Recognition of Study and Examination Achievements

Lisbon Convention

In the context of the so-called 'Lisbon Convention' (Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region), all universities are required to adhere to the following principles:

• Concept of 'substantial difference': recognition can only be denied when, in accordance with the principle of equivalence, a substantial difference in acquired knowledge and skills has been identified.
• Reversal of the burden of proof: the university must demonstrate that foreign-acquired achievements cannot be recognized due to a 'substantial difference.'
  Obligation to provide reasons and the right to appeal: rejection of a requested recognition of achievement must be clearly justified, and the applicant must be informed of their right to appeal (in the form of legal recourse instructions).
• Duty to give reasons and right to object: A rejection of an application for recognition of benefits must be justified in a comprehensible manner. The applicant must be informed of their right to object (in the form of information on legal remedies).
• Information: the applicant must provide sufficient information about their previous studies for the recognition procedure to be conducted appropriately. However, all universities must also make relevant information and documents available (e.g., Transcript of Records, module handbooks, etc.).
   

Examination Regulations

The examination regulations for both Bachelor's and Master's degree programs each govern the recognition of study and examination achievements. In principle, they adhere to the Lisbon Convention, and consequently state:

"Achievements obtained in programs at other state or state-recognized universities, as well as state or state-recognized vocational academies, or in programs at foreign state or state-recognized universities, shall be credited upon request if there is no substantial difference in acquired competencies compared to the achievements to be replaced. The same applies to achievements obtained in other programs at the University of Bonn."

Source: § 7 (1) of the Bachelor and Master Examination Regulations 2018, hereinafter referred to as BMPO 2018 in their current version, or § 6 (1) of the Bachelor and Master Examination Regulations for Psychology 2018 in their current version, hereinafter referred to as Psychology-BMPO 2018.

The benchmark for recognition is "the significance of differences" (§ 7 (2) BMPO 2018/ § 6 (2) Psychology-BMPO 2018); for the definition of "significance," see the following sentences of the mentioned provisions.

Recognition of achievements often entails a reclassification into a higher semester in the case of a change of subject or university (see recommendation below).

The application must be formally submitted to the Examination Committee, represented by its administrative office, the Examination Office of the Faculty of Arts. The decision must be made within eight weeks (§ 7 (3) sentence 5 BMPO 2018/ § 6 (3) sentence 5 Psychology-BMPO 2018).

Grades are to be adopted according to the original achievements or converted for foreign grades. "In the case of non-comparable grading systems, the notation 'passed' shall be recorded." (§ 7 (4) sentence 3 BMPO 2018/)

You can find the application form for recognition of study and examination achievements here: Application for Recognition of Study and Examination Achievements.

The Procedure for Recognition of Achievements

Recognition of study and examination achievements is generally only done upon request. The application can be downloaded from the examination office's website and must be sent to the responsible subject's recognition officer along with the study documents serving as evidence of the already completed achievements (Transcript of Records, certificates, etc.) for prompt subject-specific recommendations. The completed recognition form, along with the evidence of previously completed achievements, is then forwarded to the examination office, where the decision on recognition is subsequently made, and the grading is recorded.

A general note: Ideally, complete modules should be recognized. Partial recognition of individual module elements is possible except for the module final examination.

Recognition Scenarios

Below, the procedures for the most common recognition scenarios are briefly described.

Study Period Abroad

Recognitions within the scope of Erasmus of study periods abroad are carried out in accordance with the Erasmus University Charter in the form of Learning Agreements, which are issued before or upon the completion of the study abroad semester.

Recognition of the study and examination achievements obtained during the study period abroad (this naturally applies to non-Erasmus study abroad as well) occurs upon return to the University of Bonn, in direct consultation with the academic advisory service. Using the performance documentation from the time abroad (Learning Agreement, Transcript of Records, etc.), the credits earned are credited to Bonn modules or module components using the recognition form from the Examination Office. The form, along with copies of the performance documents from the period abroad, is forwarded to the examination office. The examination office subsequently issues a decision as described above and records the recognized achievements. Accurate entry of module numbers, titles, grades, and points facilitates efficient administrative processing at the examination office.

Change of Subject within the University of Bonn

Even in the case of changing subjects within the University, the application process outlined in the section titled "The Procedure for Recognition of Achievements" must be followed (application, subject-specific recommendation, decision, recording). There is no automatic recognition and recording in the examination office. If you seek placement in a higher semester, please see the instructions further below. 

Change of Universities 

In the case of a change of universities, active application is essential because even when the subjects or subject combinations often remain the same, the otherwise highly heterogeneous course structures in Germany and Europe necessitate a thorough examination of the achievements obtained so far in line with the principles of the Lisbon Convention. If you seek placement in a higher semester as part of your change of university, please see the instructions below. 

Placement in a higher semester

Please note:  Regardless of whether you wish to change your subject or university, please submit the application for credit transfer and placement in a higher semester at the latest eight weeks before the Student Office application deadline for admission to a higher semester closes, which is July 15 for the winter semester and January 15 for the summer semester. If you do not submit the application by the respective deadlines of July 15 or January 15, we cannot guarantee that you will receive your notification from us in time to be able to submit it to the Student Office within the application deadline (September 15 /March 15). The processing time for credit transfer and advancement decisions can take up to eight weeks from the date of application. After being forwarded to the respective department, subject-specific recommendations are made and the final decision is sent back to the applicant by the Examination Office. The classification into a higher semester is based on the formula 'standard progress in studies minus 15 credit points' to ensure the possibility of completing the course within the standard duration of studies for further studies in Bonn. For example, if the applicant comes to Bonn after completing the 2nd semester and wishes to continue seamlessly in the 3rd semester, they should have earned at least 45 credit points.

NOTE: When changing the subject and/or university without recognition of achievements, the application for admission to the examination process declares that the course in the respective subject has not already been definitively failed.