How to create a degree plan for university (step by step)
Updated on 2026-01-15 · Read 7 min
A well-organized degree plan is the difference between moving forward with clarity and losing semesters to blocked courses. In this guide we show you, step by step, how to build your degree plan and how to digitize it so you can track your progress in real time.
What a degree plan is and why you need one
Your degree plan (also called curriculum, study plan or academic roadmap) is the complete picture of your program: every course you must take, organized by semester or level, with its credits and prerequisites.
It tells you exactly where you are, what is left, and which courses unlock others. Without it, it is easy to enroll in the wrong order and delay graduation.
1. Gather the official information for your program
Get the current curriculum of your program. You can usually find it on your university's website, at your faculty office, or by asking academic advising. Make sure it matches your intake year, because degree plans change over time.
- Course list per semester or level
- Credits (ECTS, credit hours or academic credits)
- Prerequisites and co-requisites for each course
- Tracks, electives or specialization paths
2. Organize courses by semester or level
Copy every course into columns, one per semester. It does not matter if you use a spreadsheet, a whiteboard or paper: the goal is to see the whole map at once.
If your university uses levels instead of semesters (cycles or years), keep that structure so you do not get confused when comparing with classmates.
3. Add credits and academic load
Next to each course name, write its credits. This lets you balance your workload per term and avoid stacking heavy semesters together. Most programs cap the number of credits per semester: respect that cap when planning.
4. Map prerequisites and co-requisites
Prerequisites are where most students get stuck. Draw arrows from each course to the ones it unlocks. That way you can see complete chains: if you fail one key course, which others get blocked?
With that map you can prioritize critical courses and avoid running out of options in your final semesters.
5. Track your real progress
Status of each course: pending, in progress or passed. This simple habit gives you two things: your degree completion percentage and the exact list of courses available next term.
Update the plan after every academic term. Five minutes at the end of the semester prevents rushed decisions at enrollment time.
6. Digitize your plan from a PDF or photo
If your degree plan is a PDF or an image, do not copy it by hand. In Mi Malla you can upload the file and semesters, courses, codes and credits are extracted automatically. Then you just adjust what you need.
Once it is digital, you can mark courses as passed, view the prerequisite graph and check your completion percentage from your phone.
Common mistakes when building your degree plan
- Using a plan from a different intake year or university
- Ignoring credits and overloading a single semester
- Not checking prerequisites before enrolling
- Never updating it after each term
Frequently asked questions
What is a degree plan?
It is the complete map of all the courses in your program, organized by semester or level, with their credits and prerequisites. It shows what you must take and in what order.
Can I create a degree plan if my university does not publish one?
Yes. You can build it manually from your program's course list, or upload a photo of the document your faculty gives you and digitize it automatically.
How often should I update my degree plan?
After every academic term, or whenever your curriculum changes. That way your progress and available courses always reflect reality.
Do I need Excel to create a degree plan?
It is not mandatory. Excel works, but a degree planning app like Mi Malla calculates your progress, manages prerequisites and lets you import your plan from a PDF or photo automatically.
Put it into practice with Mi Malla
Import your study plan, calculate your average and manage your studies. Free.
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