University Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS): Breakdown of the university's credit-based grading system

University Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS): Breakdown of the university's credit-based grading system

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) has revolutionised the way study programs are planned and compared across European universities. This universal unit of measurement was developed during the Bologna process and has become a cornerstone of transparency in higher education.

One ECTS point equals approximately 25 to 30 hours of work for a student, encompassing lectures, assignments, self-study, and exam preparation. This standardised workload calculation facilitates credit transfer and comparison, making study programs more comparable and transparent.

For full-time students, an academic year typically corresponds to 60 ECTS credits, representing around 1500 to 1800 hours of total workload per year. The hours per ECTS credit can vary slightly by institution or country but usually fall within this 25-30 hour range.

This system is not just a tool for semester planning, helping students estimate their workload and choose suitable courses. It also ensures clearer study and exam requirements, reduced study time, better study progress overview, easier study program planning, more transparent student workload, and flexible semester planning.

Moreover, ECTS points are essential for the course catalogue, learning agreement, and transcript of records. They also play a crucial role in the recognition of foreign study and exam performances, making national and international mobility easier for students.

In terms of university regulations, bachelor and diploma students must receive 4 ECTS per semester and prove they have received 16 ECTS in the fourth semester to continue their program. Failure to meet these requirements could result in loss of admission to university for the next two years.

Additionally, to receive family allowance after the first year at university, students must prove they have passed the study orientation and preparation phase (STEOP) consisting of 14 ECTS or lectures of 16 ECTS.

In summary, ECTS points are a vital part of the European higher education landscape, providing a standardised and transparent way to measure and compare study programs, facilitate credit transfer, and streamline the process of studying and planning for students across Europe.

[1] [Source for workload calculation per ECTS] [2] [Source for workload calculation per academic year] [3] [Source for awarding of credits based on successful completion of course requirements] [4] [Source for variation in workload calculation by institution or country]

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) facilitates learning and education-and-self-development by offering a standardized method for measuring study workload across European universities, enabling more transparent and comparable study programs. ECTS points are applied not only in the planning and comparison of study programs but also in the course catalogue, learning agreement, transcript of records, and validation of foreign study performances, making national and international mobility easier for students.

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