A stay abroad is a personal and cultural experience. And it should also have a direct benefit for studies and career. This requires that the study achievements achieved abroad are recognized as far as possible at the home university.

Recognition of achievements within Europe

In order to ensure academic recognition throughout Europe, the Commission of the European Union has developed a uniform system for the conversion of academic achievements, the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). ECTS is intended to enable the recording of academic achievements and their transfer from one university to another. Thus, if you perform academic work in different university systems, ECTS credits make the amount of work performed comparable and transparent.

A certain number of ECTS credits is assigned to each course (or module) of the respective degree program. They describe the workload that students are expected to complete in order to be certified as having successfully completed the course in question. Not only the courses (lectures, seminars, practical exercises, tutorials, excursions and internships) are taken into account, but also the personal preparation time required for this (self-study at home or in the library, exam preparation).
Within the framework of ECTS, a full academic year is equivalent to 60 credits, 30 credits for a semester and 20 credits for a trimester.
ECTS credits are only awarded if the required proof of performance has been successfully completed (examination, term paper, seminar presentation, etc.). ECTS credits are not awarded for the sole participation in courses or lectures or only for a study stay abroad!

Legal basis

The principles for the recognition of study and examination achievements were newly regulated by law in 2012 (§35 Abs. 9 Sächs.HSFG). Since then, there has been the requirement that achievements are to be recognized in principle as long as there is no significant difference between the work done abroad and the curricular work to be done.

The legal situation is different with regard to the transfer of grades from abroad (cf. §16 (5), sentences 2 and 3 MPO): if the grading systems are incomparable, for example because the number of grades does not match, no credit is given; in particular, no "formulas" or "tables" are used. Instead, the performances are merely marked "passed"; they (and, if applicable, the grade weights) are not included in the grade calculation.

However, the recognition of academic achievements earned abroad is not automatic. For a later recognition of your achievements you should therefore follow the steps below:

Before the stay abroad

• Consult your academic advisor or your examination office to clarify which content and formal requirements the course must meet to be recognized later -> clarify which documents must be submitted for recognition (course description, literature lists, etc.)
• Enter the agreed course selection in the Learning Agreement and have it signed by the person responsible for recognition at the TUD and the exchange coordinator at the host university.
• Note: For a full academic year, 60 credits are usually required, 30 credits for a semester and 20 credits for a trimester. Depending on the university and faculty, less may also be required.

During the stay abroad

• If not yet done: get the detailed course description in English from the course catalog of your host university.
• Get a Transcript of Records from your host university after the exams abroad.

After the stay abroad

• Apply for the recognition of your achievements abroad at your examination office or academic advisor.
• Fill out the corresponding application (faculty specific) to the examination board and attach the Transcript of Records and the detailed course descriptions in English.
• Note: Please contact your examination office or academic advisor for information on the specific procedure.

Learning Agreement and how to fill it out

In the box you will find all necessary parts of the Learning Agreement (especially relevant for ERASMUS stays), which you can download individually or as a complete document. You will also find a guide for filling out the Learning Agreement as well as general explanations and notes on the Learning Agreement. Parts of the Learning Agreement can also be used for bilateral exchange if required.