The learning agreement decides whether achievements from your semester abroad later count towards your degree. It is a tripartite study agreement between you, your home university and the host university. If you complete it carefully, you secure recognition of the agreed achievements, provided you pass them. This guide explains the steps before, during and after your stay. The individual rules come from the University of Kassel and should be read as an example, because each university sets its own deadlines, responsibilities and minimum volumes.
Short answer: Using the University of Kassel as an example: the learning agreement is the tripartite study agreement for a semester abroad. It must be completed and signed before the stay begins and can be changed during the stay. A complete learning agreement submitted on time secures recognition, provided the achievements are passed. Responsibility there lies with the examination office of the faculty; at other universities this may differ. Last updated: November 2026.
Key points at a glance
- Before departure: complete the learning agreement in full and have everyone involved sign it.
- During the stay: agree changes with the cooperation coordinator and have them confirmed in writing.
- After your return: submit the transcript of records from the host university and the recognition certificate.
- In case of dispute: first contact the cooperation coordinator and the examination office, then, depending on the university, the competent examination board.
- The learning agreement does not replace the examination regulations of your university, it has to fit with them.
What a learning agreement is
The learning agreement is a tripartite study agreement between you, your home university and the host university. It sets out which achievements you intend to complete abroad and how they will be recognised at your home university. The University of Kassel describes the document as a contract that governs recognition there, and it is completed online.
The document is not a form to be filed away. It forms the basis for later recognition. Deviations should be documented so that the crediting remains traceable later, even if the course plan changes abroad.
When the learning agreement must be ready
The document must be completed and signed before the mobility begins. The signatures are given by the cooperation coordinators of the partner universities involved. The University of Kassel requires timely submission but names no specific deadline. Your international office or faculty therefore sets the exact date.
| Phase | Task | Document or proof |
|---|---|---|
| Before departure | Select courses, complete and sign the learning agreement | Learning agreement |
| During the stay | Agree and confirm changes | Learning agreement, during the mobility |
| After your return | Request proof of achievements and apply for recognition | Transcript of records, recognition certificate |
How recognition works
A complete learning agreement submitted on time secures recognition of the agreed achievements, provided they are successfully completed. At the University of Kassel, this commitment rests on the general provisions of the university (Section 20). For an Erasmus stay, the university requires at least 24 ECTS credit points.
The host university then sends a transcript of records listing the completed achievements. After that, you present the Erasmus recognition certificate to the examination office of your faculty and submit it to the international office. Responsibility for recognition therefore lies with the examination office, not with the international office alone.
Assumption: you plan 30 ECTS credit points at the host university. The University of Kassel requires at least 24 ECTS credit points for an Erasmus stay. Your plan therefore sits above this minimum, provided all achievements are passed. The calculation applies only to this example and not to other universities.
Typical pitfalls
- Courses listed in the learning agreement are missing or do not match the actual offer abroad.
- Changes are agreed only verbally and not confirmed in the document during the mobility.
- The recognition certificate is submitted many months after the return.
- Faculties have their own guidelines that apply alongside the rules of the university.
What the document needs
In the learning agreement you enter the courses of the host university with course title, course code and ECTS credit points. Make sure that each course can be assigned to a module at your home university. Ask in advance which details the examination office requires. A course described only roughly is harder to credit later, because the assignment then rests on guesswork.
Why agreement before departure matters
A simple rule applies: what is not in the learning agreement is harder to recognise later. This does not mean that nothing new may be documented. It means that deviations should be clarified early with the cooperation coordinator. That keeps your claim to crediting stable, even if the course plan has to be adjusted abroad.
What to do after your return
After your return the real work begins. The host university sends the transcript of records, but check that it is complete anyway. Compare it with your learning agreement. If course names, credits or grades do not match, clarify this at once, because the assignment is the responsibility of the examination office.
Converting grades and ECTS credits
Converting grades and ECTS credit points is not a calculation you should solve yourself. Recognition follows the rules of your university. Document which grading scale the host university used, and ask when your examination office requests a conversion. This avoids errors that would otherwise only surface at graduation.
Frequently asked questions
What happens if I fail a course abroad?
Then the commitment does not apply, because it depends on successful completion. Discuss this early with the cooperation coordinator and clarify whether a replacement course is possible. Any later change should be recorded in writing.
Can I change the learning agreement during my stay?
Yes, that is intended. You agree the changes with the cooperation coordinator and have them confirmed in the document learning agreement during the mobility. This keeps the recognition traceable.
Who is responsible for recognition?
At the University of Kassel, the examination office of the faculty is responsible for recognition; at other universities, responsibility may differ. The international office advises you on your rights in the recognition process, but it does not decide how the credits count towards your degree.
What if there is a dispute about recognition?
Contact the cooperation coordinator and the examination office first. Without agreement, depending on the university, the examination board of your faculty may come into play. Keep all documents that show the course plan and the arrangements made.
What to do now
- Compare your planned courses with the examination office of your faculty before completing the learning agreement.
- Have the learning agreement completed and signed by everyone involved before departure.
- Confirm changes during the stay in writing, ideally in the document during the mobility.
- Submit the transcript of records and the recognition certificate promptly after your return.
Related guides
- Planning a semester abroad: application, Erasmus and funding (in German)
- Planning a semester abroad within the standard period (in German)
- Funding study abroad: BAföG, Erasmus and scholarships (English guide)
- Health insurance during a semester abroad: what applies (in German)
- Work and Travel: the overview of countries, visas and budget (German hub, in German)
Sources: University of Kassel, Erasmus learning agreement and recognition (no date on the page, German text).
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
