ECTS Credit System

The purpose of ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) is to define a level of acceptance for academic student performance all over Europe, in order to facilitate student mobility.

This credit system is based on the convention that 60 credits measure the workload needed by a full-time student to fulfill the objectives of a study program during one academic year.

"Workload" refers to the time hypothetically needed by an average student to complete all required learning tasks, such as attending lectures or seminars, studying independently, preparing for and taking examinations. For a full-time study program, this amounts in Europe to 36-40 weeks per year, so that one credit stands for 25-30 working hours.

Credits can only be granted after successful completion of the mandatory performance assessments. No credit points are issued for unsatisfactory performance. Partial granting of credit points is not permitted.

 

This system applies to bachelor's and master's programs only. Where doctoral studies are concerned, the old system is still valid (credit units instead of credit points).

- Performance assessment Doctoral studies