Within the first month of your exchange, you must submit your Course Recognition documents to the AUC International Office. These include:

• completed course recognition form
• completed and colour coded planning grid
• course manuals for all courses
• credit conversion information

The course recognition form is similar to the pre-approval form you completed before your exchange, but here you list only the courses for which you are officially registered at your host university. Ideally, all these courses have already been pre-approved. However, course availability sometimes changes. If you need to select new courses at the start of your exchange, indicate on the form which courses were not pre-approved. The International Office strongly advises you to discuss last minute course changes with your tutor, who can help you choose courses that fit your study plan and are likely to be approved.

It is your responsibility to collect all documentation needed to have your courses recognised. Make sure to gather the following for every course:

1. Credit and grading system information
   This explains how credits and grades are awarded at your host university. It is often printed on the back of your transcript or available on the university website. If not, ask the international office at your host university.
    
2. Detailed course descriptions
   This includes the syllabus, course manual, reading list, weekly topics, and assessment overview. The HoS use this material to determine course level and relevance.
    
3. Additional materials for 300-level recognition
   If you intend a course to count as a 300-level major requirement, keep copies of your coursework, including exams, papers, and assignments. This extra information may be needed to support the level designation.

If you have questions about the credit conversion for your host university, please contact the AUC International Office. 

• You must complete 66 EC within your major, including at least 24 EC at 300 level. These requirements are calculated in ECTS, not number of courses. If your host university uses a different credit system, pay close attention to credit conversion.
• A course worth fewer than 6 ECTS may leave you short of 300-level EC, even if it is labelled as a 300-level equivalent.
• Courses taken outside your major must be at least 5 ECTS (after conversion) to fulfil AUC requirements.

Collect your documents as early as possible to avoid missing material once you return to the Netherlands.

To support your planning for the next semester at AUC, the International Office will ask the Heads of Studies to provisionally approve the courses you are taking while abroad. Provisional approval means:

• AUC determines the likely level of each course
• AUC assigns the course to a major requirement or to elective credit

Final approval cannot be given until you submit your official transcript after returning from exchange. If the International Office or HoS need additional information, they will contact you by email.

To ensure quick processing, please follow these formatting requirements:

• Course Recognition Form
  • Save as a Word file
  • File name: Course Recognition – [First name Last name]
• Course Manuals
  • Save each course manual as a separate Word/PDF file
  • Combine multiple documents for the same course into one file
  • Number files according to the order in your recognition form
  • Example: 1. [course code], [course name]
• Credit Conversion Information
  • Save as Word/PDF
  • File name: Credit Conversion – [Host University]
• Planning Grid
  • Save as an Excel file
  • File name: Planning Grid – [First name Last name]

Note: Documents containing only weblinks to course manuals cannot be accepted.

Submit all documents through the AUC Digital Student Service Desk. Attach the complete Course Recognition Form (Word file) and any required supporting documents.

Do not submit incomplete materials; incomplete files cannot be processed.

The IO aims to review your courses as quickly as possible, so you can plan your upcoming semester at AUC. You will receive an email summarising:

• Each course you took abroad
• The assigned major or elective designation
• The assigned level (100/200/300)

Your tutor will be cc-ed on this email so you can continue your curriculum planning together.

The following documents will be uploaded here in March 2026 for exchanges happening in the academic year 2026-2027:

• Course Recognition Form (not yet available)
• Planning Grid Format  (not yet available)

Anyone spending time in a new culture will experience culture shock. Some of you may already have felt this when first moving to Amsterdam. It is normal and not something to be afraid of, even if you consider yourself an experienced traveller. Some students are more affected than others, but almost everyone goes through it.

When you arrive, you suddenly find yourself without your usual support network. Norms, values and academic culture differ from what you know. Food, climate and daily rhythms may feel unfamiliar, and even if you speak the language, it may not be as comfortable as your mother tongue. At first, being a newcomer brings attention, but this soon fades as local students return to their routines, leaving you to rely mainly on fellow exchange students who may also be adjusting.

Research shows that people typically move through six stages when adapting to a foreign environment. The final two take place once you return home (see the section Upon Your Return).

1. Elation
Everything is new, exciting and busy. You are arranging practical matters and meeting many people. Setbacks occur, but you handle them easily.

2. Frustration and anger
You may struggle with practical issues (weather, transport, university administration) or feel like an outsider socially. This is also when homesickness is most likely, especially if something difficult has happened at home.

3. Revive and persevere
You start understanding the language, university systems and local customs. You find your way socially and know how to handle challenges with humour.

4. Empathise and appreciate
You begin to understand and value local habits and ways of doing things. You feel increasingly at home in your host country.

If you find yourself in the frustration stage, try not to isolate yourself. Seek support from friends, exchange students or local contacts. Remember this is temporary. Avoid making a quick decision to return home; going back is a permanent solution to a temporary problem.

If things feel overwhelming, contact AUC’s Study Abroad Coordinator, Marliene Stolker (via AUC’s Digital Service Desk), as well as your contact person at your host university. This is common and nothing to feel embarrassed about. Both AUC and your host institution can help you manage the situation so you can continue your exchange. If you do choose to return home, inform both AUC and your host university so necessary arrangements can be made and agreements about coursework can be discussed.

Stay in regular contact with home and with AUC. Make sure you have the email addresses of your tutor, the AUC International Office and the Board of Examiners. Register with your embassy, as this ensures they can reach you in emergencies.

For any issues during your exchange, contact the International Office of your host university first, and feel free to reach out to AUC’s Study Abroad Coordinator as well. This includes concerns about health, housing, course registration or wellbeing.

When communicating with family and friends, be realistic about how often you can speak. Your life abroad will be busy and full of new experiences, while people at home may miss you more than you expect. Regular contact helps, but set expectations that work for you.