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Upon successful completion of the MC, you will be issued a certificate of completion.

“Recognition of prior learning” toward a micro-credential is only possible for courses that have been successfully completed within the last five years. Examination results from earlier than that cannot be recognized toward a micro-credential. In addition, recognized ECTS credits may not exceed one-third of the total credit hours of a micro-credential.

Conversely, courses from an MC program may also be credited toward a university of applied sciences degree if they were completed within five years prior to the start of the degree program (and if the MC courses are also part of the core, elective, or individualized curriculum of the relevant degree program).

Important:Please note that the exact options and scope of credit transfer may vary depending on the specific degree program. We therefore recommend that you contact the relevant program staff directly for specific details.

The EQF is the European Qualifications Framework for Lifelong Learning (EQF), which aims to “improve the transparency, comparability, and transferability of qualifications.” Programs at the bachelor’s level are classified as Level 6, while those at the master’s level are classified as Level 7.

ISCED-P is the program level to which the micro-credential is assigned in the International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED), which is UNESCO’s reference and classification system. In somewhat greater detail than in the EQF, a distinction is made between the“program level”(ISCED-P) and the “level of education” (ISCED-A). A program may be at ISCED-P Level 7 (i.e., at the master’s level), but if it takes less time than the standard stipulates, the person who has completed it has not yet reached educational level ISCED-A 7, but is one level below, i.e., 6. This applies to micro-credentials. This means:

If you complete an MC at ISCED-P Level 7, you may not list “Master’s” as your “highest level of education completed” (unless, of course, you have already earned a “real” Master’s degree elsewhere). The same applies to MCs at the bachelor’s level (ISCED-P Level 6, but ISCED-A Level 5).

As for the individual courses: Yes. They are structured and organized in such a way that they can usually be completed within the specified timeframe, even during busy periods. Otherwise, you might have to wait until the next academic year for exams to be offered again in your MC subject.

As for the entire MC: No. For example, if we suggest that you take two courses in the winter semester and two in the summer semester, you can also spread them out over four semesters, taking one course each semester. Or you can take even more courses and take a break in between.
The only important thing is that you must complete everything within five years of enrolling in the Micro-Credential.

Micro-credentials are typically worth 5–15 ECTS credits, which generally corresponds to two to five courses. Once you have successfully completed all the courses that make up the learning path, you will receive your micro-credential—in the form of a printed certificate and a digital badge.

Individual courses must have been completed within a 5-year period in order to count toward a micro-credential.

If you’re earning your micro-credential as part of your current FERNFH degree program:
If you’d like to apply for a micro-credential from your own degree program, you can contact your program directly. For micro-credentials outside your degree program, please apply via the micro-credentials online application page:
By the way: If it’s been a while since you graduated, we’ll count ECTS credits earned up to 5 years ago.

If you are completing your micro-credential as a standalone short program.
To get started with a micro-credential, apply for your specific MC on the Micro-Credentials online application page.