Credit transfer - first and second cycle education

Credit transfer for previous higher education

As a student, which is defined as someone who is admitted and pursuing studies at Karolinska Institutet, you are entitled to apply for credit transfer for previous education, other education, work experience and other prior learning.

The course you wish to have credited must be completed and awarded a passing grade. For higher education studies, the right to credit transfer applies if there is a pass result and no substantial difference between the prior learning and the intended course at KI. This means that applications in such cases should be assessed generously.

Credit transfer of prior studies means that, as a student, you may have previously completed studies, professional experience, or other education recognised within your current programme of study. 

More detailed information about what applies to credit transfer for your specific programme or course is available on the for you relevant course or programme website.

Who takes the decision

The course examiner is responsible for decisions regarding the transfer of credits for entire courses or parts of courses.

Decisions about credit transfer regarding a major part of a programme, degree project or elective course are taken by the programme director or equivalent.

The decision is communicated through Ladok. 

Further information for what applies for your programme or course about credit transfer, how to apply and contact details can be found on the course- and programme websites.

Application for credit transfer

You apply for credit transfer via Ladok
(it is still possible to apply by sending in a form as per below to  the course administrator or programme officer). 

Application – apply well in advance

• Apply for credit transfer well before the course starts.
• The processing time may take up to eight weeks, even though applications should be handled as promptly as possible.
• For elective courses, specific rules apply for each programme at KI – check your programme website.
• If you have not received a decision by the course start date, you must register and begin the course.
• You may be asked to submit supplementary documentation by a specified deadline. If supplements are not submitted on time, the application will be decided based on the documents already submitted.

Before you apply – prepare the following

• Save all attachments as PDF documents. Only PDF files can be uploaded in Ladok.
• Be prepared to present originals of your PDF:s if required.
• Have the course code ready for the KI course you are applying to have credited (i.e. the course you wish to be exempted from taking).
• If you have questions about your application, contact your course administrator, study counsellor, or examiner.
• If you wish to invoke prior learning, such as professional experience, you must attach certificates of employment, employer references, and a self-assessment.

Attachments

Requirements for attachments

Attachments are the documents verifying your previous learning and you must upload together with your application.

• Attachments must be electronic originals or scanned copies of original documents in PDF format. Only PDF files can be uploaded in Ladok.
• Screenshots are not accepted.
• Transcripts from Swedish universities and higher education institutions must be verifiable (function available in Ladok).
• Other certificates must be certified (see below).
• In the free text field of the application, you can add any further information necessary for the application. 

Required attachments

You must attach both a transcript of records and a course syllabus of the education you have studied.

1. Transcript of Records of the completed studies. 

The transcript must show:

• Name of the higher education institution
• Course code
• Course title
• Grade and grading scale
• Date of issue

The transcript must include both completed and incomplete courses.

Transcripts from Ladok must be verifiable; otherwise, they must be certified.

Transcripts from foreign higher education institutions

• The transcript must be provided in both the original language and an English translation.
• It must include the institution’s name, course title, course code, scope/extent of studies, and date of issue.
• The transcript must be certified.

2. Course syllabus or equivalent of the completed education

The course syllabus must include:

• Name of the institution
• Course title
• Course code
• Structure/content
• Level of studies
• Scope/credits
• Assessment methods, format of the education
• Reading list.

The syllabus you attach must be the version that applied when you completed the course and that forms the basis for the credit transfer.

Degree project

If you are applying for credit transfer of a degree project, you must attach the completed degree project in PDF format.

Exchange studies

For exchange studies, also attach your Learning Agreement, in addition to the course syllabus and transcript of the completed studies from your exchange.

Other education or professional experience

Attach certified employment certificates, work references, and other documents that demonstrate your qualifications (prior learning).

A self-assessment must be attached to the application.

Your application is handled urgently but keep in mind that the process can take up to 2 months before you will get a decision. Therefore it is important to apply well in advance!

You cannot appeal against a favorable decision after the time for appeal has expired, that is, after three weeks. 

What implications does a credit transfer have on your studies?

A decision about granted credit transfer can affect your study situation in several ways:

• You do not and have the right to participate in the course/part of the course that you have been given credit for.
• The Swedish Board of Student Finance (CSN) does not grant study allowances for courses that have been credited.
• Courses within a programme are designed to be taken in a specific order, as set out in the syllabus. If you are enrolled in a programme and are granted credit transfer, there may be a period during which you have no scheduled studies, as you will not need to take the course(s) you have received credit for.

Credit transfer for other education and prior learning

For other education the right to apply is applicable if: the knowledge and skills you invoke are of such nature and extent that they essentially correspond to the education for which they are intended to be credited.

It is also possible to apply for credit transfer for corresponding knowledge and skills from professional experience and prior learning.

Prior learning is the combined skills of an individual, regardless of formal evidence. This competence can for example refer to knowledge and skills that have been achieved through work experience or education from outside higher education institutions.

Seven steps to apply for credit transfer via Ladok

Introduction

After logging in to Ladok and clicking on Credit Transfer, you will first reach an introduction page:
Application for credit transfer at Karolinska Institutet.

The application then proceeds in seven simple steps.

Step 1. Specify what you want credited (what you do not want to study at KI)

Enter the KI course you want to have credited, i.e. the course you wish to be exempted from. 

If you want to apply for credit transfer of exchange studies, courses from foreign universities, elective courses, prior learning, or a degree project, read up on what applies for your programme / course. If the course is not in Ladok choose “Select other”. 

Important: Start at the bottom of the page, by selecting whether you want the credit transfer to apply within a programme, programme specialisation, or doctoral subject, and choose the programme you are enrolled in.

Step 2. Specify the basis for your application – your prior learning

In this step, specify which completed qualifications you want to use as the basis for your application.

• Select whole or part of a course for merits documented in Ladok.
• The option Select other merits from Ladok is generally not used at KI.
• Select Other if you wish to use merits not documented in Ladok, such as exchange studies, elective courses, or documented professional experience. Supporting documents are attached in the next step.

Step 3. Upload attachments

Upload documentation that verifies your qualifications. Required attachments include transcripts and course syllabi or equivalent, as these are essential for an accurate assessment.

All attachments must be saved in PDF format. Name your files clearly using course code, course title, and your surname.

The attached course syllabus must be the version you completed.

If you wish to have credited:

• Degree project – attach the project in PDF format Agreement in addition to the above.
• Exchange studies – also attach the Learning Agreement in addition to the above.
• Prior learning/professional experience – attach certified certificates and a self-assessment using the template.

Step 4. Message

If you have additional information for the programme officer, you can enter it here, for example clarifications or information about a name change.

Step 5. Check email address

Tick the box once you have confirmed the email address that will be used for notifications in Ladok .

Step 6. Preview

Review all information in your application. If anything needs to be changed, you can go back.

Step 7. Receipt

You will receive a confirmation with a receipt and a case number.

You can then follow your case in Ladok under Credit Transfer.