Recognition of academic credits from abroad

Since the ‘Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region’, known as the European Union’s Lisbon Convention, was ratified in Germany in 2007 and incorporated into federal law, higher education institutions have been required to recognise academic credits earned externally. Recognition of credits earned externally may only be refused if the higher education institution can demonstrate that they are not equivalent.
The burden of proof that an application for recognition does not meet the relevant requirements because there is a significant difference lies with the body responsible for recognition; at the TUHH, this is usually the Examination Board of the respective degree programme. This principle is enshrined in Section 40 of the Hamburg Higher Education Act (HmbHG).

Key principles of the Lisbon Convention (HRK)

For students:

• Information for students and FAQs 
• All TUHH regulations and documents relevant to your examinations: 
  • General provisions of the Study and Examination Regulations for Bachelor’s and Master’s degree programmes (ASPO),
  • Subject-specific provisions of the Study and Examination Regulations for your degree programme (FSPO) and their annexes (curricula, and where applicable, regulations for subject-specific practical training) 

For teaching staff:

• Information from the HRK for university teaching staff​​​​​​​

The recognition of academic achievements obtained abroad falls within the remit of the faculties/relevant programme coordinators in the dean’s offices.
The recognition procedure at TUHH is standardised and centrally regulated. 

Procedure for TUHH student exchanges (Erasmus/worldwide), ISAP and ECIU short-term mobility programmes (if funded by Erasmus):

Before the stay abroad:
Agree the course programme abroad and obtain a binding written agreement regarding recognition at the TUHH from the relevant programme coordinators using the mandatory Digital Learning Agreement (via Mobility Online)

After the stay abroad:
Automatic recognition via Mobility Online following the upload of the certificate/transcript of records from the partner university and other documents. 
The TU Hamburg Examination Office then records all successfully completed course credits for which recognition was previously agreed in the Digital Learning Agreement.

Here is the link to the intranet: Excel spreadsheets by Sarah / new DLA guide / new Examinations Office guidelines

Procedure for freemovers:

If you have studied at a university abroad that is not a partner institution of TU Hamburg, the recognition of your credits earned abroad will be handled by the Examinations Board.
You can find the recognition form on the Examinations Office website. Please submit the relevant application for the recognition of foreign academic achievements to the TUHH Examinations Office upon your return.

• Conversion of credits (mostly from non-European countries): 
  There are no standard conversion tables for credit points at TUHH. Each department decides on the conversion itself.
• Conversion of grades:
  Information on grade conversion can be found in this document, which explains the grade conversion system at the TUHH from the 2024/25 winter semester onwards.