European Credit Transfer
and Accumulation System
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This document is the result of the joint work of the
European Commision and the ECTS national coordinators in
the framework of the ECTS site visit and Helpline projects
coordinated by the European University Assiciation.
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ECTS Key features |
What is a credit system? |
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A credit system is a systematic way of describing an educational
programme by attaching credits to its components. The definition
of credits in higher education systems may be based on different
parameters, such as student workload, learning outcomes
and contact hours.
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What is ECTS? |
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The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System is
a student-centred system based on the student workload required
to achieve the objectives of a programme, objectives preferably
specified in terms of the learning outcomes and competences
to be acquired.
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How did ECTS develop? |
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ECTS was introduced in 1989, within the framework of Erasmus,
now part of the Socrates programme. ECTS is the only credit
system which has been successfully tested and used across
Europe. ECTS was set up initially for credit transfer. The
system facilitated the recognition of periods of study abroad
and thus enhanced the quality and volume of student mobility
in Europe. Recently ECTS is developing into an accumulation
system to be implemented at institutional, regional, national
and European level. This is one of the key objectives of
the Bologna Declaration of June 1999.
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Why introduce ECTS? |
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ECTS makes study programmes easy to read and compare for
all students, local and foreign. ECTS facilitates mobility
and academic recognition. ECTS helps universities to organise
and revise their study programmes. ECTS can be used across
a variety of programmes and modes of delivery. ECTS makes
European Higher Education more attractive for students from
other continents.
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What are the key features
of ECTS? |
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ECTS is based on the principle that 60 credits
measure the workload of a full-time student during
one academic year. The student workload of a full-time
study programme in Europe amounts in most cases
to around 1500-1800 hours per year and in those
cases one credit stands for around 25 to 30 working
hours.
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Credits in ECTS can only be obtained after successful
completion of the work required and appropriate
assessment of the learning outcomes achieved. Learning
outcomes are sets of competences, expressing what
the student will know, understand or be able to
do after completion of a process of learning, long
or short.
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Student workload in ECTS consists of the time required
to complete all planned learning activities such
as attending lectures, seminars, independent and
private study, preparation of projects, examinations,
and so forth.
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Credits are allocated to all educational components
of a study programme (such as modules, courses,
placements, dissertation work, etc.) and reflect
the quantity of work each component requires to
achieve its specific objectives or learning outcomes
in relation to the total quantity of work necessary
to complete a full year of study successfully.
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The performance of the student is documented by
a local/national grade. It is good practice to add
an ECTS grade, in particular in case of credit transfer.
The ECTS grading scale ranks the students on a statistical
basis. Therefore, statistical data on student performance
is a prerequisite for applying the ECTS grading
system. Grades are assigned among students with
a pass grade as follows:
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A best 10%
B next 25%
C next 30%
D next 25%
E next 10%
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A distinction is made between the grades FX and
F that are used for unsuccessful students. FX means:
“fail- some more work required to pass” and F means:
“fail – considerable further work required”. The
inclusion of failure rates in the Transcript of
Records is optional.
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What are the key documents
of ECTS? |
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The regular Information Package/Course
Catalogue of the institution to be published
in two languages (or only in English for programmes
taught in English) on the Web and/or in hard copy
in one or more booklets. The Information Package/Course
Catalogue must contain the items of the checklist
attached to this document, including information
for host students from abroad.
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The Learning Agreement contains
the list of courses to be taken with the ECTS credits
which will be awarded for each course. This list
must be agreed by the student and the responsible
academic body of the institution concerned. In the
case of credit transfer, the Learning Agreement
has to be agreed by the student and the two institutions
concerned before the student’s departure and updated
immediately when changes occur.
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The Transcript of Records documents
the performance of a student by showing the list
of courses taken, the ECTS credits gained, local
or national credits, if any, local grades and possibly
ECTS grades awarded. In the case of credit transfer,
the Transcript of Records has to be issued by the
home institution for outgoing students before departure
and by the host institution for incoming students
at the end of their period of study.
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How to obtain the ECTS
Label? |
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An ECTS label will be awarded to institutions which
apply ECTS correctly in all first and second cycle
degree programmes. The label will raise the profile
of the institution as a transparent and reliable
partner in European and international cooperation.
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The criteria for the label are: an Information
Package/Course Catalogue (online or hard copy in
one or more booklets) in two languages (or only
in English for programmes taught in English), use
of ECTS credits, samples of Learning Agreements,
Transcripts of Records and proofs of academic recognition.
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An application form has been published on the Europa
web site of the European Commission. The application
deadline is Nov 1st, annually. The label will be
valid for three academic years. The list of institutions
in possession of the label will be published on
the Europa web site.
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What is the Diploma Supplement? |
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The Diploma Supplement is a document attached to a higher
education diploma providing a standardised description of
the nature, level, context, content and status of the studies
that were pursued and successfully completed by the graduate.
The Diploma Supplement provides transparency and facilitates
academic and professional recognition of qualifications
(diplomas, degrees, certificates). A Diploma Supplement
label will be awarded to institutions which deliver a Diploma
Supplement, to all graduates in all first and second cycle
degree programmes, in accordance with the structure and
recommendations to be found on the Europa web-site of the
European Commission.
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Where to find more information
on ECTS and the Diploma Supplement? |
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More information on ECTS and the Diploma Supplement can
be found on the Europa web site of the European Commission,
including the ECTS Users’ Guide and a list of ECTS/DS Counsellors.
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http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/socrates/ects_en.html
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