Recognition of academic achievements
Here you can find information about the recognition of coursework and examinations at the TUM School of Life Sciences. Prerequisite for the recognition is that you are already enrolled in the degree program for which the recognition should be granted. Please fill out the application for recognition of coursework and examination results*. Follow the written instruction on how to fill out the form or the video-instructions for filling the form (German only) and the information regarding the different types of recognition.
Please send the complete application for recognition including all required documents to recognition.co(at)ls.tum.de
General information about the recognition of coursework and examination results
The exact procedure of the recognition process is shown in this diagram. In the illustration below you will also find explanations regarding the different types of recognition. Please read the information provided on the type of recognition that applies to your case and follow the respective application procedure (e.g. deadlines, documents to be submitted).
If you have submitted all the documents completely and on time, your application will be presented to the examination board for decision. The decision-making process normally lasts approximately 6-8 weeks. Due to high demand, there may currently be even longer waiting times. If your recognition is urgent, for example because of an upcoming graduation, please send it to us early and write your reason for urgency in your mail. We will try to prioritize your application if there are sufficient reasons. You will be informed by the examination board about the outcome by email and approved recognitions will then be entered into your TUMonline account.
Depending on the amount of credits that you receive due the recognition, you may be assigned to a higher semester.
Which recognition cases are meant?
This category includes all coursework and examinations that were completed within TUM before the current degree program, such as:
- Coursework and examinations completed in a previous TUM bachelor's degree program which shall now be recognized in another TUM bachelor's degree program.
- Coursework and examinations completed in a previous TUM master's degree program which shall now be recognized in another TUM master's degree program.
- Graduation certificate relevant examinations completed in a previous TUM bachelor's degree program which shall now be recognized for a required module in a TUM master's degree program.
- Additionally completed coursework and examinations that were not graduation certificate relevant in a previous TUM bachelor's degree program and shall now be recognized for a required module or a required elective module or an elective module in a TUM master's degree program.
What to consider?
The application for recognition of credits from a degree program prior to the current degree program can only be handed in once and within the first year of study (APSO §16 (4)).
Modules that have already been relevant to a bachelor's degree certificate can be recognized as required modules in a master's degree program, as long as they are equivalent (see in the glossary: Equivalency Assessment). You will be informed whether the equivalence assessment is necessary after submitting the application.
Modules that have already been relevant to a bachelor's degree certificate cannot be recognized as required elective or elective modules in the Master's degree (APSO § 8(2)).
What documents do I need to submit?
- Completely filled and signed application for recognition
- TUM module descriptions of the modules that should be recognized
What recognition cases are meant?
This category includes all coursework and examinations that were completed at an external national or international university prior to the current degree program, such as:
- Coursework and examinations completed in a previous external bachelor's degree program which shall now be recognized in a TUM bachelor's degree program.
- Coursework and examinations results completed in a previous external master's degree program which shall now be recognized in a TUM master's degree program.
- Graduation certificate relevant coursework and examinations completed in a previous external bachelor's degree program which shall now be recognized for a required module in a TUM master's degree program.
- Additionally completed coursework and examinations that were not graduation certificate relevant in a previous external bachelor's degree program and shall now be recognized for a required module or a required elective module or an elective module in a TUM master's degree program.
What to consider?
The application for recognition of credits from a degree program prior to the current degree program can only be handed in once and within the first year of study (APSO §16 (4)).
Modules that have already been relevant to a bachelor's degree certificate can be recognized for required modules in a master's degree program, as long as they are equivalent (see in the glossary: Equivalency Assessment). You will be informed whether the equivalence assessment is necessary after submitting the application.
Modules that have already been relevant to a bachelor's degree certificate cannot be recognized as required elective or elective modules in the master's degree (APSO § 8(2)).
If the coursework and examination results to be recognized originate from a university of which the grading system does not correspond to the grading system of TUM, the grade will be calculated by using the Bavarian formula (APSO §16 (6) & (7)).
The relevant documents of the external university must be submitted in German or English. Documents written in other languages cannot be processed. If necessary, please provide a certified translation (APSO § 16 (4))
What documents do I need to submit?
- Completely filled and signed application for recognition
- Detailed module descriptions of the modules to be recognized. In particular, these should describe the acquired competencies in detail and contain information regarding learning outcomes and workload.
- Official sealed or stamped transcript of records from the external university (Please highlight the relevant coursework and examinations that are to be recognized. For example, you can mark them in color).
- Information about the grading system. This is usually included on the transcript of records. If this is not the case, please enclose separate information about the grading system.
What recognition cases are meant?
- Subject-relevant elective modules selected from the TUM overall course offer shall be recognized in the current degree program. Please refer to the respective FPSO to find out whether this is possible in your degree program.
- Any modules completed as part of a double degree program at TUM shall be recognized in the respective other degree program.
What to consider?
In the above mentioned cases, please submit the application for recognition before taking the examination(s). This is the only way to ensure that the requested module can be recognized in your current degree program.
TUM modules that you completed during your current studies and that have been rejected by the examination board will be listed on a separate page in the Transcript of Records as additional courses when the final documents are prepared. In this case, they are not included in the curriculum of your degree program and are consequently not considered in the calculation of the final grade.
What documents do I need to submit?
- Completely filled and signed application for recognition
- TUM module descriptions of the modules that should be recognized
What recognition cases are meant?
- Coursework and examinations completed in a study abroad program as part of a grant for which a learning agreement is available (e.g. Erasmus+ or TUMexchange).
- Coursework and examinations completed during a required or voluntary stay abroad as part of your current degree program (study abroad or international internship) for which no Learning Agreement is available.
- Coursework and examinations completed at another German university during your current degree program.
What should be consider?
The application for recognition of coursework and examinations completed during semesters of leave of absence may only be submitted once in the semester following the leave of absence (new regulation from 01.04.2024).
Please note that you may not submit an application for recognition during a semester of leave of absence (for further information and exceptions, see Leave of Absence).
Externally completed coursework and examinations that are intended to replace a TUM module might have to be assessed for equivalency. You will be informed whether the equivalence assessment is necessary after submitting the application.
If the coursework and examination results to be recognized originate from a university of which the grading system does not correspond to the grading system of TUM, the grade will be calculated by using the Bavarian formula (APSO §16 (6) & (7)).
Please discuss possible recognition options with the international affairs delegate or with your study advisor during the planning phase of your stay abroad.
The relevant documents of the external university must be submitted in German or English. Documents written in other languages cannot be processed. If necessary, please provide a certified translation (APSO § 16 (4))
What documents do I need to submit?
- Completely filled and signed application for recognition.
- Detailed module descriptions of the modules to be recognized. In particular, these should describe the acquired competencies in detail and contain information regarding learning outcomes and workload.
- Official sealed or stamped transcript of records from the external university (Please highlight the relevant coursework and examinations that are to be recognized. For example, you can mark them in color).
- Information about the grading system. This is usually included on the transcript of records. If this is not the case, please enclose separate information about the grading system.
For external coursework and examination results that are intended to replace a TUM module there must not be any substantial differences in the acquired competencies (learning outcomes) regarding the TUM module that you want to substitute. Equivalency has to be confirmed by the person / lecturer who is responsible for the TUM module. If, on the other hand, the module you want to substitute with the recognition is identical to the recognized module (this means they have an identical TUM module number, e.g. WZ0123), there is no equivalency assessment required.
The Campus Office will check if in your case of recognition a confirmation of equivalency by the lecturer is required. Therefore, the application can be submitted initially without the signature of the lecturer being responsible for the module. If a confirmation of equivalency is required, the Campus Office will contact you and ask you to obtain the necessary signatures.
The equivalency assessment is carried out by the TUM lecturer based on the submitted detailed module description. The result of the equivalency assessment is documented on the recognition form and confirmed by signature and stamp.
If more credits are recognized, you will be upgraded, whereby you will be promoted by one semester for every 30 credits recognized; from 22 credits beyond this, you will be promoted by a further semester.
Example: You have been recognized for 56 (= 30+26) credits from a previous degree course: Then you will be promoted by two semesters.
The Campus Office will arrange for you to be placed in a higher semester as soon as your application for recognition has been approved. You will therefore be automatically promoted and do not have to take care of the new semester assignment yourself.
Further questions about recognitions
If your questions could not be answered by the provided information on this page or if you could not find the recognition case that applies to you, please contact the student advisor responsible for your degree program. Depending on the degree program and the case of recognition, there might be deviations from the standard cases described above. In this case the respective student advisor will be pleased to help you.