Yes, examination credits that you have achieved at an institution of higher education (universities) in Germany or at universities abroad can be recognized for your new study course.

The Higher Education Act of Rhineland-Palatinate sect. 25 para. 3 states:
"Credits received at an institution of higher education (universities) shall be recognized if there are no significant differences with reference to the competencies acquired."

Credits that have been earned in a degree program at a national or foreign institution of higher education or at Trier University of Applied Sciences will be recognized, provided that the learning outcomes achieved in the process do not differ significantly in content, workload, qualification level and profile from those of the credit for which recognition is sought. In this context, an overall consideration must be made with regard to the significance of the achievements for the achievement of the objectives of the study program, the purpose of the examinations as well as the professional qualification.

In this sense, a substantial difference exists if the applicant is likely to be impaired in successfully completing the degree program if recognition is granted. The provision of sufficient information on recognition is the responsibility of the applicant.

Equivalence is given if, in a review of study periods, ECTS credits and examination performance, no substantial differences can be identified in the learning outcomes and/or in the structure of courses or study programs, in the quality as well as in the different academic and professional eligibility. In this context, no schematic comparison is to be made, but rather an overall consideration and assessment.

No, the same guidelines (equivalence, no substantial difference) apply to the recognition of foreign university credits as apply to the recognition of German university credits.

Please contact the International Office as well as the official in charge in your department/of your course of study to talk about the study program at the foreign university PRIOR TO your study abroad. This simplifies the recognition process after your stay.

If you spend your practical study phase / your internship as a semester abroad at a foreign university you must first sign a Learning Agreement with your supervising examiner. This is most important for students taking part in the Erasmus program.

After having successfully completed the foreign exams agreed upon, please submit your transcript of records or certificates together with all the necessary documents after the completion of your study abroad. The recognition process will generally be carried out by your supervising examiner. After receipt of the documents in the Studyservice Trier respectively in the examination office at UCB the credits for the practical phase of the semester / the internship as a semester abroad will be entered in the student administration system QIS.

Examination credits from your foreign university that exceed the compulsory necessary credits of your Learning Agreement may also be recognized and can possibly replace examination credits in your course of study at Hochschule Trier respectively at the UCB. Please submit your request by using the special application form of the of the respective study destination (Trier or UCB or Idar-Oberstein). The recognition process will be carried out by the lecturer whose examination is to be replaced, (or the study program officer) and the chairperson of the responsible examination board in charge. The request will be approved if there is no substantial difference between the examinations. The process is based on the criteria that are applicable for the recognition of examination credits achieved in Germany.

Please look up the regulations for the practical study phase / the practical semester / the study semester abroad of the respective departments or field of study or, if applicable, of the respective degree program. If applicable, these can be found as a download on the website of the respective study program.

Examination credits from your foreign university that exceed your Learning Agreement may also be recognized and can possibly replace examination credits in your course of study at the UCB. Please submit your request by using our application form. The recognition process will be carried out by the lecturer whose examination is to be replaced, the chairperson of the examination board in charge and the study program officer. The request will be approved if there is no substantial difference between the examinations. The process is based on the criteria that are applicable for the recognition of examination credits achieved in Germany.

Please look up the regulations for the practical study phase / the practical semester / the study semester abroad of the two departments on the internet. 

In the case of recognition, the grades achieved - insofar as the grading systems are comparable - are taken over and included in the calculation of the overall grade.

In general, the grade systems at foreign universities are different from the grade system in Germany. Therefore, grades that are to be transferred must be converted. There are different conversion methods such as the so-called modified Bavarian formula. The cooperation contracts with foreign universities generally include agreements on the conversion of grades. Information on what the guidelines are for your study program can be obtained from the responsible office. This can be: the department, subject area, study program management. Information about the responsible persons can be obtained from the Study Service Trier or the Examination Office at the Environmental Campus Birkenfeld, depending on the location at which the applicant is enrolled. Grades deriving from incompatible grade systems as well as knowledge and skills that were acquired outside the higher education system without proper grades being available will appear in the examination certificate as “passed”. The credit will be marked as a recognized grade. These credits are not factured into the overall grade.

Yes, knowledge and skills acquired outside the higher education system can be recognized if they are equivalent to the examination credits of the study course, and if the recognition does not impair the successful completion of studies. Recognition can only apply to a maximum of half of the study program.

The Higher Education Act of Rhineland-Palatinate states in sect. 25 para 3:
„…Equivalent knowledge and skills acquired outside the higher education system will generally be recognized to replace a maximum of half of the study program. The procedures and criteria for the recognition are laid down in the examination regulations….“

Our examination regulations/subject examination regulations and the General Examination Regulations of Trier University lay down the guidelines for the recognition of such certificates of achievement. In addition, decisions on these applications are made in the examination committees.

The recognition of knowledge and skills that were achieved outside the higher education system and the recognition of examination credits are both subject to the same regulations (see answer of question 2.).

Each application is checked by the lecturer whose examination is to be replaced on the basis of the submitted documents. If necessary there is another check by the program officer. Recognition will be approved by the chairperson of the examination board in charge. Recognition is possible if the submitted documents give proof that the knowledge and skills are equivalent to the examinations they are to replace with regard to contents and level. Knowledge and skills acquired outside the higher education system can only replace a maximum of half of the study program. The actual verification of equivalence is carried out on the basis of documents submitted by the applicant such as work samples, credentials, descriptions of subjects, curricula and so on. The applicant is supposed to establish proof of equivalence.

A case-by-case examination is carried out by the person responsible for the module to be replaced; if necessary, an additional examination is carried out by the head of the study program.

The approval of the credit is usually made by the chairing member of the responsible examination board.

Internal responsibilities are regulated for the review of applications for the recognition of achievements or for the crediting of non-university achievements.

Depending on the credits brought in, first either the person responsible for the module whose credits are to be waived by the recognition/credit, or the respective program management of the receiving program, will check whether the application can be granted. For concrete information about the responsibility, please contact the Study Service Trier or the Examination Office at the Environmental Campus Birkenfeld, depending on the place of study.

The decision on the application (approval/rejection) is made by the chairing member of the responsible examination board according to the previous review of the responsible persons.

In case of approval of the application, the entry of the recognition/credit in QIS will be made by the Study Service Trier with corresponding decision or the Examination Office at the UCB.

If the application is rejected, a corresponding rejection notice will be issued with reasons and instructions on how to appeal.

Yes, you can get information and applications for recognition of services here:

1. At the Trier University location via the Student Services or via the following link:
   https://www.hochschule-trier.de/hauptcampus/studium/informationen-service/studienservice/anerkennung-von-studien-und-pruefungsleistungen
2. At the campus location UCB at the examination office (shelves for forms in the corridor building 9924, first floor, north wing) and on the internet on the page of the examination office in the section "Downloads for students" as download. There is an application for the Department of Environmental Planning/Environmental Engineering (UPUT) and an application for the Department of Environmental Business Management/Environmental Law (UWUR).
   For foreign students there is a bilingual application (German/English). 

Depending on the study location, applications are submitted to the following offices:

1. At the Trier location at the Trier Student Services, from there the applications are forwarded to the responsible persons of the receiving study program for review and decision.
2. At the Environmental Campus Birkenfeld, the applicants must first obtain the signatures of the persons responsible for the module or the head of the study program (see page 2 of the application), then the application is handed in at the Examination Office and from there it is forwarded to the responsible chairing member of the examination board.
3. In Idar-Oberstein, the application must be submitted to the presiding member of the examination board.

After the documents containing the decision on the recognition have been returned, the recognized achievements are recorded in the examination administration system QIS by the Trier Student Services / UCB Examination Office. In case of rejection, a notice of rejection will be issued with reasons and instructions on how to appeal.

Applications for recognition of achievements should be submitted to the respective responsible office (see answer to question 10) within the first semester after enrollment at Trier University.

Students with prior study periods will receive a preliminary placement notice after enrollment, informing them about this deadline and the possibility of recognition of achievements.

An application for the recognition of credits must be completed by original documents that verify the contents, learning results, qualification aims, level of credits and the earned ECTS credit points as well as enable the university to check the equivalence. Appropriate documents may be descriptions of subjects, proofs of academic achievement etc.
The application for the recognition of credits cannot be processed without the appropriate documents.

The applicant is responsible for the submission of the appropriate documents.

After a positive recognition decision has been made, you will receive, if applicable, a notification of the final classification into a subject semester and the sum of the recognized ECTS credits. The recognized achievements are recorded in the respective current examination administration system (QIS).

If your application for recognition of achievements / crediting of university achievements cannot be approved (due to significant difference between the achievements), you will receive a notice of rejection from the Trier Student Services or the UCB Examination Office, depending on the place of study, which will include a statement of reasons for the rejection and instructions on how to appeal.

Advice and support on the subject of recognition of achievements / crediting of university achievements can be obtained, depending on the place of study, from the Study Service Trier or the Examination Office at the UCB or, for Idar-Oberstein, from the head of the study program.

For technical and content-related questions regarding the recognition of modules, the module supervisors of the omitted performance as well as the study program management of the study program in which the enrollment is to take place are the contact persons.

More information concerning the legal basis of the regulations for the recognition of credits and qualifications acquired outside the higher education system can be found in Art. 25 par. 3 of the Higher Education Act of Rhineland-Palatinate as well as in the examination regulations or subject examination regulations of the respective degree program and in the General Examination Regulations of Trier University in a separate paragraph.

In general, your applications are processed within three months after receipt.