Study start at Software Engineering

As a new engineering student, you must pass the compulsory study start test to be able to continue your studies. The study start test must be completed at the start of the semester and you have two attempts to pass the test.

The study start test consists of completion of the e-learning course How to Uni. While the primary objective of the test is to determine whether you have started your studies at SDU, the purpose of How to Uni is to help you get a good start at your studies.

In How to Uni, you will learn the answers to:

• What kind of place is SDU?
• What do your teachers expect from you?
• How can you get a good start to your life as a university student?
• Which IT systems will you need as a student at SDU?
• Which rules do you need to be aware of?

If you do not complete the course within the stipulated deadline, you will have a second attempt (reexamination). The reexamination also consists of completion of How to Uni.

If you do not pass the reexamination, your enrolment will be annulled. Please note that once you have been disenrolled due to a failed study start test, you cannot be re-enrolled on the same study programme later on, unless the university considers that your prerequisites for completing the programme have improved considerably.

How to pass the Study Start Test

• To pass the exam you must complete How to Uni no later than 5 September 2026, at 23.59. It is possible to complete the test more than once.
• To pass the reexam you must complete How to Uni no later than 14 September 2026, at 23.59.

Access to SDU’s digital platform and How to Uni 

How to Uni will be available on SDU’s digital platform (itslearning) during August.

If you are new to SDU, you need your username and password to the IT systems at SDU. To get these, you must activate your account at https://password.sdu.dk/newstudent.

For further information about access to IT services, please see the contact information below.

Contacts

If you have not received a student email or experience other IT problems, please contact SDU IT on email helpdesk@helpdesk.sdu.dk or phone +45 6550 2990.

If you can access the digital platform but not the course How to Uni, or you have problems arriving in time for semester start, please contact the key persons at your programme.

If you are prevented from completing the study start test, you must apply to the Academic Study Board for a dispensation.

If you have passed courses on a previous bachelor programme and are now admitted to a BSc (Eng) or BEng study programme, you must apply for credit transfer for these courses.

If you have passed courses on a previous master programme and are now admitted to a MSc (Eng) study programme, you must apply for credit transfer for these courses.

If your application of starting credits is approved, the previously passed courses will be transferred to your new study programme, either as obligatory or elective courses.

Which Courses Can Be Transferred?

Only credits for courses, that are relevant on your new study programme, can be transferred. Before you apply for credit transfer (=fill in and submit the application form) it is a good idea that you research in to options and select the courses, that seem to give the same qualifications as the courses, you already have passed. Please get acquainted with your new curriculum. You find it here. Please note that you can also get credits transferred for courses, you have NOT applied for to be transferred.

When should I, at the very latest, apply for starting credits?

You should apply for transfer of starting credits immediately after you have been accepted your offer of enrolment, and on 1^st October (for study start in September) / 1^st March (for study start in February) at the very latest.  

How do I apply for transfer of starting credits?

• Log in onhttps://spoc.sdu.dk and choose Studyboard -> Credit Transfer -> Starting Credits
• Fill in the application form “Starting credits”
• List all the courses, you have passed, on the left hand side of the form
• List all the courses, you wish to be substituted on your new study programme, of the right hand side of the form
• Don’t forget to upload obligatory documentation:

1. Course descriptions for all the courses you have passed on the previous study programme. The course descriptions must be in pdf-format. It is not sufficient to link to the descriptions, the pdf-file must contain all the necessary information about the course in question in text format.
2. Evidence for the passed cousres (transcript of records).

You upload the files by browsing the correct file, clicking on first “upload file” and then “ok”.

The first assessment

Your programme coordinator assesses your application together with the academic staff on your new study programme.

Positive assessment

If your programme coordinator considers, that credits can be transferred for the courses, you have passed previously, you receive information about this on your SDU-mail. The assessment will be sent automatically to the Academic Study Board. If you have not attached verified (signed and stamped) documentation for passed courses to your original application, you must do this now. Please send the verified documentation as soon as possible to studienaevn@tek.sdu.dk. However, it is not necessary to attach verified documentation, if the previous courses have been passed at SDU.

Your programme coordinator may also counsel you to register for courses placed on later semesters, if you get many credits transferred. Thus, you can register for the correct courses right from the start, and possibly shorten your study time.

Negative assessment

If your programme coordinator considers, that the courses you have passed on your previous study programme are not relevant on the current study programme, you receive information about this on your SDU-mail. You do not need to do anything further, unless you disagree with the asseessment of your programme coordinator. If you disagree with the asseessment and wish to sustain your application for credit transfer, you should send the assessment of the programme coordinator to the Secretariat of the Academic Board, studienaevn@tek.sdu.dk.

The Academic Study Board Processes the application

The Secretariat of the Academic Board will contact you via your SDU-mail, if further documentation in the case is necessary. Once the Secretariat is fully informed, the application will be processed at the next coming meeting of the Academic Study Board.

When can I expect to receive the final decision?

Your application will be processed at the next coming meeting of the Academic Study Board once the Secretariat has received all the necessary documentation in the case. You can expect to receive the decision of the Academic Study Board to your SDU-mail within 20 working days after the meeting of the Academic Study Board, where your case has been processed. The result of the decision of the Board is visible on the student self service (https://sso.sdu.dk) a couple of weeks later.

Should you have any questions about the application process, please contact your programme coordinator.

What happens, if I do NOT apply for starting credits?

Should you neglect the application for starting credits, even though you previously have passed relevant courses, you can be reported to the vice-chancellor for violating the Disciplinary Measures of SDU.

Useful information and links to start your Student life at SDU Sønderborg

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