If you would like to study at a university in another European country or worldwide with which the University of Passau has not concluded a partnership agreement, you can also organise your stay abroad yourself.
Country-specific information, information on scholarships and further information on various countries (EU and worldwide) can be found on the DAAD website. Furthermore, the brochure of the European Commission informs about tuition fees and support systems in the European higher education system.
Write directly to the higher education institution of your choice and ask for further information and application documents. Make it clear from the outset that you are only planning a temporary stay at the host university or are not aiming for a degree there. As a non-degree-seeking student you be charged lower tuition fees and/or go through a simplified application procedure.
A direct application can take a long time. It is therefore best to obtain information from the higher education institutions of your choice one year before the start of your planned stay abroad. In most cases, an e-mail to the International Office/International Relations Office of your chosen university is sufficient for the initial contact. However, you should have already informed yourself in detail about the university on its website.
Often a Transcript of Records / Record of Study is required as part of the application.
When applying, especially to U.S. universities, a Record of Study or Transcript of Records is usually required.
Official Transcripts are official documents issued by the university listing all courses attended by the student and the grades achieved (which course was taken with which professor, how many weekly contact hours, and with what result).
To ensure that the host university understands the value of the grades, please attach an explanation of the German grading system to the transcript. Do not convert German grades!
Additional documents you may need, if requested by the host university (this is rare):
Unless the (American) university explicitly requires a state-certified and sworn translator (“official translator” or “certified translator”), you may prepare the translations yourself. If certification of the translations and photocopies is required, a university stamp from the International Office is usually sufficient. When preparing translations, pay special attention to rendering the text accurately and literally, without adding your own interpretations.
For many degree programs, English transcripts are already available for download in the campus portal. If your program is not included, you may create your own Transcript of Records using a template by translating the titles of your courses and entering them into the table (examples for explaining course titles can be found in the first linked document).
Useful information for preparing transcripts:
Classification problems can be avoided if you describe your degree program and its examination requirements in English, based on the examination regulations applicable to you, and clearly indicate which requirements you have already fulfilled (including dates) (see example for BA International Cultural and Business Studies).
Suggested format for your application documents:
The prepared transcripts will then be reviewed and certified by the International Office.
Please be sure to submit the original certificates of achievement or the campus portal printout for this purpose. As a rule, you may collect the transcripts one to two working days after submission.
If you are unable to come in person, the International Office will require the original certificates (or certified copies) as well as a sufficiently stamped and self-addressed return envelope. Direct forwarding to the foreign university is also possible with a stamped and addressed envelope.
If you have any questions regarding the Record of Study or Transcript of Records, please contact leontina.kulko@uni-passau.de.
In order to be recognised as a freemover, you must conclude Learning Agreements with the corresponding chairs at Passau University in advance. This allows you to have your academic achievements at the University of Passau credited to your credit.
In this case, please make sure that you are issued an original Transcript of Records (with stamp/signature) as otherwise you may run into problems when trying to have your credits transferred to the University of Passau.
Furthermore: If you are going abroad as a freemover, please register as such using our online application form.
This way we have your data in our database in case we need to contact you (for instance if the host university sends us your transcript of records for forwarding).
