How to apply for credit transfer

Credit transfer means that elements you have completed as part of a higher education corresponds to a part of the programme you have been admitted to. 

When you apply for admission at a higher education in Denmark, you are obliged to inform us whether you have completed Danish or international programmes on a similar level. It is also mandatory to inform us if you have been employed in the field. In other words, applying for credit transfer is mandatory. 

Credit transfer means that one or more of the educational elements you have completed as part of a Danish or foreign higher education corresponds to one or more parts of the programme to which you have been admitted to. 

You cannot participate in lectures or take exams in the educational parts of the programme you receive credit transfer for. 

For each individual applicant, VIA will make a professional evaluation of whether there are grounds for granting credit transfer. 

What are you required to inform us about?

When you apply for admission to one of VIA's programmes, you are required to inform us about the following:

  • Completed educations: You should inform us if you have already completed a higher education, such as a bachelor's or a master's degree
  • Completed parts of a higher education: You should inform us about completed parts of a higher education, even if the education itself was interrupted. This can be one or several exams, modules or semesters
  • Employment: If you can document relevant employment in relation to one of the programmes you are applying for, you must inform us of this and upload this along with your application. VIA decide on credit transfer based on the information you have supplied. 

What type of documentation should you attach? 

It is your responsibility to attach adequate documentation so that we can make a professional evaluation of whether or not to grant credit transfer. 

Documentation can consist of:

  • Exam results/transcript/certificate/study journal or something else that documents that the relevant educational element has been passed or approved
  • Employment contract, paychecks or a statement from a supervisor can serve as documentation for relevant business experience
  • Additional relevant documentation such as study plan, subject description, curriculum etc.

If you haven't attached adequate documentation, you will be contacted and asked for the necessary information. 

What does credit transfer mean for my educational process?

Mandatory credit transfer means that there are parts of the programme in which you will not be able to participate. This means that you may have to skip one or several semesters, because you have already completed courses that correspond to those parts of the programme. 

Credit transfer can also mean that you will not start your programme from the first semester, but later in the programme, corresponding to previously completed elements that you have been granted. 

When can you expect to get an answer? 

Credit transfer evaluations will be made shortly after you have been accepted to a programme at VIA. You will receive the credit transfer decision before study start. 

Adjust your study process

If you receive a notification that you are covered by mandatory credit transfer, VIA suggests that you get in contact with a student counsellor at your place of study in order to adjust your individual study process. 

Deadline for complaints about credit transfer evaluation

You can complain about the educational institution's credit transfer decision within four weeks from receiving the results of their decision. If your complaint has to do with procedural mistakes, you must complain within two weeks. 

Would you like to know more?

If you are in doubt about the rules for credit transfer, or if you want more information, you are welcome to contact a student counsellor at the programme you have applied for or want to apply for. 

Credit transfer for other than higher education and employment 

You always have the opportunity to apply for credit transfer for elements other than exam results and relevant work experience. 

These credit transfer evaluations are the same as for mandatory credit transfer (see above) but the difference is that you are not required to disclose them. 

You can also apply for credit transfer on another basis after you have been accepted to VIA. But make sure to do so in due time before you start the part of the programme you would like to be excused from. Credit transfer cannot be given retrospectively.