Before Going Abroad: Course Approval
Partner universities differ in the courses they offer to exchange students. Some universities allow registration for any course, while others may limit your choices to specific faculties or departments. Course options are usually listed in the university factsheet (UvA Worldmap for UvA/AUC partners, VU Worldmap for VU partners, or via GEP Canvas for UvA GEP destinations).
Exchange course approval process
To ensure your courses are recognised at AUC, you must complete the exchange course approval process, which consists of three steps:
- Course pre-approval (before exchange)
- Course recognition (during exchange)
- Credit conversion (after exchange)
Courses are reviewed by the AUC International Office (IO) and, in certain cases, by the Heads of Studies (HoS) on behalf of the Board of Examiners. This ensures that your coursework abroad aligns with your degree requirements.
Course pre-approval
The first step is course pre-approval, which determines which courses are most likely to be accepted for credit at AUC and for which major or elective. The exact level of the course will be reviewed later during the course recognition.
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Step 1: Selecting courses
You are asked to compile a list of up to 10 courses you would like to take during your exchange semester. Although most students only need 4–6 courses to reach the 30 ECTS requirement, listing more options increases flexibility in case some courses are full or denied.
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Step 2: Completing the pre-approval form
Once you have selected your courses, you fill in the Course Pre-approval Form and the Planning Grid (these forms are available for download at the bottom of this page), which lists your past, current, and expected courses at AUC. Additionally, prepare a separate document with the course title, course code, and a brief description for each course. Number this list according to the order in your pre-approval form.
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Step 3: Discussing with your tutor
After completing the form and planning grid, make an appointment with your tutor. This discussion helps to:
- Determine potential major designations for your courses
- Identify possible overlap with courses you have already taken or plan to take at AUC
You are responsible for preventing overlapping courses; if in doubt, consult the IO.
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Step 4: Submitting your documents
Submit all documents through the AUC Digital Service Desk. Make sure you follow the required formatting:
- Pre-approval form: MS Word, named [Last name]_Course pre-approval form
- Planning grid: MS Excel, named [Last name]_Planning Grid
- Course descriptions: separate MS Word/PDF file, numbered according to the pre-approval form
You should submit your course pre-approval 2 weeks before course registration begins at your host university. Late or incorrectly formatted submissions may delay processing or result in non-approval.
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Step 5: Review by AUC
The International Office checks your courses against your planning grid and alerts you to any obvious overlap. If necessary, the IO consults the Heads of Studies for guidance. Note that at this stage, courses are not yet officially approved for credit, but the IO will indicate which courses are most likely to be accepted and for which major.
Special requirements, such as courses fulfilling the lab course requirement or Academic Core requirements (e.g., Writing or Big Questions), are always reviewed by the HoS.
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Step 6: Outcome
You will receive the result of the pre-approval process within two weeks of submission. This outcome will indicate which courses are likely to be accepted and their potential major or elective designation.
Important notes
- Courses without learning outcomes in theory, methods, or research (e.g., applied arts or cultural orientation courses) cannot count toward major requirements but may be approved as electives.
- Pre-approval only indicates likely acceptance; the final approval happens during the course recognition while you are abroad.
- Submitting documents late or incorrectly formatted may prevent processing.
Frequently Asked Questions
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I don’t know which courses are available yet.
Make a list of your ideal courses based on the current year’s catalogue. This gives the IO an indication of your interests and helps determine if they can be approved.
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I only want to take 4–6 courses. Do I still need to list 10?
Yes. Listing 10 provides flexibility in case some courses are denied or unavailable.
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Where can I find courses for exchange students?
Factsheets from the partner university, UvA/VU Worldmap, or the GEP Canvas course for UvA GEP destinations.
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Course descriptions are not in English.
Request English descriptions from the host university or translate/summarise them yourself.
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Will the IO/HoS approve course level?
No. Course level is assessed during the course recognition step while abroad.
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What if I submit after course registration starts at the host university?
Late forms will not be processed. The next opportunity for approval is during the recognition step while abroad, which carries the risk of courses not counting toward your AUC degree.
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What if I don’t submit pre-approval documents?
Approval will only happen during the course recognition step. There is a risk that courses will not be approved, causing study delays.
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What is the "other comments" section for in the pre-approval form?
Use the “Any other comments” section on the pre-approval form to explain missing information or special circumstances.