Changing Country Mid-Degree: Transferring to a University in Another European Country

Two ways to change country mid-degree

Universities in Europe rarely run a direct transfer system between countries. Moving from a university in one country to one in another usually means applying as an external applicant to the year of study matching your completed credits, not entering as a guaranteed transfer student.

The receiving university's admissions and examination board decides how much of your previous study counts, case by case. This applies even between two universities that both follow the Bologna-style degree structure.

What happens to your ECTS credits

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) exists to make credits comparable across countries. Your transcript of records and any Learning Agreement from your first university are the documents a new university uses to assess your credits, according to the ENIC-NARIC network .

Ask your current university's international office for an official transcript listing course names, credit values, and grades, plus an explanation of your grading scale. The receiving university converts your grades and credits using its own table, and it may decline to recognize modules that do not match its program content closely.

For a formal comparison of your existing qualification, contact the ENIC-NARIC center in your destination country. It issues a statement of comparability showing how your qualification level lines up with the local system, which strengthens your application even where it is not formally required.

Matching degree levels and language

Compare your original program's structure against the new one before applying. A three-year bachelor's in one country does not always map onto a three-year bachelor's elsewhere if the total ECTS or specialization structure differs, so check the specific program page rather than the general country reputation.

Language is a separate hurdle. If your new university teaches in the national language, you need proof of proficiency even when your first program ran in English. Confirm the exact language requirement and accepted test, IELTS, TOEFL, or a national equivalent, for your target program before applying.

Visa and residence permit rules

EU or EEA passport holders keep the right to live and study anywhere in the bloc, though you still register your residence in the new country once you stay past 90 days, according to Your Europe .

Non-EU students hold a residence permit tied to their current country, and it does not carry over. Apply for a new student visa or residence permit for the new country from the start, using your new admission letter. Begin as soon as you have an offer, since national visa processing takes weeks and you need the permit before your new semester's registration deadline.

Step by step process

1. Confirm your target university accepts external applicants into year 2 or 3, since not all programs do

2. Request your transcript of records and Learning Agreement from your current registrar

3. Apply for a statement of comparability from the destination country's ENIC-NARIC center if useful

4. Submit your application through the receiving university's normal admissions process, flagging your request for credit recognition

5. Wait for the exam board's decision on which credits and modules count

6. Apply for your visa or residence permit once admitted, if you are a non-EU student

7. Deregister from your first university and request your final transcript before leaving

Funding and tuition status

Tuition fees and student funding rules are set by the country you study in, not by your nationality alone, and they change when you switch. EU/EEA students at public universities usually pay the same low or free tuition as local students, but non-EU students face home versus international fee rates that differ from what they paid before.

If a scholarship, loan, or grant tied you to your first country's system, check whether it continues once you enroll elsewhere. Most national student finance systems cover study only in specific countries or accredited exchange partnerships, not an independent move you arrange yourself.

Common pitfalls

• Applying too late: admissions and visa timelines both run for months, so start at least two semesters ahead

• Assuming full credit transfer: expect some modules to not count, especially country specific or practical courses

• Losing scholarship or loan eligibility tied to your first country's system

• Forgetting to close administrative and tax registrations in your first country