Goethe
University generally recognizes examination and study achievements completed
abroad. Careful preparation is key to successful recognition. As the
recognition processes differ significantly between faculties and institutions,
we recommend that you extensively plan the academic recognition of your
selected courses with your faculty coordinator before your study abroad.
This is the safest way to ensure a comprehensive recognition of successfully
completed courses abroad.
Each faculty or institute manages its recognition process independently as Goethe University does not enforce specific and binding central regulations. At the same time, students that seek recognition for academic achievements are responsible to participate in the recognition process. After their study abroad, students initiate the recognition of their credits by submitting a recognition application. While specific steps vary between faculties, the process can generally be divided into the following steps:
You can find further information on the topic of recognition on the website of the HRK-funded MODUS project if you are an administrator and on the corresponding AN! website if you are a student.
The
Hessian Higher Education Act forms the legal framework for higher education
recognition practices. State acts, furthermore, are based on the so-called Lisbon
Convention—a treaty drawn up by UNESCO and the Council of Europe in 1997 and
passed into German national legislation in 2007.
According
to the convention, internationally acquired higher education qualifications and
achievements must be recognized flexibly if there is no significant difference
in the acquired competences. The paradigm shift from the "principle of
equivalence" to that of a "substantial difference" is at the
heart of the change in recognition culture and aims to make the recognition of European
mobility more open and consistent. Only a documented substantial difference in
the acquired skills can result in non-recognition and the identified difference
must be significant enough to jeopardize the continuation of the student's further
academic success. In accordance with the principle of the reversal of the
burden of proof, the recognizing university is responsible to constitute and
document a recognition denial.
Five criteria—quality of the institution, level of study (Bachelor's/Master's), learning outcomes, workload and profile of the study programs—function as the basic framework for the identification of a potential substantial difference, whereby the superordinate criterion of learning outcomes subsumes the others. The criteria of study level, workload and profile of the study programs can only be a reason for rejection of recognition if a significant difference in the learning outcomes can be established.
The transfer of credits should ideally be discussed and agreed upon BEFORE your stay abroad.
What is a Learning Agreement?
A Learning Agreement is a "contract", in which it is agreed upon which courses that will be taken while studying abroad will be recognized for the degree to be obtained at Goethe University (given that they will be completed successfully, i.e. at least with the grade satisfactory). The Faculty/Examination Office confirms with their signature on the Learning Agreement that the classes on the Learning Agreement will be recognized after successful completion.
Who signs the Learning Agreement?
Do I have to have a Learning Agreement?
While the Learning Agreement is a mandatory document for Erasmus students studying abroad, it is not obligatory for freemovers and participants of other exchange programs. However, the Learning Agreements confirms the transfer of credits before your stay abroad and gives you the security that classes will be recognized.
Template for a Learning Agreement
Please find the template that was created on the basis of the Erasmus Learning Agreement. You will find more information on page 4 of the document. If you need more space for more classes, use page 2 of the document twice.
The examination offices / faculties are in charge of recognizing credits and transferring grades from universities abroad. The information given here has been gathered by the Global Office of Goethe University and serves as a guideline and is not legally binding.
The Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) recommends transferring grades from abroad on the basis of the „Modifizierten Bayerischen Formel“. In order to apply this, you will need to know the highest possible grade as well as the lowest grade needed to pass of the grading system of the host institution. Thus, it is helpful to have an explanation of this grading system. Some universities have such an explanation on the official transcript of grades which all students receive after the end of the semester. Explanations of other grading systems can be found in the anabin databasis of the KMK (→ Bildungswesen → Land auswählen → Notensystem der Hochschulen; in German).
You may download an excel spreadsheet with the modifizierte bayrische Formel, in which the grades to be transferred can be inserted. Please note that not all offices in charge of transferring credits use this.
Faculty-specific
information on recognition processes can be found on the respective pages of
the faculties and institutes:
Each faculty or institute manages its recognition process independently as Goethe University does not enforce specific and binding central regulations. At the same time, students that seek recognition for academic achievements are responsible to participate in the recognition process. After their study abroad, students initiate the recognition of their credits by submitting a recognition application. While specific steps vary between faculties, the process can generally be divided into the following steps:
You can find further information on the topic of recognition on the website of the HRK-funded MODUS project if you are an administrator and on the corresponding AN! website if you are a student.
The
Hessian Higher Education Act forms the legal framework for higher education
recognition practices. State acts, furthermore, are based on the so-called Lisbon
Convention—a treaty drawn up by UNESCO and the Council of Europe in 1997 and
passed into German national legislation in 2007.
According
to the convention, internationally acquired higher education qualifications and
achievements must be recognized flexibly if there is no significant difference
in the acquired competences. The paradigm shift from the "principle of
equivalence" to that of a "substantial difference" is at the
heart of the change in recognition culture and aims to make the recognition of European
mobility more open and consistent. Only a documented substantial difference in
the acquired skills can result in non-recognition and the identified difference
must be significant enough to jeopardize the continuation of the student's further
academic success. In accordance with the principle of the reversal of the
burden of proof, the recognizing university is responsible to constitute and
document a recognition denial.
Five criteria—quality of the institution, level of study (Bachelor's/Master's), learning outcomes, workload and profile of the study programs—function as the basic framework for the identification of a potential substantial difference, whereby the superordinate criterion of learning outcomes subsumes the others. The criteria of study level, workload and profile of the study programs can only be a reason for rejection of recognition if a significant difference in the learning outcomes can be established.
The transfer of credits should ideally be discussed and agreed upon BEFORE your stay abroad.
What is a Learning Agreement?
A Learning Agreement is a "contract", in which it is agreed upon which courses that will be taken while studying abroad will be recognized for the degree to be obtained at Goethe University (given that they will be completed successfully, i.e. at least with the grade satisfactory). The Faculty/Examination Office confirms with their signature on the Learning Agreement that the classes on the Learning Agreement will be recognized after successful completion.
Who signs the Learning Agreement?
Do I have to have a Learning Agreement?
While the Learning Agreement is a mandatory document for Erasmus students studying abroad, it is not obligatory for freemovers and participants of other exchange programs. However, the Learning Agreements confirms the transfer of credits before your stay abroad and gives you the security that classes will be recognized.
Template for a Learning Agreement
Please find the template that was created on the basis of the Erasmus Learning Agreement. You will find more information on page 4 of the document. If you need more space for more classes, use page 2 of the document twice.
The examination offices / faculties are in charge of recognizing credits and transferring grades from universities abroad. The information given here has been gathered by the Global Office of Goethe University and serves as a guideline and is not legally binding.
The Kultusministerkonferenz (KMK) recommends transferring grades from abroad on the basis of the „Modifizierten Bayerischen Formel“. In order to apply this, you will need to know the highest possible grade as well as the lowest grade needed to pass of the grading system of the host institution. Thus, it is helpful to have an explanation of this grading system. Some universities have such an explanation on the official transcript of grades which all students receive after the end of the semester. Explanations of other grading systems can be found in the anabin databasis of the KMK (→ Bildungswesen → Land auswählen → Notensystem der Hochschulen; in German).
You may download an excel spreadsheet with the modifizierte bayrische Formel, in which the grades to be transferred can be inserted. Please note that not all offices in charge of transferring credits use this.
Faculty-specific
information on recognition processes can be found on the respective pages of
the faculties and institutes:
Goethe University Frankfurt
Global Office
Eschersheimer Landstraße 155
c/o House of Labor
3rd floor
60323 Frankfurt am Main
Student Mobility Team Outgoing
Study Abroad
Olaf Purkert
Jule Türke
Paula Faber
E-Mail: outgoing@uni-frankfurt.de
Internships Abroad / PROMOS
Luisa Döhner
E-Mail: internship@uni-frankfurt.de
promos@uni-frankfurt.de