Transferring ECTS Credits Between European Universities: Recognition of Prior Study

Why ECTS makes credit transfer possible

ECTS was designed to do two things: accumulate credits toward a degree and transfer credits between institutions. Because a credit reflects student workload in a shared framework across the European Higher Education Area, a course you completed at one university can, in principle, be recognised toward a programme at another.

The key word is recognised, not automatic. Transferring credits means the receiving university agrees that what you already studied is equivalent to part of its own programme. That decision belongs to the receiving institution, which assesses the level, content and workload of your prior study.

The documents that carry your credits

Three documents do most of the work. The Transcript of Records lists the courses you completed, their ECTS credits and your grades. Where you are planning a move in advance, a Learning Agreement sets out which courses will be taken and recognised. The Diploma Supplement, if you have completed a degree, describes the qualification as a whole.

These are the official ECTS tools, and the receiving university will usually want to see your transcript and, depending on the situation, agree a learning agreement. Always follow the receiving university's own official instructions on which documents it needs and how it wants them.

• Transcript of Records — your completed courses, ECTS and grades
• Learning Agreement — agreed in advance, mapping courses to be recognised
• Diploma Supplement — describes a completed qualification (if applicable)
• Module/course descriptions — used to compare content and level

Transfer when you change programme or arrive with prior study

There are two common situations. In the first, you move from one full programme to another — for example, continuing a degree at a different university — and ask for prior credits to be counted so you do not repeat study. In the second, you arrive with prior study (a partly completed degree or specific courses) and want advanced standing.

In both cases the receiving university maps your previous courses against its own curriculum, deciding which credits are equivalent and how many transfer. This is distinct from an Erasmus+ exchange, where credit recognition is arranged through a structured exchange agreement and learning agreement before you go; here you are seeking recognition of study you have already done.

How the credit-mapping assessment works

When you request a transfer, the receiving university compares your completed courses to its programme requirements. It looks at the level (which cycle), the content (what the course covered) and the workload (the ECTS), and decides which of your credits satisfy parts of its degree.

Not every credit will necessarily map across, and how many transfer depends on how closely your prior study matches the new programme. Some courses may count as direct equivalents, others as general electives, and some may not be recognised at all. The university's admissions or credit-recognition office is the authority on its own rules — confirm the process, limits and any deadlines on its official site.

How to approach a transfer in practice

Plan early and deal directly with the receiving university. The clearer and more complete your documentation, the easier it is for them to assess your prior study fairly.

• Identify the receiving programme and its credit-recognition rules on the official university site
• Gather your Transcript of Records and detailed course/module descriptions
• Ask the credit-recognition or admissions office how to submit a transfer request
• Where the move is planned ahead, ask whether a Learning Agreement is used
• Confirm any deadlines and document formats on the official source — never assume