Courses must be ‘passed' to be transferred to the programme.
For BEng programmes, transferred courses must be at the BEng level minimum, i.e. from an engineering college, a university college, or a university.
For BSc programmes, transferred courses must be at the university level. However, BSc students may have as many as 10 ECTS credits at the BEng level as part of the Elective Courses in their BSc programme (valid from 1 September 2020).
For MSc programmes, transferred courses must be at the MSc level. However, MSc students may have as many as 10 ECTS credits at the BSc level as part of the Elective Courses in their MSc programme.
Students cannot get pre-approved credit above the prescribed total ECTS credits for the study programme and must always try to plan their study according to the prescribed total ECTS credits for the programme. Also, see DTU Inside under 'Study rules'/Teaching'/'Course registration'/'Rules for choice of courses'.
Students cannot have pre-approved or credit-transferred courses that are to replace one or more courses the student is bound by. The head of studies cannot grant the student an exemption from this rule. See the rules on binding courses under Study rules/Teaching/Binding courses.
As a minimum, BEng and BSc students must pass courses and projects at DTU corresponding to 90 ECTS credits (BEng Arctic Technology and Fisheries Technology minimum105 ECTS credits and BEng Global Business Engineering minimum 120 ECTS credits) to receive a diploma for a full-time study programme at DTU. This rule does not apply to pre-commencement credit transfers.
MSc students must, as a minimum, pass courses and projects at DTU corresponding to 60 ECTS credits to receive a diploma for a full-time study programme at DTU. This rule does not apply to pre-commencement credit transfers.
Choice of courses
Regarding credit transfer to BSc and MSc programmes, a distinction is made between specific engineering courses and general engineering courses. Courses that do not have technical-scientific content, but fall within the learning objectives of the study programme, are categorized as general engineering courses. These courses are considered part of the elective courses. Students may earn the following number of ECTS credits within the general engineering course category:
- 15 ECTS credits on the BSc programme
- 10 ECTS credits on the MSc programme
Language and culture courses
Language and culture courses cannot be transferred to the programme. neither in connection with pre-commencement credit transfer.
Final projects
A final project from another Danish or foreign educational institution cannot be transferred to a study programme at DTU. Further rules regarding final projects (BEng project, BSc project, and Master's thesis), including the possibility of preparing the project abroad, are stated in the programme specifications for the said programme.
MSc students passed MSc courses at their bachelor's programme
On DTU Inside under 'Study rules'/'Teaching'/'Course registration', you can read about the situation where a master's student on his/her BSc or BEng programme has passed a course that is a general competence course or a technological specialization course in his/her master's programme, and which course the student should choose instead.
Pre-approval of credit transfer
Before taking a course/going abroad, students are obliged to apply for pre-approval of credit transfer for planned programme elements from another university or another institution of higher education in Denmark or abroad.
It is the student's responsibility to ensure that the desired courses can be included in the programme's maximum allowed ECTS credits. If the student plans with odd credits in relation to DTU's credit structure of 2½, 5 and 10 ECTS, the student must make sure to plan with other courses so that the plan works out. This can be done, for example, by using EuroTeQ courses or project courses.
If the pre-approved courses, which the student is taking at the host university, change during the semester, the student must submit a new application for a pre-approval of credit transfer. Each application must include a complete list of courses taken at the host university. A new decision for the same period and the same host university will replace former decisions.
By applying, students give their consent to DTU requesting the necessary information from the host institution regarding the application if the students are unable to procure the documentation themselves.
The pre-approval of credit transfer is registered in the study administration system but will not appear in the Study Planner until the student has passed the courses and applied for final credit.
It is impossible to pre-approve more ECTS credits than there is room for in the student's study programme/framework.
Final credit transfer
The student is obliged to apply for final credit for all passed courses and ECTS credits. It is a requirement that all passed ECTS credits must be credited. The student can, therefore, not choose to only apply for credit transfer for some of the passed courses or ECTS points. Once a course has been passed, final credit must be sought, and the credit is binding to the student and cannot be withdrawn. However, according to DTU's specific assessment, fewer ECTS may be transferred if this is necessary in order for the study plan to fit the limit of ECTS credits in the study programme.
In connection with credit transfer for completed programme elements from another educational institution, the assessment ‘Pass’ will appear on the student’s DTU diploma. That applies to both pre-commencement credit transfer and credit transfer during the study programme.
With their application, the student gives their consent that DTU can obtain necessary information for the application, which the student cannot obtain themselves, at the host university.
Submission of applications
Applications for pre-approval of credit transfer and final credit transfer are submitted electronically via www.merit.dtu.dk. Other inquiries regarding credit transfer are sent to merit@adm.dtu.dk via the student email.
Applications must include the following:
- Course description
- Documentation of level
- Documentation of workload (ECTS/credits)
- As regards final credit transfer, documentation of passed and failed courses, and an official description of the grading scale, according to which the course is assessed.
Decision-making authority
The Board of Exemptions for the BSc and MSc programmes (CMDU) and the Board of Exemptions for the BEng programmes (DMDU) have authorized the heads of studies and the Office for Study Programmes and Student Affairs (AUS) to make decisions in cases related to credit transfer. A decision on credit transfer is not valid until a written decision has been issued to the student by the Office for Study Programmes and Student Affairs (AUS) via email or www.merit.dtu.dk.
Appeal against decision
If the student does not get their application granted, they can appeal the decision via email to merit@adm.dtu.dk.
If the complaint concerns the academic assessment of final credit transfer for Danish educational elements (including pre-commencement credit transfer) or pre-approval of credit transfer for Danish as well as foreign educational elements, it is processed by a credit transfer appeals board. That only applies if the decision concerns a BSc or MSc student. The deadline for lodging this type of complaint is two weeks from the day the decision letter is sent to the complainant.
If the complaint concerns the academic assessment of a BSc or MSc student’s final credit transfer for foreign educational elements (including pre-commencement credit transfer) or the academic assessment of pre-approved or final credit transfer for a BEng student, it is processed by the Qualifications Board. The deadline for lodging this type of complaint is four weeks from the day the decision letter is sent to the complainant.If the complaint concerns legal matters (for example, that the case is not processed according to the existing law/acts or according to principles of the administrative act), it is processed by the relevant Dean. The deadline for lodging this type of complaint is two weeks from the day the decision letter is sent to the complainant.