Accreditation of coursework completed abroad

Procedures for recognizing academic achievements at foreign institutions vary from Faculty to Faculty, so you should seek advice from the respective academic office in due time before going abroad. This page provides initial guidance only and is intended to facilitate your search for the information and contacts you need.

Please note the links under "Kontakte Internationales an den Fakultäten" at www.uni-hamburg.de/internationales/weitere Beratungsstellen.

The European Union's Lisbon Recognition Convention, adopted by German Federal Law in 2007, requires universities to recognize academic achievements from foreign institutions. Such recognition can only be denied if the university can prove that the achievements under consideration are not equivalent.

A fundamental principle of the Lisbon Recognition Convention is that, as a rule, a university qualification must be recognized. The office responsible for recognizing achievements has the burden of proof in cases where an application for recognition does not fulfill criteria due to substantial differences. At Universität Hamburg, this would be the examination committee for the respective program. This principle is set forth in § 40 of the Hamburg Higher Education Act (HmbHG). In accordance with § 40 of the Hamburg Higher Education Act and the Lisbon Recognition Convention, skills acquired both within and outside of higher education institutions must be recognized.