Semester Placement and the Recognition of Credentials
You’ve already started, or even completed, a degree program. It’s often the case that you will need, in due time before your application or enrollment, a “semester placement” from the Examining Board for the subject (or both subjects for dual-degree programs) you’re studying at the University of Potsdam.
When do I need a semester placement?
A “semester placement” is required
- if you want to take up studies at theUniversity of Potsdam in a higher semester and you have already completed credentials that are similar to those in your desired degree program (whether in another degree program, at another university, or within an apprenticeship); therefore, you’ve already made progress and do not need to start in the first semester.
- if you were previously enrolled in a related or the same degree program. If you are planning, for example, to resume an interrupted degree program, to change universities, or to continue your studies in a similar or the same degree program - then you always need a semester placement, regardless of your actual progress!
This means that you can also be placed in a first semester. A placement in the first semester only confirms that you are allowed to apply for and enroll in a first semester.
When can I be placed in a higher semester?
If you have credentials that correspond to at least one semester’s work in the subject you intend to study at the University of Potsdam, you can be placed in a higher semester. The Examining Board decides which credentials are to be recognized and in which semester you will be placed.
How and when do I apply for a semester placement?
Please submit the Application for Semester Placement to the Examining Board for the intended subject(s) at the University of Potsdam in due time before application/enrollment/change. Please allow 6 weeks for processing!
If an application is submitted outside of the recommended timeframes, there is no guarantee that processing can still be completed by the relevant application or enrollment deadlines.
An application will be rendered moot if the deadlines for admission or enrollment for the semester applied for have expired.
A current academic transcript and, if applicable, further information, such as module descriptions or module handbooks, should be submitted with the application. If your previous studies were completed abroad, translations may also be required. No decision can be made on your application without the required documents.
Special rules for submitting applications apply in the following cases:
- If you want to study a subject at the Faculty of Science, please do not submit the Application for Semester Placement directly to the Examining Board(s); instead, always submit them via the Office of Studies and Teaching of the Faculty of Science. You can find more information on the pages of the Faculty of Science.
- If you want to study a subject at the Digital Engineering Faculty, please do not submit the Application for Semester Placement directly to the Examining Board(s); instead, submit them to studentaffairsuhpi.uni-potsdampde (Bachelor of Science IT-Systems Engineering) or master-infouhpipde (Master of Science Computer Science / Master of Science Digital Health).
- For applications for semester placement in the subject of law with the first state examination in law, please use this link.
- For applications for semester placement in the subject of psychology, please use this link.
What happens to the application for semester placement after it has been completed?
The subject area will send the processed application back to you. Afterwards, you may only apply/enroll/change for exactly the semester (“apply” for subjects with NC, “enroll/change” for subjects without NC) in which the placement has been made. In addition, an application/enrollment/change can only be made for a subject semester in which courses are offered. This information can be found in the current bachelor's program or master's program.
A semester placement must always be submitted for the semester in which the desired degree program is to begin. Once a placement has been issued, it cannot be reused for a subsequent semester. Therefore, if you were unable to use a semester placement for an application/enrollment/transfer, you must apply for a new semester placement.
The info about application and enrollment can be found here.
You can find information on changing subjects within the university here.
When and how does the recognition of previous credentials for degree programs at the University of Potsdam take place?
Once you have applied for enrollment/internal transfer (in the case of an NC, this is only possible after admission), you now submit the Application for Recognition to the Examining Board.
Attention: Please note the special features for subjects of the Faculty of Science and the degree program in law!
By the way:
If you have already submitted the Application for Recognition together with the Application for Semester Placement and received it back processed, this step is unnecessary. If you have not yet received the Application for Recognition, please remind the Examining Board to process the Application for Recognition now and send it to you.
Please note that, especially in dual-degree programs, recognition can and should also be granted for subjects outside of the actual subjects of study. This applies to the sub-area of key competencies in the dual-subject bachelor’s degree and to the sub-area of educational sciences or elementary school education/educational sciences in the teacher training program. A “semester placement” is not required for these sub-areas. It is sufficient to apply for “recognition” and to submit the Application for Recognition to the Central Examination Office quickly after it has been processed by the responsible Examining Board.
What happens to an Application for Recognition processed by the Examining Board?
You will receive the processed Application for Recognition back from the Examining Board. After successful enrollment, please submit the processed Application for Recognition immediately to the Student Administration Center/ Examination Office. Please use the “Upload documents” link in your PULS account. In the Central Examination Office, the recognized credentials noted in the Application for Recognition will be entered in your Potsdam transcript and you can continue your studies based on this (you can view your credit point overview via PULS).
Supplementary notes
- Basic information on crediting non-university knowledge and skills towards university studies (in German only)
- Basic information on the Recognition of Domestic and Foreign Study and Examination Credentials at the University of Potsdam (in German only)
Contact
Central Student Advisory Service
University of Potsdam | Division of Student Affairs
- telephone:+49 331 977-1715
- fax:+49 331 977-1065
- E-Mail:studienberatunguuni-potsdampde
address: Campus | Am Neuen Palais
Am Neuen Palais 10, House 8
14469 Potsdam
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