FAQ recognition Business Administration and Economics

1) What is the minimum amount of courses I must take and the maximum I am permitted to take?

New study regulations (FSO)

• All BA and MA in Business Administration and Economics can do a max. of  30 ECTS credits per semester abroad (equivalent of 5 courses á 6 ECTS credits or for IBWL and IBA BA 3 courses á 6 ECTS credits with language qualifications recognition + exemption Unicert II 12 ECTS credits except English) will be recognized. Exception for IBWL with language qualification recognition Unicert III: max. 30 ECTS credits (= 3 courses á 6 ECTS credits + exemption Unicert III 18 ECTS credits only English).
• All BA and MA in Business Administration and Economics with a mandatory foreign study must complete a minimum of 2 courses (12 ECTS) abroad that can be recognized at Viadrina.
• All BA and MA in Business Administration and Economics without a mandatory foreign study are strongly encouraged to complete a min. of 30 ECTS credits credits although this isn’t strictly necessary. However the degree certificate states a stay abroad if one course (6 ECTS) that can be recognized is completed abroad.
  
  

Old study and examination regulations (SPO)

• All BA in Business Administration and Economics registered with the old study and examination regulations (SPO) can have a max. 45 ECTS creditds (equivalent of 9 courses) recognized. However, we strongly encouraged to complete a min. of 30 ECTS. Those enrolled in a double degree can, if necessary, have more than 45 ECTS credits recognized.
• All IBA Masters students registered with the old study and examination regulations (SPO) can have a max. of 6 courses recognized. However, the degree certificate states a stay abroad if one course that can be recognized is completed abroad. Those enrolled in a double degree can, if necessary, have more than 45 ECTS credits recognized.
• BA IBWL students must complete a minimum of 10 ECTS credits to fulfil the formal criteria of a stay abroad.
• BA and MA IBA students are encouraged to complete a minimum of 30 ECTS credits, although this is not formally required. However the degree certificate states a stay abroad if one course that can be recognized is completed abroad.

2) How many ECTS credits (units) must a foreign course contain?

 New study regulations (FSO)

• In principal 6 ECTS credits. Courses with a minimum of 5 ECTS credits will also be recognized. If a course contains less than 5 ECTS credits more than one course from the same area can be consolidated.

 TIP: In the American points system 3 Units comprise 5 ECTS credits.

 Old study and examination regulations (SPO)

• BA in Business Administration and Economics: In principal 5 ECTS credits. If a course contains less than 5 ECTS credits more than one course from the same area must be consolidated.
• MA in Business Administration and Economics: 5-7 ECTS credits depending on whether it is a T-, G-, E- or S-module.

3) How do I know if the course I am taking at the foreign university can be recognized?

 Basically, the policy adopted for the recognition of foreign studies and examinations applies.

For BA students the courses in the 3^rd year of study abroad that are recognized are mainly those that align strongly with modules that the Viadrina assigns and which do not significantly differ from these.

For MA students the courses in Masters study from the 4^th year of study abroad that are recognized are mainly those that align strongly with the Viadrina Masters modules (T-, G-, R-, S-module)  the Viadrina assigns and which do not significantly differ from these.

4) Where do I find information regarding the courses I can take?

• On the websites of our partner universities. Be aware that these lists usually only appear, like on the Viadrina website, a few weeks or a month before the semester starts. Also, look at the old course lists and be aware in which semester your chosen course is offered. The courses usually remain similar.
• Ask students that have previously attended your chosen partner university. For their details, please feel free to ask us or join the  Viadrina Students Abroad Facebook Group. Also useful information and tips can be found in the student reports.

5) How is the recognizing of the course after my stay abroad conducted?

6) How are the grades converted?

7) What condition need to be met for the recognition of seminars (Eigenleistungsschein) (only for the old study and examination regulations (SPO)?

8) What is the Transcript of Records and how do I get it?

9) Can I get be exempt from providing proof of a foreign language proficiency with courses taken abroad?

New study regulations (FSO)

For BA IBWL the proof of a qualification in English (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, C1 / Unicert III) or a second foreign language (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, B2/ Unicert II-not English) is sufficient when during the stay abroad proof is given of a module taken totalling a minimum of 18 ECTS credits in the corresponding foreign language.

If you wish an exemption from English C1 /Unicert III you must have completed English B2 / Unicert II before submitting the application for recognition. If you already have a a B2 / Unicert II in a second foreign language, in addition to the English B2 / II Unicert, the language module is already completed and the English C1 / UNCERT III cannot be supplemented with the 18 ECTS credits from  a course taken abroad.

For BA IBA the proof of a qualification in a foreign language (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages, B2 / Unicert II) is sufficient when during the stay abroad proof is given of a module taken totalling a minimum of 18 ECTS credits in the corresponding foreign language (not English).

 In all other cases an exemption from the foreign language module is not possible.

Please be aware that with an exemption from presenting evidence of completion of the foreign language module, no certificate is awarded. This certificate will be necessary for application for Master programs at other universities (except the IBA MA at the Viadrina).

Old study and examination regulations (SPO)

BA IBWL/IBA: Exemption from providing evidence of language proficiency can be accepted in the profiling phase (Unicert III or Unicert II) for those who have successfully completed courses worth 15 ECTS credits (this usually corresponds to 3 recognizable courses).

Example 1: If you have the Unicert II in English and have attended courses in France in French language (minimum of 15 ECTS credits), then you can be exempt from providing evidence of foreign language proficiency (the equivalent of Unicert II).

Example 2: If you already have the Unicert II in English and have attended a minimum of 3 courses in English that total 15 ECTS credits, you can be exempt from providing evidence of foreign language proficiency (equivalent of Unicert III without a certificate). This is only valid if you don’t already have a Unicert II in another language.