Your stay abroad will definitely enrich your life in various ways, including gaining new academic insights in your field of study, completing exciting courses, and earning academic credits to make progress toward your degree.
To be able to have the credits you gain at the host university validated in your study field at your home university, a process called “recognition” must be carried out. In many cases, especially if your stay abroad is organized through the Erasmus+ programme, preparation for recognition begins well before you actually go abroad. Within the Erasmus+ programme, you will have to prepare a document called a Learning Agreement. This document will outline your intended study plan at your host university as well as the recognition process at your home university.
During the preparation for your stay abroad, the international relations office at your home university will provide you with full information on: how to prepare the Learning Agreement, any additional documents required to ensure recognition after your stay, the contact persons who will approve your Learning Agreement, and the possible minimum number of credits you may need to successfully complete your stay abroad. As with every university, and sometimes even each faculty, different procedures may apply. It is therefore of utmost importance to observe the instructions provided by your home university or home faculty.
While you enjoy your stay at your host university, do not forget to communicate any changes to your initial study plan to your home university to ensure a smooth recognition of credits once you return home. When your stay abroad draws to an end and you’re almost done with your courses, make sure to ask your host university about how you will receive your transcript of records. This official document will contain all your courses, your grades and credits. It is issued by your host university and, in addition to the documents you prepared before your stay, is extremely important for the actual recognition of credits at your home university once you return home.
As before your stay, each home university has a different procedure for handling the recognition of courses after your stay abroad. In some cases, your home international office will initiate the process on your behalf once they receive your transcript of records; in other cases, you will have to initiate this process yourself. It is again important to observe the instructions provided by your home university or your home faculty. By completing this procedure, you will ensure that both the credits you earned and your mobility experience are properly recognized, rewarding the efforts you devoted to your classes abroad and bringing you one step closer to completing your degree