Credit recognition and transfer

Students who have been assigned a place or are already enrolled in any of the degrees managed by the ETSETB and who have fully or partially completed other university degrees.

A preliminary study for credit recognition/validation can also be requested before being assigned a place on the degree.

Credit recognition is the acceptance, in an official UPC degree, of the credits that, having been obtained in official studies, at the UPC itself or at any other university, are computed so that they form part of the student's academic record for the purpose of obtaining an official degree. This recognition involves the establishment of an equivalence in terms of specific and/or cross-disciplinary competencies and student workload between subjects in curricula leading to official degrees.

Recognition must always be based on the subjects taken and passed in the original degree, never on previously validated, adapted, or recognised subjects.

The bachelor's/master's thesis cannot be recognised under any circumstances, since it is aimed at assessing the competencies associated with the degree and, therefore, must be enrolled for and assessed.

Credits subject to recognition are added to the academic record of the bachelor's degree as:

• recognised subjects (R) if the credits were taken at a Spanish university
• validated subjects (C) if the credits were taken at a foreign university

Credits subject to recognition are added to the academic record of the master's degree as recognised subjects (R).

1. Gather the documentation regarding the original degree:

If you are an ETSETB student and want to gain admission to another ETSETB bachelor's degree:

• Curriculum and syllabus of the non-common subjects passed only if requesting recognition of non-common subjects between the 2 curricula (origin and destination of the recognition)
• It is not necessary to submit the academic record

If you are a UPC student (any school except ETSETB):

• Syllabus of all subjects passed or course guide
• Curriculum
• It is not necessary to submit the academic record

If you are a student at a Spanish university (not UPC):

• Personal academic record (with digital signature)
• Syllabus of all subjects passed, stamped by the academic secretary's office of the home institution, or course guide
• Curriculum, stamped by the academic secretary's office of the home institution

If you are a student or graduate of university studies from outside Spain:

• Official degree certificate or official accrediting certificate (only for graduates) (*)
• Personal academic record (with digital signature) (*)
• Syllabus of all subjects passed, stamped by the academic secretary's office of the home institution, or course guide (*)
• Curriculum, stamped by the academic secretary's office of the home institution (*)
• Document Average grade equivalence (click here for autotranslate) issued by The Ministry of Science, Innovation and Universities.

(*) All these documents must be official, original, issued by the competent authorities, and legalised through diplomatic channels. They must also be accompanied by an official translation into Spanish or Catalan. For more information on the legalisation and translation processes of foreign documents, please check this link

2. Access the UPC electronic headquarters and register the application "Request for credit recognition/validation of subjects from other university degrees", where you will have to attach the required documentation according to your original degree.

3. When we receive the application, we will generate the fee for the credit recognition/validation study and notify you by email to make the payment within a maximum period of 5 days. Until we have proof of payment of the fee, the credit recognition/validation study will not be carried out. You must send the proof of payment to secretaria.etsetb@upc.edu stating "Proof of payment for credit recognition/validation study fee" in the subject line of the email, and providing your personal details (first name, surnames, and ID card/NIE/passport).

4. You will receive the result of the credit recognition/validation study by email.

5. At the time of enrolment, you will be able to enrol for the subjects communicated to you through the result of the credit recognition/validation study, which you can recognise/validate as they need to be enrolled for according to the semester. Recognised/validated subjects must be enrolled for so that they appear on the academic record; to do so, you must select the CONV group in the "enrolment group" field of the enrolment application.

The subjects listed in the result of the credit recognition/validation study determine the subjects that the student can recognise/validate (granting the student the right to recognise/validate the aforementioned subjects). The student can choose between the following options at the time of enrolment:

A. Recognise/validate each of the subjects to which they have the right

To do so, you must select the CONV group in the "enrolment group" field of the enrolment application.

In this case, the student will pay 20% of the price of the recognised/validated credits because they will not take the subject.

The subject will be passed on to the academic record with the numerical and descriptive mark corresponding to the grade obtained in the credits originating the recognition/validation. From this moment on, the subject cannot be taken.

Recognised/validated subjects are not taken into account in the application of the academic progress regulations for the first year, which state that the student must enrol for, take, and pass a minimum of 12 ECTS credits in bachelor's degrees and a minimum of 15 ECTS credits in master's degrees.

B. Take the subject

(Recommended option if you have a special interest in receiving the content of the subject or if you are not sure you have the knowledge you would achieve by taking it).

To do so, you must select the desired timetable group in the "enrolment group" field of the enrolment application (not the CONV group).

In this case, the student will pay 100% of the price of the credits because they will take the subject.

The subject will be assessed according to the performance shown by the student.

• If the subject is passed, it will be added to the student's academic record with the numerical and descriptive mark achieved in the assessment; from this moment on, the subject can no longer be validated.

• If the subject is failed, the student may, in the following semester in which the aforementioned subject is taught, choose at the time of enrolment whether to retake it (Option B with the consequent surcharge for the second enrolment – percentage set in the Decree on Fees (In Catalan)) or recognise/validate the subject (Option A).

€54.54 Academic record studies for the validation, adaptation, transfer, and recognition of curricula according to the current public fees

At the time of enrolling for the recognised credits, 20% of the price of the credit established in the current Decree on Fees (In Catalan) is paid.

Up to a maximum of 6 optional ECTS credits for university extension activities: cultural, sports, solidarity, development cooperation activities and student representation.

Activities that can be recognised

Activities offered across the UPC:

University extension activities (Click here for auto-translation)

ETSETB specific activities:

Language courses or examinations must have been taken during the bachelor's degree.

Language recognition

Activities offered across the UPC:

Entering the passed ECTS credits into the student's academic record for recognition is the responsibility of the unit in charge of each activity. The activities that can be recognised appear in the e-Secretaria, "Academic record" menu, "Activities" submenu.

1. Applications for recognition of these activities can be made during the last enrolment period, regardless of the academic year in which the activity is carried out, from the bachelor's degree academic record in the e-Secretaria, "Academic record" menu, "Activity recognition" submenu.
2. Choose the activities to be recognised, which must total a whole number of credits (0.5, 1.5 or 2.5 credits cannot be recognised, etc.) and apply for recognition.
3. Once recognition has been applied for, the pending payment is generated in the e-Secretaria, "Forms and payments" menu. Payment can be made by bank card or by printing 2 copies of the PDF to pay in cash at any of the banks listed on the payment slip (no proof of payment needs to be brought to the secretary's office).

ETSETB specific activities:

Associations and other entities or services linked to the ETSETB must send the academic secretary's office, within the established deadlines, the list of students who have passed the activities carried out, as well as the list of new activities proposed for a new academic year/semester.

For entities or services not linked to the ETSETB, the student must provide the necessary data and documents to the academic secretary's office using this form.

New activities that require the approval of the University-Enterprise Relations Committee (CdRUE) will be entered once accepted by the committee members.

The ETSETB, as the responsible school, will enter the activities eligible for recognition into the student's academic record. The activities that can be recognised appear in the e-Secretaria, "Academic record" menu, "Activities" submenu.

1. Applications for recognition of these activities can be made during the last enrolment period, regardless of the academic year in which the activity is carried out, from the bachelor's degree academic record in the e-Secretaria, "Academic record" menu, "Activity recognition" submenu.
2. Choose the activities to be recognised, which must total a whole number of credits (0.5, 1.5 or 2.5 credits cannot be recognised, etc.) and apply for recognition.
3. Once recognition has been applied for, the pending payment is generated in the e-Secretaria, "Forms and payments" menu. Payment can be made by bank card or by printing 2 copies of the PDF to pay in cash at any of the banks listed on the payment slip (no proof of payment needs to be brought to the secretary's office).

The only requirement for applying for activity recognition is that you still need to take enough optional credits to allow for the recognition.

For students transferring their academic record who have gained admission to UPC bachelor's degrees, whether via pre-enrolment or a change of degree and/or university, activities may be recognised if they were carried out on the original degree. They may also be recognised in the case of a change in curriculum or a double degree.

Activities taken on the original degree may not be added to the academic record for students who are taking two degrees simultaneously or who have completed the original degree.

In the case of interuniversity bachelor's degrees that lead to a joint degree, students must be able to have the activities taken at any of the participating universities recognised.

Up to a maximum of 6 optional ECTS credits for university extension activities: cultural, sports, solidarity, development cooperation, and student representation activities.

Certificates must have been obtained concurrently with the studies, but recognition must be requested during the final enrolment period of the bachelor's degree and provided that optional credits remain to be taken, regardless of the academic year in which the training was carried out. This measure aims to guarantee that students can recognise the activity or take all optional credits.

Regarding the documentation to be submitted to request credit recognition, the following must be taken into account:

• Credits can be recognised for passing the courses and examinations established in the Language certificates table (Click here for autotranslation).

• The certificate used to certify the attainment of the cross-disciplinary competency in a foreign language can be used at the same time for credit recognition, provided that it was obtained during bachelor's degree studies. The only valid certificates to certify the competency and simultaneously recognise credits are those in the language certificates table approved by the Interuniversity Council of Catalonia (CIC).

• As a general rule, to request credit recognition for languages, students must have previously certified the B2 level of competency in a foreign language, which is a requirement to obtain the bachelor's degree.

• When the competency is achieved through paths 1, 2, and 3, the certificate (path 4) for the same language can be used for ECTS credit recognition, provided that it is at a level higher than B2.1. Conversely, when the certificate presented is for another of the three languages, ECTS credits can be recognised from the initial level.

• Students who have a certificate other than those in the table must submit it to the school, which will assess it based on available criteria from the Association of Language Centres in Higher Education (ACLES) and other international accreditation bodies. If applicable, the school will direct the query to the UPC Language and Terminology Service (SLT).

• In the case of the language chosen in the university entrance examinations or the compulsory language of the higher training cycle (CFGS), recognition can only be obtained from level B2.1 onwards. If the language does not match the one chosen in the university entrance examinations or the compulsory language of the CFGS, recognition can be obtained from level A1 onwards.

• Students who completed secondary education in an autonomous community where Catalan is not an official language can obtain credit recognition for valid certificates of Catalan.

• If they completed secondary education in autonomous communities where Catalan is an official language, credits are recognised for higher-level certificates (C2 of the European framework).

• The other official languages of Spain are also recognised, provided that they were not the language of instruction in secondary education.

• In the case of UPC students participating in a mobility programme who provide proof of having taken a language course at the host university, this course can be used to recognise credits foreseen for university extension activities, provided that there is a certificate from the host university showing the following data:

• Other activities within the languages and communication pathway, such as intercultural activities, can be recognised with ECTS credits, provided that the certificate is validated by the Language and Terminology Service (Click here for autotranslation).

1. Gather the documentation that certifies your level of language proficiency.
2. Apply for recognition through the UPC electronic headquarters by filling out the application "Application for inclusion of credits for university extension activities" and attaching the certifying documentation. You must state:

• School / unit to which the application is addressed:

ETSETB: ETSE Telecomunicació de Barcelona (230)

• University extension activities:

Stating the language and level you wish to recognise

• Credits to be recognised (maximum 6 ECTS credits):

Stating the number of credits you wish to recognise

The ETSETB, as the responsible school, will enter the activities eligible for recognition into the student's academic record. The activities you can recognise appear in the esecretaria, "Academic record" menu, "Activities" submenu.

1. The application for recognition of these activities can be made during the final enrolment period, regardless of the academic year in which the activity is carried out, from the bachelor's degree academic record in the eSecretaria, "Academic record" menu, "Recognition of activities" submenu.
2. Choose the activities to be recognised, which must total whole credits (it is not possible to recognise 0.5 credits, 1.5 credits, 2.5 credits, etc.) and request recognition.
3. Once recognition has been requested, the pending payment is generated in the eSecretaria "Forms and payments" menu. Payment can be made by bank card or by printing 2 copies of the PDF to pay in cash at any of the financial institutions listed on the settlement sheet (it is not necessary to bring any proof of payment to the secretary's office).

The only requirement to apply for the recognition of activities is that you lack sufficient optional credits to complete the recognition.

In the case of students transferring their academic record who have gained admission to UPC bachelor's degree studies, either via pre-enrolment or via a change of degree and/or university, activities can be recognised if they were carried out in the original degree. This can also be done in the case of a change of curriculum or a double degree.

Activities taken in a first degree cannot be added to the destination academic record when simultaneous degrees occur or when the student has graduated from the original degree.

In the case of interuniversity bachelor's degrees leading to a joint interuniversity degree, students must be able to have activities taken at any of the participating universities recognised in their academic record.

Students enrolled on curricula that include compulsory or optional external work placements.
At the ETSETB only:

• Bachelor's degrees: GRETST/PARSTEL, GREELEC.
• Master's degrees: MET, MEE22.

The remaining ETSETB degrees cannot recognise credits for work and professional experience.

Credits recognised for work and professional experience are recorded on the student's academic record as recognised without a mark.

1. Gather the supporting documents for your work and professional experience:

− If you have worked in Spain, the employment history report (In Spanish) accrediting your link with the company; If you have worked outside Spain, the contract accrediting your link with the company.
− Document issued by the company accrediting the tasks you have carried out, the period (start date and end date) and the total number of hours worked.

2. Access the UPC Electronic Headquarters and submit the application "Request for credit recognition for work experience (In Catalan)", where you will need to attach the required documentation.

3. The application will be assessed by the University-Company Relations Committee (CdRUE) in the case of bachelor's degrees or by the Master's Academic Committee (CAMET or CAMEE) in the case of master's degrees.

• To calculate the number of hours worked, you must use the following formula:

Number of hours worked = (number of days worked / 365) * 1600

• Between the two options, signing an educational cooperation agreement to undertake external work placements and recognition for work/professional experience, the student can only choose one.
• For master's degrees only: There is incompatibility between credit recognition for accredited work experience, for undertaking external work placements and for research introduction projects in the following cases:
  

MET (2013 curriculum): the following limit is established for subjects associated with research introduction projects (RES1, RES2 and RES3): a maximum of RES1 + RES2 can be combined with external work placements or recognition for work and professional experience.

MEE (2013 curriculum and 2022 curriculum): research introduction projects are incompatible with external work placements and with recognition for work and professional experience.

BACHELOR'S DEGREES: See the "Deadline to apply for recognition of optional credits for university extension activities BACHELOR'S DEGREES" and "Addition to the student's academic record of the recognition of optional credits approved by the CdRUE"
in the Academic calendar for continuing students for the bachelor's degree you are taking.

MASTER'S DEGREES: See the "Deadline to apply for recognition of optional credits for work/professional experience MASTER'S DEGREES" and "Resolution of applications for recognition of optional credits for work/professional experience MASTER'S DEGREES" in the Academic calendar for continuing students for the master's degree you are taking.