European University Credit System

About European University Credit System

This article will give an overview of the European University Credit System. 

The European credit system is a widely accepted standard for assessing student achievement in the context of an educational institution. The credits awarded represent the level of effort involved in achieving the learning outcomes of a given course. Credits are awarded at different levels depending upon the subject area and the type of qualification sought. Its goals include enabling academic recognition for study periods, facilitating student mobility, and facilitating the acquisition and transfer of credits. In Europe, the ECTS credit system is advised for higher education.

What is the European System for Credit Transfer?

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a tool used by the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) to increase transparency in studies and courses. Students find it simpler to travel around and have their academic achievements and study abroad experiences acknowledged.

The ECTS system enables credits earned at one higher education institution to be applied toward a degree earned at another. ECTS credits signify learning based on specified learning objectives and the workload related to those objectives.

The flexibility of study plans for students is improved by ECTS. Additionally, it aids in the design, implementation, and assessment of higher education programs. It is a key element in the Bologna Process, which strives to increase the comparability of national educational systems on a global scale. Additionally, ECTS aids in improving the clarity and use of other papers, such as the Diploma Supplement, in various nations.

The majority of the nations in the European Higher Education Area have made ECTS their national credit system, and it is being used more and more internationally.

Need  Of ECTS

Differences in country higher education systems may cause issues with the recognition of credentials and international mobility opportunities. By improving understanding of the workload and learning results of study programs, this problem is partially resolved.

In the same program of study or through lifelong learning, ECTS also enables the blending of various learning types, such as academic and workplace learning.

How does ECTS function?

A full year of education or employment is equal to 60 ECTS credits. These credits are frequently divided into multiple smaller modules over a typical academic year. An average “short-cycle qualification” consists of 90 to 120 ECTS credits. One can earn a “first cycle” (or bachelor’s) degree with 180 or 240 ECTS credits.

Typically, a master’s degree (or “second cycle”) is equivalent to 90 or 120 ECTS credits. At the “third cycle,” or Ph.D. level, there are different ways to use the ECTS.

The use of ECTS helps students transfer between institutions of higher learning. The credit acquired by students during a mobility period abroad is recognized and transferred with the aid of the course catalogs, Learning Agreements, and Transcripts of Records.

A few instances of ECTS credits allocated in accordance with degree type include:

• There will be 60 ECTS credits granted for the entire academic year. Typically, a semester is for 30 credits, while a trimester is worth 20 credits.
• 180 ECTS credits for the three-year Bachelor’s program will be assigned.
• 120 ECTC credits for the two years of the Master’s degree will be awarded.

1 ECTS equals 30 hours of study time in the ECTS credit system used in Germany, Romania, and Hungary. Practical placements and thesis preparation are given ECTS credits if they are included in the regular course schedule at both the home and host schools.