Learning agreement and credit transfer

Students nominated for exchange studies need to submit a learning agreement and have it signed by SBS before the start of the exchange semester. The Learning Agreement is a pre-approval of credit transfer for the courses you will study during your exchange.

The Learning Agreement needs to be signed by you, your academic advisor at SBS, and the host university to be valid for the credits transfer.

Students have to apply for credit transfer upon return to SBS as credits from the host university are not transferred automatically. In order for the courses to count towards your degree, they must be approved by SBS and be included in the learning agreement.

When choosing courses from the host university's course offerings, consider the following:

  • They should be at the appropriate academic level, depending on your current level of studies.
  • They should not overlap with courses you have previously taken or will take in your program at SU.
  • They should have academic content. We do not grant credit transfers for courses of personality or career development character (for example windsurfing or CV writing).
  • We do not grant credit transfers for English language courses for non-native speakers since these courses are generally too basic. SBS students tend to have a high level of English. Language courses in other languages are generally accepted.

The semester abroad is an opportunity for you to broaden your skills and learn things that are not part of your education at SU. We recommend that you choose courses in subjects other than your chosen discipline at SU. This minimizes the risk of overlapping.

All Learning Agreements need to be administered digitally through the Mobility Online Portal.

Before you create your digital learning agreement you should contact your learning agreement advisor with the course syllabi to get approval for the courses.
Learning Agreement Advisor: learningagreement@sbs.su.se
 
Please see the below document with detailed information on how to create your Digital Learning Agreement (DLA).

Manual Create a Digital Learning Agreement pdf, 993.4 kB. (993 Kb)

If you need to change any courses after submitting the DLA you need to do this online digitally in the portal.

The model for credit conversion used at Stockholm Business School is based on a degree perspective: the total number of credits/units required for a degree at the host university is divided by the number of years of study required to complete the degree.

That gives us an average credit requirement/year, which is to be compared with the standard credit requirement of the Swedish academic year. In some cases, you will receive different information on the credit requirements from your host university. It is however important to note that the ultimate decision of credit conversion lies with the home university.

If you have been abroad via our exchange program:

  1. Upon your return you will get an e-mail from the International Office with instructions how to apply for a credit transfer.

    How to apply for a credit transfer
    Apply online via Ladok for students
    Log in with your university account, click Apply for and Crediting.
  2. When applying for credit transfer you need to include a copy of your signed Learning Agreement . The learning agreement has to be signed by SBS, the host university and you.
  3. When applying for credit transfer you also need to include your Transcript of Records from the host university. It is usually sent directly to the student but if it is sent to the International Office we will forward it to you.

    If you have been studying abroad as a Free Mover (without a Learning Agreement), you should enclose course descriptions, syllabi and literature information along with your application for credit transfer. We also have to see your Transcript of Records in order to complete the credit transfer. Information about the academic calendar and credit system should also be included.
  4. For questions regarding your credit transfer, please contact studierektor@sbs.su.se

Grades obtained during the study abroad semester are not translated, as it is not possible to compare grading systems in different countries. The credit transfer will include credits obtained in passed courses. In the study administration system Ladok, transferred courses will appear with the name of the course and the transferred credits, but without the grade.

Should you have any additional specific questions regarding the process, please contact Director of Studies.

Last updated: 2025-10-13

Source: SBS