RECOGNITION OF PRIOR Achievements
IN YOUR ONLINE STUDIES

Achievements from a degree programme (university credits)

• Transcript/achievement overview of previous study achievements and ECTS-CP/hours
• Module handbooks & course contents (German or English)
• For academic achievements at foreign universities: Overview of their evaluation system

In justified cases, we reserve the right to request certified copies

Previous achievements from education/further training

• Official proof of completed training or further training (e.g. IHK examination certificate, certificates)
• Presentation of the technical contents imparted – Evidence of the achievements and teaching hours attained
• In the case of further training at foreign institutes: Overview of their evaluation system

In justified cases, we reserve the right to request certified copies

Certificates

• Presentation of the contents taught and/or proof of the time required

In justified cases, we reserve the right to request certified copies

Achievements from professional experience

• Official proof of employment from the employer including the following information: Detailed description of the function, the tasks and the period of time

Please use the form "Employer's confirmation (Bachelor's)" or "Employer's confirmation (Master's)"

or

alternatively, submit a qualified reference (including all the above information).

In justified cases, we reserve the right to request certified copies.

Tips for your recognition process

General notes

• We can only check applications that have been completed in full.
• For your recognition, we always need appropriate proof.
• You must submit any missing documents within four weeks of submitting your application or our request for missing documents.
• We consider successfully completed achievements if they correspond to the level and learning outcome of the module/course for which you want to have them credited.
• All documents/proofs must be available to us in German or English. Certificates in other languages must be translated by a certified translator or by the university/continuing education provider who issued the documents. The decision on the recognition of prior achievements lies with the Examination Board or a person appointed by it.
• If an aptitude test is required as an admission prerequisite for your entry into the study programme, we cannot credit you with the specific modules required from it.
• You are enrolled from the date on which you officially start your Bachelor's or Master's study programme. This does not include participation in aptitude tests, TASC examinations or admission courses.
• In the case of new study programmes or re-accreditations, you can only apply for recognition at the start of the new study programme.
• Please note that changes in the curriculum may affect your reviewed recognition.

Your recognition of work experience

• In total, we can recognise up to 50% of the ECTS points for your study programme.
• For the recognition of a professional qualification, we need proof through your qualified work certificate/official job description or your completed employer confirmation from IU.
• Your experience must correspond to the level and learning outcome of the module/course you want to have recognised.
• We can only recognise professional qualifications that you have not acquired within the scope of an apprenticeship after three years of full-time study (Bachelor) and if your qualification is relevant. The vocational training period does not count as work experience. With three years of full-time work experience, we can recognise your qualification with up to 5 ECTS.
• At Master's level, at least five years of professional activity in a full-time managerial position are required for the one-time award of 5 ECTS.
• The recognition of professional training is only possible if your certificate of participation contains information on the contents and the time frame.

Your recognition of university experience

• Provide evidence of all achievements that you would like us to recognise by means of examination certificates and the corresponding module descriptions.
• The recognition of final theses (Diplom thesis or Bachelor’s/Master's thesis) is generally excluded.
• We recognise foreign languages if the language level according to the CEFR is noted on your certificate. If you have a university entrance qualification, we can automatically recognise the language level B2 in the online study programme.

For the transfer of your grades:

• For recognised achievements, we take the grade of the external German university/institution at which you attained the respective achievement, if this corresponds to the grading system of IU.
• If our grading system does not match that of the university/institution at which you were enrolled, we will convert your grades using a table and transfer them to the IU system. In the case of non-comparable grading systems, we recognise your performance without grading.
• If your recognition relates to competencies that you have acquired in different courses with a different assessment, this is done without grading and with the remark "passed" ("Bestanden").

Your cost reduction

Our tip in advance: In order to benefit from a cost reduction, you must submit your application for recognition by the end of your trial month at the latest. This way, you reduce the number of your monthly instalments – the amount of the instalments itself does not change.

• Your supplementary agreement on the amount of the price reduction is valid from the official enrolment date. For legal reasons, we can only officially recognise your previous achievements once you are enrolled.
• Your tuition fee is reduced by 30 euros per recognised ECTS point.
• In order for us to grant you a cost reduction, you must submit any missing documents no later than four weeks after submitting your application or our request for missing documents.
• You are not entitled to printed teaching materials in recognised courses. They can be provided to you upon request and for a fee. However, you can still view the scripts via the free Interactive Book. 

Information on exam registration

In case your studies start at the same time as your application for recognition is being reviewed: When you start your studies, please do not enrol in any of the courses for which you have applied for recognition. We can only enter your approved courses after the process has been completed and you have matriculated.

Your advantage: You are not bound to a fixed semester plan when choosing courses, but remain completely flexible.

In the case of new study programmes, the new modules are only available at the beginning of the respective semester (see study schedule of the full-time model in the download area of the website).

Please note: You cannot take an exam in this course once you have registered for recognition. If you have registered for an examination in a module for which you have also applied for recognition, your application for recognition for this module is invalid according to Section 7 (1) General Examination Regulations of IU.