). By convention, every tutorial defines a test suite with the same name as its directory, and several test cases using combinations of the available participants. These test cases are later referenced by other test suites: these are typically the `release` and the test suites of different tested components.
 
 The available cases are listed in the `metadata.yaml` of each tutorial. To add a new tutorial case as a test, add it to `metadata.yaml` and then define a test using it. Include that test in the relevant test suites.
 
@@ -171,7 +171,7 @@ run-before: ./set-case.sh 1d3d
 
 You will need to define a reference results file. The reference results can and should be generated on GitHub using the [Generate reference results (manual)](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/actions/workflows/generate-reference-results-manual.yml) workflow for the respective test suite. You might want to temporarily set the `selected` test suite for requesting results only for a subset of test cases.
 
-By default, the [Generate reference results (manual)](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/actions/workflows/generate-reference-results-manual.yml) workflow uses `TUTORIALS_REF` from [`reference_versions.yaml`](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/blob/develop/tools/tests/reference_versions.yaml). For a feature branch, set Use tutorials from to `workflow branch`, or pass `TUTORIALS_REF` via `--build_args` (locally) or the optional `build_args` workflow input.
+By default, the [Generate reference results (manual)](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/actions/workflows/generate-reference-results-manual.yml) workflow uses `TUTORIALS_REF` from [`reference_versions.yaml`](https://github.com/precice/tutorials/blob/develop/tests/reference_versions.yaml). For a feature branch, set Use tutorials from to `workflow branch`, or pass `TUTORIALS_REF` via `--build_args` (locally) or the optional `build_args` workflow input.
 
 {% note %}
 The two options cannot be combined: defining any overrides to `reference_versions.yaml` will ignore the option to use the tutorials from the workflow branch.
@@ -280,7 +280,7 @@ Metadata and workflow/script files:
   - `solid-openfoam/`
   - ...
   - `metadata.yml`: describes each case directory (which participant, which component, which script to run, ...)
-- `tools/tests/`
+- `tests/`
   - `component-templates/`: jinja2 templates for Docker Compose services for the components
     - `calculix-adapter.yaml`
     - `fenics-adapter.yaml`
@@ -297,7 +297,7 @@ Metadata and workflow/script files:
 
 User-facing tools:
 
-- `tools/tests/`
+- `tests/`
   - `systemtests.py`: Executes the system tests, starting Docker Compose services of each required component (after building them), running each test, and comparing the results to reference results.
   - `print_test_suites.py`: Prints the available tests.
   - `print_metadata.py`: Prints the metadata of each tutorial that contains a `metadata.yaml` file.
@@ -308,7 +308,7 @@ User-facing tools:
 
 Implementation scripts:
 
-- `tools/tests/`
+- `tests/`
   - `systemtests.py`: Main entry point
   - `requirements.txt`: Dependencies (jinja2, pyyaml)
   - `metadata_parser/`: Reads the YAML files into Python objects (defines the schema)
diff --git a/tools/tests/build_docker_images.py b/tests/build_docker_images.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/build_docker_images.py
rename to tests/build_docker_images.py
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/aste.yaml b/tests/component-templates/aste.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/aste.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/aste.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/bare.yaml b/tests/component-templates/bare.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/bare.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/bare.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/calculix-adapter.yaml b/tests/component-templates/calculix-adapter.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/calculix-adapter.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/calculix-adapter.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/dealii-adapter.yaml b/tests/component-templates/dealii-adapter.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/dealii-adapter.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/dealii-adapter.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/dumux-adapter.yaml b/tests/component-templates/dumux-adapter.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/dumux-adapter.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/dumux-adapter.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/dune-adapter.yaml b/tests/component-templates/dune-adapter.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/dune-adapter.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/dune-adapter.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/fenics-adapter.yaml b/tests/component-templates/fenics-adapter.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/fenics-adapter.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/fenics-adapter.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/fenicsx-adapter.yaml b/tests/component-templates/fenicsx-adapter.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/fenicsx-adapter.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/fenicsx-adapter.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/fmi-runner.yaml b/tests/component-templates/fmi-runner.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/fmi-runner.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/fmi-runner.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/julia-bindings.yaml b/tests/component-templates/julia-bindings.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/julia-bindings.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/julia-bindings.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/mercurydpm-adapter.yaml b/tests/component-templates/mercurydpm-adapter.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/mercurydpm-adapter.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/mercurydpm-adapter.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/micro-manager.yaml b/tests/component-templates/micro-manager.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/micro-manager.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/micro-manager.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/nutils-adapter.yaml b/tests/component-templates/nutils-adapter.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/nutils-adapter.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/nutils-adapter.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/openfoam-adapter.yaml b/tests/component-templates/openfoam-adapter.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/openfoam-adapter.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/openfoam-adapter.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/python-bindings.yaml b/tests/component-templates/python-bindings.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/python-bindings.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/python-bindings.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/rust-bindings.yaml b/tests/component-templates/rust-bindings.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/rust-bindings.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/rust-bindings.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/solids4foam.yaml b/tests/component-templates/solids4foam.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/solids4foam.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/solids4foam.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/component-templates/su2-adapter.yaml b/tests/component-templates/su2-adapter.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/component-templates/su2-adapter.yaml
rename to tests/component-templates/su2-adapter.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/components.yaml b/tests/components.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/components.yaml
rename to tests/components.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/docker-compose.field_compare.template.yaml b/tests/docker-compose.field_compare.template.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/docker-compose.field_compare.template.yaml
rename to tests/docker-compose.field_compare.template.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/docker-compose.template.yaml b/tests/docker-compose.template.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/docker-compose.template.yaml
rename to tests/docker-compose.template.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/dockerfiles/ubuntu_2404/Dockerfile b/tests/dockerfiles/ubuntu_2404/Dockerfile
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/dockerfiles/ubuntu_2404/Dockerfile
rename to tests/dockerfiles/ubuntu_2404/Dockerfile
diff --git a/tools/tests/generate_reference_results.py b/tests/generate_reference_results.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/generate_reference_results.py
rename to tests/generate_reference_results.py
diff --git a/tools/tests/metadata_parser/__init__.py b/tests/metadata_parser/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/metadata_parser/__init__.py
rename to tests/metadata_parser/__init__.py
diff --git a/tools/tests/metadata_parser/metdata.py b/tests/metadata_parser/metdata.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/metadata_parser/metdata.py
rename to tests/metadata_parser/metdata.py
diff --git a/tests/paths.py b/tests/paths.py
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..e173aed6d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/paths.py
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+PRECICE_TUTORIAL_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent
+PRECICE_TESTS_RUN_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "runs"
+PRECICE_TESTS_DIR = Path(__file__).parent
+PRECICE_TOOLS_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent / "tools"
+PRECICE_REL_OUTPUT_DIR = "precice-exports"
+PRECICE_REL_REFERENCE_DIR = "reference-results-unpacked"
diff --git a/tools/tests/print_case_combinations.py b/tests/print_case_combinations.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/print_case_combinations.py
rename to tests/print_case_combinations.py
diff --git a/tools/tests/print_metadata.py b/tests/print_metadata.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/print_metadata.py
rename to tests/print_metadata.py
diff --git a/tools/tests/print_test_suites.py b/tests/print_test_suites.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/print_test_suites.py
rename to tests/print_test_suites.py
diff --git a/tools/tests/reference-results-metadata.md.template b/tests/reference-results-metadata.md.template
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/reference-results-metadata.md.template
rename to tests/reference-results-metadata.md.template
diff --git a/tools/tests/reference_versions.yaml b/tests/reference_versions.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/reference_versions.yaml
rename to tests/reference_versions.yaml
diff --git a/tools/tests/requirements-reference.txt b/tests/requirements-reference.txt
similarity index 88%
rename from tools/tests/requirements-reference.txt
rename to tests/requirements-reference.txt
index cfc9b3561..900fdeacc 100644
--- a/tools/tests/requirements-reference.txt
+++ b/tests/requirements-reference.txt
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 # Pinned Python dependency versions for this tutorial participant.
 # Reference only: run scripts keep using loose requirements.txt constraints.
 # Generated by tools/releasing/update-requirements-reference.py — do not edit manually.
-# Source: tools/tests/requirements.txt
+# Source: tests/requirements.txt
 # Generated: 2026-07-13T16:48:40Z
 
 jinja2==3.1.6
diff --git a/tools/tests/requirements.txt b/tests/requirements.txt
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/requirements.txt
rename to tests/requirements.txt
diff --git a/tools/tests/rerun-system-test.sh b/tests/rerun-system-test.sh
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/rerun-system-test.sh
rename to tests/rerun-system-test.sh
diff --git a/tools/tests/systemtests.py b/tests/systemtests.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/systemtests.py
rename to tests/systemtests.py
diff --git a/tools/tests/systemtests/Systemtest.py b/tests/systemtests/Systemtest.py
similarity index 97%
rename from tools/tests/systemtests/Systemtest.py
rename to tests/systemtests/Systemtest.py
index f756b3ef8..44b237611 100644
--- a/tools/tests/systemtests/Systemtest.py
+++ b/tests/systemtests/Systemtest.py
@@ -333,14 +333,14 @@ def __get_docker_services(self) -> Dict[str, str]:
 
         def render_service_template_per_case(case: Case, params_to_use: Dict[str, str]) -> str:
             # Inside the individual system test directory (`self.system_test_dir`)
-            # we copy a full `tools/` tree into the parent run directory
-            # (see __copy_tools). From the point of view of the system test
+            # we copy a full `tests/` tree into the parent run directory
+            # (see __copy_tools_and_tests). From the point of view of the system test
             # directory we therefore need to go one level up to reach the
-            # shared `tools/` folder:
-            #   <run_directory>/tools/tests/dockerfiles/<PLATFORM>
+            # shared `tests/` folder:
+            #   <run_directory>/tests/dockerfiles/<PLATFORM>
             #   ^-------------^ parent of self.system_test_dir
             dockerfile_context_relative = (
-                Path("..") / "tools" / "tests" / "dockerfiles" / Path(plaform_requested)
+                Path("..") / "tests" / "dockerfiles" / Path(plaform_requested)
             )
 
             render_dict = {
@@ -381,7 +381,7 @@ def __get_docker_compose_file(self):
             # absolute – it will be resolved relative to the system test
             # directory.
             'dockerfile_context': (
-                Path("..") / "tools" / "tests" / "dockerfiles" / Path(self.params_to_use.get("PLATFORM"))
+                Path("..") / "tests" / "dockerfiles" / Path(self.params_to_use.get("PLATFORM"))
             ),
             'precice_output_folder': PRECICE_REL_OUTPUT_DIR,
         }
@@ -404,7 +404,7 @@ def __get_field_compare_compose_file(self):
             # absolute – it will be resolved relative to the system test
             # directory.
             'dockerfile_context': (
-                Path("..") / "tools" / "tests" / "dockerfiles" / Path(self.params_to_use.get("PLATFORM"))
+                Path("..") / "tests" / "dockerfiles" / Path(self.params_to_use.get("PLATFORM"))
             ),
         }
         jinja_env = Environment(loader=FileSystemLoader(PRECICE_TESTS_DIR))
@@ -531,9 +531,10 @@ def __copy_tutorial_into_directory(self, run_directory: Path):
                 file.write(ref_requested)
             self._checkout_ref_in_subfolder(PRECICE_TUTORIAL_DIR, self.tutorial.path, current_ref)
 
-    def __copy_tools(self, run_directory: Path):
-        destination = run_directory / "tools"
+    def __copy_tools_and_tests(self, run_directory: Path):
         src = PRECICE_TOOLS_DIR
+        destination = run_directory / "tools"
+        logging.debug(f"Copying tools from {src} to {destination}")
         try:
             shutil.copytree(src, destination)
         except FileExistsError as e:
@@ -541,6 +542,16 @@ def __copy_tools(self, run_directory: Path):
         except Exception as e:
             logging.warning(f"Something went wrong while copying the tools directory to the workspace: {e}")
 
+        src = PRECICE_TESTS_DIR
+        destination = run_directory / "tests"
+        logging.debug(f"Copying tests from {src} to {destination}")
+        try:
+            shutil.copytree(src, destination)
+        except FileExistsError as e:
+            logging.debug(f"Tests directory has already been copied to the workspace - skipping.")
+        except Exception as e:
+            logging.warning(f"Something went wrong while copying the tests directory to the workspace: {e}")
+
     def __put_gitignore(self, run_directory: Path):
         # Create the .gitignore file with a single asterisk
         gitignore_file = run_directory / ".gitignore"
@@ -798,7 +809,7 @@ def __archive_fieldcompare_diffs(self) -> None:
             )
 
     def __copy_rerun_system_test_script(self) -> None:
-        """Copy tools/tests/rerun-system-test.sh into the run directory for artifact replay."""
+        """Copy tests/rerun-system-test.sh into the run directory for artifact replay."""
         rerun_src = PRECICE_TESTS_DIR / "rerun-system-test.sh"
         if not rerun_src.is_file():
             raise FileNotFoundError(
@@ -1062,7 +1073,7 @@ def __prepare_for_run(self, run_directory: Path):
         if not self._run_hook('run-before', self.run_before):
             raise RuntimeError(f"run-before hook failed for {self}")
         self.__apply_max_time_override()
-        self.__copy_tools(run_directory)
+        self.__copy_tools_and_tests(run_directory)
         self.__put_gitignore(run_directory)
         host_uid, host_gid = self.__get_uid_gid()
         self.params_to_use['PRECICE_UID'] = host_uid
diff --git a/tools/tests/systemtests/SystemtestArguments.py b/tests/systemtests/SystemtestArguments.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/systemtests/SystemtestArguments.py
rename to tests/systemtests/SystemtestArguments.py
diff --git a/tools/tests/systemtests/TestSuite.py b/tests/systemtests/TestSuite.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/systemtests/TestSuite.py
rename to tests/systemtests/TestSuite.py
diff --git a/tools/tests/systemtests/__init__.py b/tests/systemtests/__init__.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/systemtests/__init__.py
rename to tests/systemtests/__init__.py
diff --git a/tools/tests/systemtests/sources.py b/tests/systemtests/sources.py
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/systemtests/sources.py
rename to tests/systemtests/sources.py
diff --git a/tools/tests/tests.yaml b/tests/tests.yaml
similarity index 100%
rename from tools/tests/tests.yaml
rename to tests/tests.yaml
diff --git a/tools/check.sh b/tools/check.sh
index 114f80ce1..c823ded02 100755
--- a/tools/check.sh
+++ b/tools/check.sh
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
 CODE=0
 
 # Check tutorials
-IGNORE="tools|quickstart"
+IGNORE="tests|tools|quickstart"
 tutorials=$(find . -maxdepth 1 -type d -not -name ".*" | grep -vE $IGNORE | sed "s/^.\///")
 
 for tutorial in $tutorials; do
diff --git a/tools/tests/paths.py b/tools/tests/paths.py
deleted file mode 100644
index 8b7f064d2..000000000
--- a/tools/tests/paths.py
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,7 +0,0 @@
-from pathlib import Path
-PRECICE_TUTORIAL_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent.parent
-PRECICE_TESTS_RUN_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent.parent / "runs"
-PRECICE_TOOLS_DIR = Path(__file__).parent.parent
-PRECICE_TESTS_DIR = Path(__file__).parent
-PRECICE_REL_OUTPUT_DIR = "precice-exports"
-PRECICE_REL_REFERENCE_DIR = "reference-results-unpacked"