Study programs with a required semester abroad

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The KU offers various study programs with an integrated semester abroad. Study programs with an integrated semester abroad are study programs that enable students to complete a previously determined part of their studies at a foreign partner university. These programs are structured in a way that the study abroad experience is an integral part of the curriculum. This means that the semester abroad is not only recommended, but required for completion of the degree program.

Study programs with an integrated semester abroad are often regulated by formal agreements between the home and host universities. These agreements guarantee that the coursework completed abroad is recognized and credited towards the degree course at the home university.

Students with a required semester abroad have the opportunity to complete their stay abroad via a KU program or as a free mover. On this website, you will find all information you need regarding recognition of your semester abroad.

General Information

Overview: Study programs with a required semester abroad

The following degree programs have a required semester abroad according to the examination regulations:

  • BA European Studies: Language, Literature, Culture (degree program coordinators: Dr. Julia Wiedemann oder Prof. Dr. Richard Nate)
  • MA European Studies: Language, Literature, Culture (degree program coordinators: Dr. Julia Wiedemann oder Prof. Dr. Richard Nate)
  • BA Journalism Studies (degree program coordinator: Dr. Renate Hackel-de Latour)
  • BA Politics and Society (degree program coordinators: Dr. Rémy Bocquillon oder Dr. Edda Mack)
  • BA International Sociology (degree program coordinator: Dr. Rémy Bocquillon)

Recognition of semester abroad

Prior to your studies abroad or after having been accepted at the partner university, you should clarify which study achievements can be credited to your degree program. This applies to semesters abroad in cooperation with the KU as well as to free movers and short-term stays (e.g. summer or winter schools).

Recognition in the Erasmus+ program

Learning Agreement - information

As part of the Erasmus+ program, all Erasmus+ participants in Europe must conclude a Learning Agreement before the start of their study abroad stay. The Learning Agreement lists all courses that you would like to attend at the partner university. The signature of the chairperson of the board of examiners (or a person authorized by them) on the Learning Agreement confirms that the academic work completed abroad is recognized for further studies at the KU.

For the Erasmus+ program, the Learning Agreement must be completed before the student's departure and signed by the responsible persons at both universities.

From the 24/25 academic year onwards, the Learning Agreements in the Erasmus+ program will be exclusively recorded via the KU's credit transfer platform and subsequently via Mobility Online. Students are asked to follow the steps in their workflow. You will find more information in the next tab.

After returning from their stay abroad, students can use their transcript of records issued by the host university to choose which of their achievements they would like to have recognized in the credit transfer platform. Achievements that have been recognized in advance in the Learning Agreement can not be rejected by the KU. If you have any problems or difficulties with recognition, you can contact the Erasmus+ University Coordinator for assistance.

Recognition for Erasmus+ – before the start of the mobility

From the 24/25 academic year onwards, the Learning Agreements in the Erasmus+ program will be exclusively recorded via the KU's credit transfer platform and subsequently via Mobility Online. Students are asked to follow the steps in their workflow. Please proceed as follows:

  • Step 1: First, please discuss your courses abroad with your degree program coordinator as soon as you have received the course offer from your host university. In the "Overview: Study programs with required semester abroad" tab, you can see the contact person responsible for you.
  • Step 2: Please log in to the credit transfer platform and enter the necessary details.
  • Step 3: If the courses were approved in the online credit transfer platform, please go to Mobility Online and click on “Module mit Anrechnung importieren" (Import modules with credit transfer).
    • Please note:
      • Please only complete this step once your modules have been approved in the online credit transfer platform!
      • If you have any problems or queries, please contact LA-support(at)ku.de with outgoing(at)ku.de in cc:.
  • Optional: If you take courses that cannot be recognized for credit or that you do not want to have recognized for credit, please also complete the step “Module ohne Anrechnung erfassen" (Record modules without credit transfer) in Mobility Online.
  • Step 4: Once you have entered all the courses in the system, please proceed to "Learning Agreement formell einreichen" (Formally submit Learning Agreement)
  • Your Learning Agreement will then be released for the partner university by the International Office
  • Please complete all further steps in your workflow up to and including "Zulassung der Partneruniversität hochladen“ (Admission  from partner university upload). Please follow the instructions in your workflow and be careful to adhere to the deadlines set by the International Office..
    • If you have any problems or queries during these steps, please contact outgoing(at)ku.de

Recognition for Erasmus+ – during the mobility

If you find out at the host university that some of your selected courses are not held, you can submit changes to your Learning Agreement (Learning Agreement Changes). In this case, please follow the necessary steps again in your workflow in Mobility Online, respectively in the credit transfer platform.

Recognition for Erasmus+ – after the mobility

Once you have completed your semester abroad, you will usually receive your transcript of records from the host university within 8 weeks. With this document you can apply for credit transfer.

Please log in to the KU’s credit transfer platform and complete the necessary steps.

Once you have completed these steps, please upload a document confirming the credit transfer in your workflow in Mobility Online

Recognition in the worldwide or faculty program

Agreement for recognition – general information

You do not have to conclude a Learning Agreement in the worldwide and faculty program. However, if you want to be sure that your achievements from abroad are recognized for your required semester abroad, it is advisable to conclude an agreement for recognition.

From the 24/25 academic year onwards, agreements on recognition will exclusively be recorded via the KU credit transfer platform. More information is available in the next tab.

Recognition – before the mobility

An agreement for recognition is not necessary in the worldwide and faculty program, but is recommended so that you can be sure that your achievements are credited to your study program. Please proceed as follows:

  • Step 1: First, please discuss your courses abroad with your degree program coordinator as soon as you have received the course offer from your host university. In the "Overview: Study programs with required semester abroad" tab, you can see the contact person responsible for you
  • Step 2: Please log in to the credit transfer platform and enter the necessary details.
  • Step 3:  Please take any further steps in your Mobility Online workflow that are necessary. Please follow the instructions in your workflow and be careful to adhere to the deadlines set by the International Office.
  • If you have any problems or queries during these steps, please contact outgoing(at)ku.de

 

Recognition – during the mobility

If you find out at the host university that some of your courses are not offered, you can have additional courses pre-approved in the credit transfer platform at the beginning of your stay.

Recognition - after the mobility

Once you have completed your semester abroad, you will usually receive your transcript of records from the host university within 8 weeks. With this document you can apply for credit transfer.

Please log in to the KU’s credit transfer platform and complete the necessary steps.

Once you have completed these steps, please upload a document confirming the credit transfer in your workflow in Mobility Online.

Recognition for free movers and short programs

Agreement for recognition – general information

Students who go abroad as free movers or who participate in a short program do not have to conclude a Learning Agreement. However, if you want to be sure that your achievements from abroad are recognized for your required semester abroad, it is advisable to conclude an agreement for recognition.

From the 24/25 academic year onwards, agreements on recognition will exclusively be recorded via the KU credit transfer platform. More information is available in the next tab.

Recognition – before the mobility

If you are organizing your required stay abroad as a free mover or are taking part in a short program, please proceed as follows:

  • Step 1: First, please discuss your selection of courses abroad with your degree program coordinator as soon as you have received the course offer from your host university. In the "Overview: Study programs with required semester abroad" tab, you can see the contact person responsible for you.
  • Step 2: Register in Mobility Online (link to be announced).
  • Step 3: Please log in to the credit transfer platform and enter the necessary details.
  • Step 4: Take the subsequent steps in Mobility Online.

Recognition – during the mobility

If you find out at the host university that some of your courses are not offered, you can have additional courses pre-approved in the credit transfer platform at the beginning of your stay.

Recognition – after the mobility

Once you have completed your semester abroad, you will usually receive your transcript of records from the host university within 8 weeks. With this document you can apply for credit transfer.

Please log in to the KU’s credit transfer platform and complete the necessary steps.