Course descriptions and syllabi

What it is

Official descriptions of your courses: content, learning outcomes, hours or credits, and sometimes assessment methods and reading lists. Sometimes called a syllabus, module handbook or course catalogue.

Why programmes ask for it

When programmes require credits in specific subjects (mathematics, programming, chemistry), course titles alone can be ambiguous. Descriptions show what you studied. GloFor asks for course descriptions with a self-assessment; M3EP asks for a self-assessment with course descriptions if your degree does not automatically meet its requirements.

Who issues it

Your faculty or department, or the university's published course catalogue. Some programmes accept printouts from the official university website; others want a stamped document.

What it usually contains

Course code and title, credits or hours, year taught, content summary, learning outcomes and, ideally, the textbook or main topics.

How to prepare it

1. Select only the courses relevant to the programme's prerequisites, unless asked for all.
2. Collect the official descriptions for the year you took each course.
3. Build a one-page index: requirement, your course, credits, page reference.
4. Translate if needed.
5. Merge into one PDF in the order of your index.

Common mistakes

• Sending 200 pages of every course with no index.
• Using descriptions from a later year when the course content changed.
• Claiming a course covers a prerequisite when the description does not show it.

Quality-control checklist

• ☐ Index linking each prerequisite to specific courses and credits.
• ☐ Official source for each description.
• ☐ Translation where needed.
• ☐ Single, bookmarked PDF if possible.

Lead time (planning estimate)

One to four weeks, longer if the department must stamp them or if translation is needed.

Commonly useful or programme-dependent?

Programme-dependent. Prepare them if any shortlisted programme sets subject-credit minimums that your course titles do not obviously meet.