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Credit

If you have previously passed an education programme or parts of one, you can apply to have subjects/courses transferred to your education programme at SDU - this is called credit.

It may also be that you would like to take courses or electives at another university ? If that's the case, you must apply for pre-approval - this is called preliminary credit.

Below you can see some examples of a number of different situations where you should or can apply for creditor preliminary credit.

If you have completed part of another programme you must apply for starting credit
If you previously passed parts of an education programme (one or more courses), but have not completed the full programme, you must apply for the courses to be transferred to your current programme at SDU. This is a legal requirement and is called starting credit.

Requirements for your application

  • State the education programme you previously attended
  • Attach or add links to a curriculum or course descriptions for the courses you have passed
  • Upload a transcript of records for the courses you have passed

Apply for starting credit before October 1st
You should apply as soon as possible and no later than October 1st in your first year of study when your are enrolled in a programme at SDU. This is because it may be possible for you to be given starting credit for courses as early as the 1st semester. You apply using SPOC, choosing the form: Application for transfer of starting credits.

If you have completed a full educuation programme you may apply for credits if you want to
If you have previously completed an entire education programme, you can choose to apply for courses to be transferred to your education at SDU. This can consist of, e.g. individual courses or whole semesters. By doing this, you may be able to reduce the duration of your new education. In this case it may be relevant for you to make an individual study plan

The level and content needs to match
You can apply for credit for courses that are on the same level (i.e. bachelor or graduate level) and where the content is equivalent to the content of your education programme at SDU. This means that it is easier to get credit for elective courses than for compulsory courses. Compulsory courses often have a detailed course description, while elective courses are more open with regards to content. Only in limited cases you can receive credit for courses that are not at bachelor or graduate level.

You cannot receive credit for courses from the same education programme
You cannot receive credit for courses from the same education programme. For example, if a course or academic subject matter is part of your bachelor´s programme, as well as your minor/elective subject, it cannot be credited twice.

Requirements for your application

  • State the courses you passed in the education programme you previously attended
  • State which subjects in your current education you believe can be credit-covered by the courses you have previously passed
  • Attach the course description for the courses you previously passed

You apply using SPOC, choosing the form: Application for approval of transfer of credits



You should apply for preliminary credit if you wish to:

  • study abroad
  • take courses at other universities as a visiting student.

Take a look at your curriculum
It is a good idea to orientate yourself with your curriculum before applying. Here, for example, you can see an overview of how many optional elements are included in your programme, as well as recommendations for when it is most suitable to study abroad.

Guidelines

  • You can apply for preliminary credit for courses that are on the same level as your programme at SDU (i.e. bachelor or graduate level).
  • The content of the courses must be equivalent to the content of your programme at SDU:
    • If you want preliminary credit for compulsory courses, the courses must be in line with the course description.
    • There are fewer limitations if you want preliminary credit for elective courses. However, the elective course must still  be within the framework of the curriculum
    • The courses must have at least the same ECTS-weighting as the equivalent course in your curriculum.
    • Courses abroad are often regarded as a ‘package’, which must have a total ECTS-weighting of 30 = one semester.

Feel free to apply for multiple options
It may be a good idea to apply for preliminary credit for multiple options and combinations in the event that your first option is not approved.

Apply early to make sure you are ready for the semester

It is a good idea to apply for preliminary credit early, to make sure the Study Board can process your application in time. If you apply before the end of April for courses in the fall semester and before the end of November for courses in the spring semester, the Study will have time to process your application before the beginning of the semester. Check when your Study Board have their next meeting, so you know when your application can be processed.

 

When your preliminary credit has been approved

  • ... you can apply for admission to courses at other universities at home or abroad.
  • ... you can sign the ”Learning Agreement” via SPOC (the Learning Agreement must be used for Erasmus students).

If courses are not created or you are not admitted
If courses are not created or you are not admitted, you must apply for change of your preliminary credit
as soon as possible. You must apply at the latest by January 1st for spring courses and August 1st for autumn courses.

Send your diploma when you have passed the courses
If you have taken courses at another university, your diploma must be sent to Registration & Legality (Examinations Office) via SPOC once they have been passed. Remember to attach a grading scale if you have been studying abroad. You will then receive credit.

Requirements for your application

  • State which courses you plan to take at the guest institution
  • State which courses you believe can be credit-covered by courses from the guest institution
  • Attach course descriptions for the courses of the guest institution

You must apply using SPOC, using  the following form to apply: Application for preapproval of credit transfer

You would like to study a course that is not part of your programme at SDU
If you would like to study a course at SDU that is not a part of your curriculum, or an elective course that has not been approved in the joint procurement, the study board must approve it in advance. 

  • Is the course offered by another faculty at SDU?
    You must contact the relevant education programme before you apply for pre-approval from the study board and, if applicable, apply for permission to take courses at the programme of study. This called applying to be an internal guest student.

  • Is the course offered by the Faculty of Humanities?
    It will be a good idea for you to contact the study secretary for the education programme in question to ask if there is room before applying for pre-approval.

  • If you apply for pre-approval of a course that is not part of your curriculum, it must have the same ECTS-weighting as the course it will replace.

Requirements for your application

  • State which courses you plan to take at the other education programme
  • State which courses in your programme you believe can be credit-covered by courses from the other education programme
  • Attach the course description for the courses of the other education programme

You must apply via SPOC, using the following form to apply: Application for preapproval of an alternative elective course at SDU

Apply early to make sure you are ready for the semester

It's a good idea to apply for preliminary credit early, to make sure the Study Board can process your application in time. If you apply before the end of April for courses in the fall semester and before the end of November for courses in the spring semester, the Study will have time to process your application before the beginning of the semester. Check when your Study Board have their next meeting, so you know when your application can be processed.

 

When the course has been approved
Once the course has been approved, you can sign up by writing to Registration and Legality via SPOC.

A work placement (project-orientedcourse) is an unpaid term in a professionally relevant organisation or company. An independent study course is an examination within an area where you haven’t received instruction.

How do I go about it?
If you would like to do a work placement or independent study course and it is not already part of your education programme, you must apply for pre-approval, i.e. preliminary credit. You can see if a work placement or independent study course is part your education programme by looking at your process model. In the process model you can also see which elements of your education programme a work placement or independent study course could replace if they are not part of your education programme.

Requirements for your application
Your application for a work placement or independent study course must be academically justified. The relevant documentation must also be attached:

  • Work placement: A signed project and supervisory agreement should be handed in as soon as possible – see Work placement, section 5. The project agreement must include the academic subject matter and how it is relevant to your education programme. The academic subject matter must be in line with the course description for the project-oriented course. 
  • Independent study course: Attach a description of the subject matter and petitum signed by your supervisor. Ask your study secretary if there is a specific agreement for independent study courses and if there is a deadline you need to uphold.

You must apply via. (SPOC), using the following form: Academic internship/Independent study course.

Have a plan B for your work placement!
It is a good idea to have a plan B for your work placement and apply for pre-approval in connection with applying for the work placement. Your plan B may contain, e.g. courses at SDU or other universities. You will then have an alternative at hand if you are not lucky enough to reach an agreement with a company/organisation.

You must notify Registration and Legality (Examinations Office) via SPOC by August 1st if you have not reached an agreement with an organisation and therefore wish to make use of your plan B.



You apply for starting credit, credit and credit transferred with the Study Board using SPOC. Send your application no later than 7 days before the meeting, where you would like your application to be processed.

See when your Study Board have their next meeting.

Documentation
Remember to attach the relevant documents to your application. It’s a good idea to write that you will submit the documents at a later date if you do not have them at the time of application. If you have several documents/attachments, it is a good idea to collect them in a single file.

The Study Board will decide on you application
The Study Board will assess, whether or not they can approve your application. When the Study Board has processed your application, you will be notified via. your Student E-mail within 14 days after the meeting.

Do you need help?

➤ Contact The Student Guidance Service.

Apply for credit

You are applying for credit via SPOC.

go to spoc

See when your Study Board meets

Go to your Study board

Last Updated 01.08.2022