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Credit transfer

Below you can read more about different types of credit tranfers and what information you will be asked to provide when filling out the application form.

If you have previously passed courses in another Master's degree programme without completing the programme, you MUST apply for starting credits.

Your application must contain the following:

  • You must provide information about any previous Master programmes in which you have been enrolled
  • You must enclose a transcript of records for any Master level courses you have previously passed
  • You must enclose a course description or curriculum describing the academic content and level of the courses you have passed

The above also applies if you do not wish to have the courses credited.

You must submit your application as soon as possible and no later than one month after commencing your Master programme. This is because you might get credit for courses in the 1st semester and consequently not be required to sit exams in those courses.

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If you have previously completed another Master's degree programme, you can apply to have one or more courses credited as part of your new  programme. 

In general, you can apply for a credit transfer if you have passed a course corresponding to a course in your new programme.

If you want credits for a mandatory course, you must have passed courses which comply with the course description of the course in question.

If you want credit for an elective course, there are fewer restrictions. However, the course must fit within the framework of your SDU programme.

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You must apply for preliminary credits if you wish to:

  • study abroad; please also see the Study abroad pages
  • take courses at other Danish universities as part of your SDU programme
  • take elective courses at SDU that haven't been pre-approved for your programme

Before you apply for preliminary credits, you must consult your programme regulations. Here you can often read recommendations, for example, about when it would be most appropriate for you to study abroad. If necessary, contact a student counsellor for help with your application.  

You also need to be aware of the following guidelines:

  • If you wish to replace mandatory courses in your SDU programme, you must find courses which comply with the course description of the course in question. The courses must have the same ECTS weighting as the courses you wish to replace.
  • If you wish to have a course pre-approved as an elective, there are fewer restrictions. However, the elective course must still be within the framework of your curriculum.
  • The courses must be at the same academic level as your SDU programme: i.e. at either undergraduate or graduate level.
  • Be aware of the active enrolment requirement of passing at least 45 ECTS each year. That is why it is advisable to find and specify several options and combinations if you are not certain of being accepted on the courses of your choice.
  • If the academic content of a course overlaps with a constituent course in your programme or a course which you have already passed, you cannot have it pre-approved as an elective or transfer credits for it.
  • Once they have been approved, you can only make changes to your preliminary credits if, due to exceptional circumstances, you are not able to take the course(s) in question. In such case, please apply for a change to your preliminary credits as soon as possible.

We recommend you to apply for preliminary credits in good time before the relevant course registration period: 20-30 May for autumn courses and 20-30 November for spring courses.

Please expect a casework time of up to 8 weeks.

Following the meeting of the academic study board, you will receive a decision. You can use this for:

  • Enrolling into courses at SDU by contacting Student Services via SPOC
  • Enrolling into courses at other universities in Denmark or abroad.
  • Having a Learning Agreement signed by contacting Student Services via SPOC

Please contact the student counsellors at the Faculty of Science if you have any questions regarding deadlines and application procedures.

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Once you have passed a courses for which you have received preliminary credits, you must send any relevant documentation, e.g. a certificate/diploma, to Registration & Legality via SPOC.

It is important that the courses appearing from your certificate/diploma are identical with the courses for which you received preliminary credits. If the Registration & Legality cannot recognise your courses, your credits will not be immediately granted, and you will be asked to prove that the courses which you have passed correspond to the courses for which you received preliminary credits.

If you have studied any courses abroad, please enclose a grading scale from your host university which states what grade is required to pass a course. However, credit for courses passed abroad will be transferred with the grade stated as Pass/Fail.

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If you are applying for several types of credit transfer, you must send one application for each. For example, if you wish to apply for both starting credits and pre-approval of credit transfer, you must submit two application forms.

General rules on credit transfer

Casework time

When you send an application to the Study Board, it might take up to 8 weeks before your application is processed. When your application has been processed by the study board, you will receive a decision on your SDU e-mail.

You may be asked to submit additional documentation or a detailed explanation if the Study Board needs more information in order to process your application.

Your study board

On the study board's own web page you will find information on the members of the study board, meeting dates, application deadlines, and a description of the study board's general practice, as well as meeting agendas and minutes.

Go to the study board's own web page

Last Updated 11.08.2023