Access studies with a diploma that is not recognised in Luxembourg
To access a bachelor or master programme of the University of Luxembourg, candidates need to have a qualifying Luxembourg diploma or a diploma recognised as equivalent by the competent national authorities. For more information, please visit the Diploma Recognition page of the Student Department (SEVE).
If you hold a secondary school leaving diploma or a bachelor’s diploma that is not recognised in Luxembourg, you may nevertheless qualify for admission through a recognition of prior experience for access to studies. With the recognition procedure the University assesses whether your qualifications are equivalent to the level required to enter the study programme for which you are applying.
Please note that a recognition of prior experience for access to studies is only possible for citizens of the EU, EEA and Switzerland.
A recognition of prior experience for access to studies is initiated by the University after you have submitted your application. If the University is considering your application for admission and your diploma does not qualify for access, the University may start a recognition procedure. In that case, the SEVE may ask you to provide additional evidence of relevant prior experience. The academic committee in charge of assessing your experience may also invite you to an (online) interview.
If at any moment during the recognition process you decide to no longer pursue your application, please notify the SEVE.
In case you are asked to provide further evidence of your prior educational experience, please follow carefully the instructions you receive.
Documentary evidence should, in all cases, be:
- Related to studies you have undertaken as part of official educational programmes at the qualification level required for access to the programme (levels 4-5 of the European/Luxembourg Qualifications Framework for access to a bachelor programme, levels 5-6 for access to a master programme);
- Authentic and certified as far as that is possible (e.g. copies of original documents carrying an official stamp or signature, original study plans and syllabi, original written work/assignments);
- Relevant in view of the admission prerequisites of the study programme to which you are applying, e.g., for application to a master programme related to learning activities undertaken in the disciplines accepted for access to the programme.
References should come from referees who are a member of the respective school or educational institution and who have had a direct role in your education.
Once your file is complete, it will be reviewed by the Director of the study programme to which you have applied and assessed by an academic committee composed of faculty staff. The committee assesses whether the submitted evidence is authentic and eligible (pertinent to the request). It then establishes the extent to which your prior experience is equivalent to the access requirements for the given study programme.
When the committee has reached its decision, the SEVE will inform you whether you can be admitted.
Please note that the recognition process can take several weeks. You will be notified if the University needs any further information from you during the process
The committee in charge of recognition may decide to invite you for an (online) interview in order to further clarify the nature and extent of your experience. You will receive an invitation with the time and modalities of the interview by email. If the committee has specific questions, these may be communicated to you in advance of the interview. Please be ready to answer these and other questions related to the documentation you have submitted.
If you believe that you have experience that is equivalent to certain parts of the study programme to which you are applying, you can request an assessment of your experience to obtain exemptions from study requirements or to be placed in a higher study semester. Further information on how to submit the request and the recognition procedure can be found in the section “Receive exemptions from study requirements and enter a programme in a higher year“.
Please note that the University will only process your request in case you are admitted.