To transfer Erasmus course credits back to your home institution, you need a signed learning agreement, a certificate of attendance or completion from your course provider, and a transcript of records or Europass Mobility document outlining your learning outcomes. The process works best when you arrange formal recognition before you travel, not after.
Most of the practical work happens in advance: your home institution agrees in writing to recognise the training before you leave, so there are no surprises when you return. The sections below walk through each step of the process, from the paperwork you need to what happens if recognition is refused.
What documents do you need to transfer Erasmus course credits?
To transfer Erasmus course credits, you typically need four core documents: a signed learning agreement, a certificate of attendance issued by the course provider, a transcript of records or Europass Mobility document, and any supporting programme materials that describe the content and learning outcomes of your training.
Each document serves a different purpose in the recognition process. The learning agreement is the pre-authorisation from your home institution. The certificate of attendance proves you completed the course. The transcript of records or Europass Mobility document describes what you actually learned, in terms your institution can evaluate. Supporting materials such as course syllabi, workshop descriptions, or expert bios help your institution assess whether the training is equivalent to something they would otherwise require.
Europass Mobility is particularly useful because it is a standardised European document that institutions across EU member states recognise. It records the purpose of your mobility, the skills and competences you developed, and a formal evaluation from the host organisation. If your course provider issues one, keep it carefully alongside your other paperwork.
What is a learning agreement and how does it work?
A learning agreement is a formal document signed by you, your home institution, and your host organisation before your Erasmus+ training begins. It specifies which course you will attend, what learning outcomes are expected, and how the training will be recognised when you return. It is the foundation of the entire credit transfer process.
The agreement works in three stages. First, you draft it with your employer or school management, outlining the planned training and the recognition your institution commits to in advance. Second, your host organisation, such as a course provider, countersigns it to confirm the training matches what was agreed. Third, after you complete the training, both parties sign a final version confirming that the agreed programme was delivered.
The key function of the learning agreement is to remove ambiguity. Because your institution has already agreed in writing to recognise the training before you leave, the question of whether your Erasmus course credits will count is answered before you even board the plane. If you return without a pre-signed learning agreement, you are essentially asking your institution to evaluate the training retrospectively, which gives them far more room to decline.
How does your home institution decide whether to recognise Erasmus credits?
Your home institution decides whether to recognise Erasmus credits by evaluating whether the training content aligns with your professional development needs, whether it meets their internal quality standards, and whether the course provider is credible. If a learning agreement was signed in advance, recognition is essentially already committed to in writing.
Without a pre-signed learning agreement, institutions typically assess recognition based on several factors:
- Relevance: Does the training directly relate to your role or subject area?
- Quality of the provider: Is the course provider accredited or recognised under Erasmus+ Key Action 1 criteria?
- Learning outcomes: Are the outcomes documented clearly enough to compare against institutional requirements?
- Duration and depth: Does the training represent a substantial enough commitment to warrant formal recognition?
Institutions in different countries apply these criteria differently, which is why the European Commission encourages the use of standardised documents like Europass Mobility. When your training is delivered by an organisation that follows Erasmus+ quality standards, and when learning outcomes are clearly documented, the recognition decision becomes much more straightforward for your institution to make.
Does Erasmus+ credit transfer work differently for teachers and school staff?
Yes, Erasmus+ credit transfer works somewhat differently for teachers and school staff compared to higher education students. Teachers and school professionals participate under Key Action 1 for school education, where recognition is typically expressed as professional development validation rather than academic credits measured in ECTS points.
For school staff, recognition usually takes one of these forms:
- Formal acknowledgement from the school or education authority that the training counts toward continuing professional development requirements
- Updated professional records reflecting the skills and competences gained abroad
- Europass Mobility documentation that can be used in future job applications or performance reviews
This is distinct from the university context, where Erasmus credits are measured in ECTS and transferred directly into a degree programme. For teachers, the value of recognition is often professional rather than academic: it demonstrates a commitment to international learning and brings documented new competences back to the school community.
Our Erasmus+ courses in Finland and Estonia are designed specifically to meet Key Action 1 criteria for school education professionals. We provide all the documentation you need to support recognition at your home institution, including certificates of attendance and detailed programme descriptions that align with Europass Mobility standards.
What happens if your institution refuses to recognise your Erasmus credits?
If your institution refuses to recognise your Erasmus credits, your first step is to request a written explanation for the refusal. In most cases, refusal happens because the learning agreement was not signed in advance, the learning outcomes were not documented clearly enough, or the training was not seen as directly relevant to your role. Each of these issues can often be addressed.
If you have a signed learning agreement and your institution still refuses recognition, you are in a strong position to appeal. The learning agreement is a binding commitment, and the European Commission’s Erasmus+ programme guidelines make clear that home institutions are expected to honour pre-agreed recognition. You can escalate the matter to your national Erasmus+ agency if necessary.
If you did not have a learning agreement in place before travelling, the options are more limited but not exhausted. You can:
- Request a meeting with your school leadership to present your Europass Mobility document and course materials in person
- Reframe the training as informal professional development if formal recognition is not available
- Use the Europass Mobility document independently in your professional portfolio, even without institutional sign-off
- Contact your national Erasmus+ agency for guidance on informal resolution processes
The most effective way to avoid this situation entirely is to secure a signed learning agreement before your training begins. It is a straightforward document, and most Erasmus+ course providers will help you prepare it as part of the enrolment process.