Learning Agreement
A Learning Agreement is an advance recognition that is made in preparation for a stay abroad as part of a degree program.
Learning Agreement for Erasmus+
As part of the Erasmus+ program, all Erasmus+ participants throughout Europe must conclude a Learning Agreement before the start of their study visit.
The Learning Agreement lists all courses or modules that students 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 achievements from abroad are recognized for further studies at the KU.
For Erasmus+ programs, the Learning Agreement must be completed before the student's departure and signed by the responsible persons at both universities. For this purpose, students apply for recognition of the relevant modules in the online credit transfer portal as a Learning Agreement once their study place has been confirmed by the KU.
As soon as the modules applied for have been approved in the credit transfer portal, students must import them into Mobility Online .
Learning Agreement for the worldwide and faculty-specific program
You do not have to conclude a Learning Agreement in the worldwide and faculty-specific programs. However, if you want to be sure that your study achievements from abroad can also be recognized for your required semester abroad, we recommend concluding an agreement for recognition. As soon as the KU students have been nominated at the host university and the courses offered by the host university are available, students apply for recognition of the corresponding modules in the online credit transfer portal as a "Learning Agreement".
Learning Agreement for free movers and short programs
Students who go abroad as free movers (self-organized) or for short programs generally do not have to conclude a Learning Agreement. However, if you want to be sure that your study achievements from abroad can also be recognized, we recommend concluding an agreement for recognition. In order to do so, you will have to register for Mobility Online. As soon as the dates of the stay abroad have been checked by the International Office, students can apply for recognition of the relevant modules in the online credit transfer portal as a "Learning Agreement".
Students who receive Erasmus+ funding for their stay must conclude a Learning Agreement. You can import the modules you have applied for into Mobility Online as soon as they have been approved in the credit transfer portal.
ECTS credits
How many ECTS credits do I have to have recognized?
Students who complete a semester abroad in one of the KU's programs and receive funding for it (e.g. Erasmus+, Promos, internationalization funding or ISEP scholarship) must successfully complete at least the following number of ECTS credits:
- Bachelor’s students: 20 ECTS credits
- Master’s students: 15 ECTS credits
Can students who receive funding also complete more than the specified ECTS credits?
You can decide for yourself how many of these ECTS credits you would like to have recognized at the KU.
Students who complete their semester abroad as free movers (self-organized) are free to choose how many ECTS credits they take abroad and how many they have recognized. However, if they receive one of the above-mentioned forms of funding, the same minimum requirements for the number of ECTS credits also apply to them.
Students who complete a required semester abroad must also observe the rules of their examination regulations.
Procedure and duration of the advance recognition procedure
As the duration of the respective recognition procedure is influenced by various factors, no binding estimate can be given as to when you can expect to receive notification of the board of examiners’ decision after submitting your application. Experience has shown that you should allow about five weeks in advance.
If you have already submitted a credit transfer request but have not yet received a positive reply, and the deadline for submitting your Learning Agreement is due, please contact the International Office at the e-mail address outgoing(at)ku.de approximately three days before expiry of the deadline.
Further information
For more detailed information on academic recognition in the context of studies abroad, please consult the relevant information provided by the KU International Office.