Study planning - how to create a study plan

Find out how to create a good study plan that meets the rules, requirements and deadlines.

What is a study plan?

The study plan is a plan of what courses you need to take during your education - and in what order. Your study plan is an essential tool in your education; it helps to ensure that you follow the courses you need and want and that you have room, e.g. to go on exchange.

It is your responsibility to ensure that your study plan complies with the rules for your studies. 

You must complete and submit your first study plan as part of your Commencement of Studies Exam - no later than five weeks after the commencement of studies.

It is a good idea to review your study plan before each semester - preferably during the period when you need to register for the next semester's courses.

Tools for your study planning

When making a study plan, you need your programme specification, the course base and the planning tool Study Planner.

  • Your programme specification  contains information about your entire programme, the courses you must and can take, and important rules and deadlines for your programme. 
    See programme specifiactions for all DTU's educations 

  • The Course Database holds information about all the courses DTU offers, thorough course descriptions and exam forms, contact information for the course responsible, exam location, learning objectives, etc.

  • The Study planner  is where you create your study plan and register for or withdraw from the courses you want and must take in the coming teaching period..

Getting started with your study plan

  • Read through your programme specification, and find out about inform yourself about compulsory courses, rules, requirements and deadlines.
  • Get help in the guide to the Study Planner, where you can see how to insert courses into the plan and how to make temporary placeholders yourself, for example, internship (BEng students), final projects, etc.. 
  • Start by downloading all of your required courses into your course basket in the Study Planner, so that you can easily drag and drop them into the plan itself.
  • Place all courses in the semesters they should be.
  • Once all courses are placed, you are ready to go through the checklist below.

Checklist for creating a good study plan

Use this check list to make sure that your study plan complies with the rules and deadlines for your study programme.

  • Does your study plan contain the correct number of ECTS credits for your entire programme?
    In your programme specification you can see how many ECTS credits you must have to complete the programme. It is, for example, 180 ECTS credits for BSc students, 210 ECTS credits for most BEng programmes and 120 ECTS credits for MSc programmes..
  • Does your study plan meet the academic requirements?
    You must make sure that you complete all compulsory courses and elements, e.g. internship (BEng programmes) and final project. See programme specification.
  • Has your study plan taken into account your desire to go on an exchange?
    If you want to spend part of your studies abroad, remember to make room for it in your study plan.
  • Is your study plan in line with the professional progression of the programme?
    Be aware that some courses must be taken before others.
  • Does your study plan stay within the maximum study time for your programme?
    Your study plan must enable you to complete your programme within the maximum time allowed. See programme specification.
  • Does your study plan meet the study activity requirement?
    There is a requirement that you pass 5 ECTS credits each year as a minimum. Your plan must allow for that. Read about the study activity requirement
  • Can you pass the first-year exam if you follow your plan?
    This is only relevant for students in the BEng and BSc programmes.

You must ensure that your courses and exams do not overlap and that you give yourself the best conditions in terms of developing and exploring your professional skills.

  • Do you avoid overlap in the timetable placement of your courses in the study plan you have made?
  • Are you happy with the exam placement in the individual semesters? Are there too many or too few?
  • Do you have room to change your courses in the elective part if you change your professional focus within your degree?
    That can be relevant if you want to apply for a specific MSc programme.
  • Do you have the professionalism, the focus, the specialization in your programme that you want? Or does your plan allow you to get it?

Course registration

Remember to register for your courses

Once the courses are in your study plan for the coming semesters, it is not the same as registering for the course. Therefore, you must always remember to register for - and withdraw from - your courses.

How to register for and withdraw from courses

If you have any questions or need advice

Study Guidance

Providing help with choosing a study, study planning, exemption, guidance in DTU’s rules, or with personal questions. All student advisors have a duty of confidentiality.