Recognition of credits

Shortening a degree programme involves the recognition of University Educational Credits (CFUs) in relation to university activities undertaken in previous study programmes, i.e. completed as a result of being awarded a degree, or not completed due to withdrawal or loss of student status.

You can only apply for recognition in your first year of enrolment.  For A.Y. 2024/25, you can do this from 25 July 2024 to 28 November 2024.

To submit your application, once you have enrolled, go to Studenti Online:

• submit your application by clicking on the "Shorten degree programme" menu;
• enter the required details;
• pay the €100 fee and the €16 stamp duty. Once you have paid, you cannot withdraw your application, regardless of the outcome.

If you have a foreign qualification

You must also upload:

• a copy of the original foreign qualification, translated, with confirmation of authenticity, and documentation confirming its value;
• a certificate listing the examinations passed, provided in the original copy and in a translated copy, with confirmation of authenticity; alternatively, a legalised Diploma Supplement containing the list of examinations, the official syllabi of all the educational activities completed to obtain the foreign qualification or the individual examinations taken abroad, with an Italian translation thereof;
• the syllabi must be accompanied by a declaration of the issuing institution, confirming their authenticity and that they correspond to the activities completed. This declaration must be attached to the syllabi, specifying the total number of pages, must be signed and stamped, and must include a confirmation of authenticity; alternatively, each page must be stamped, signed and must include a confirmation of authenticity. 

Check how to translate your qualifications and verify their authenticity and value, as well as for any exemptions.

The application will be assessed and a decision will be taken by the Degree Programme Board on:

• the recognition of credits;
• enrolment in a year subsequent to the first one, for open-access and restricted-access degree programmes that do not provide for a specific call for admission in the years subsequent to the first year.

Some restricted-access degree programmes have a specific call for applications for admission to the years following the first. Go to the “Enrol” section of the degree programme website and read the information about the call for applications.

There are 2 possible outcomes:

1. The application is not accepted and no credits are recognised;
2. The application is accepted and you receive full or partial recognition of CFUs from exams and training, possibly also with access to years after the first.

If your CFUs are recognised, remember that:

• they do not count towards the graduation average;
• you cannot waive credits that have been recognised by the Degree Programme Board;
• recognition of credits can influence any assessment of merit required to obtain special subsidies in relation to the right to higher education. 
  The year to be taken into account when checking the number of CFUs required as a merit requirement is the year in which you were admitted as a result of the recognition of CFUs acquired in your previous degree programme. In addition, only the CFUs recognised for the programme of enrolment are valid in the right to further education calls for applications;
• in the calculation of fees, the recognition of credits may affect all the merit assessments required. 
  The year to be taken into account when checking the number of CFUs required as a merit requirement is the year in which you were admitted as a result of the recognition of CFUs acquired in your previous degree programme.
  To qualify for a fee reduction, CFUs must have been obtained between 10/8/2023 and 10/08/2024, with no exceptions.

This refers to the recognition of examinations already taken at your university of origin so as to consider them valid for the new degree programme at the University of Bologna to which you intend to transfer.

The Degree Programme Board of your degree programme of choice will examine your career and decide which exams to recognise.

Each transfer involves two universities – the timing and methods will depend on your degree programme of choice and university of origin.

When transferring, all the examinations taken at your previous university will be automatically assessed and possibly recognised, without any further action on your part.

Verification of methods, timing and costs

This refers to the recognition of examinations already taken as part of a degree programme at the University of Bologna in the event of transferring to another degree programme offered by the same university.

Based on your academic background, the Degree Programme Board of the programme to which you wish to transfer will assess the recognition of credits already earned and the year of admission to the programme.

A transfer application is required to change degree programme. This process will involve the Student Administration Offices of both your current and new degree programme (if different).

In order to transfer to a new degree programme, you must check your career status, make sure that you have paid all tuition fees and submit a transfer application via Studenti Online by the deadline set year by year by the university.

Remember to check the entry requirements set out in the call for applications or admission notice of the target programme.

Verification of methods, timing and costs

The recognition of credits in progress is the recognition of CFUs related to:

• professional knowledge and skills certified in accordance with the relevant regulations, or extra-curricular activities (e.g. employment, extra-curricular internships);
• knowledge and skills acquired in post-secondary training activities planned and implemented with the collaboration of the university (e.g. summer and winter schools, teacher training courses).

You can apply at any time of the year after you have completed the activity and in any case at least 60 days before the deadline for the administrative requirements for admission to the final examination.

If you wish to apply for recognition of extra-university activities in lieu of a curricular internship, please send the applicable form found on your programme’s website to the Student Administration Office.

If, on the other hand, you would like to apply for recognition of credits accrued during your university career as part of other post-secondary training activities, please contact your Student Administration Office.

In the case of submitting foreign documentation to support your request, check with the Student Administration Office whether this needs to be translated and its authenticity verified.

Your application will be assessed by your Degree Programme Board.