European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)
What is ECTS?
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a tool of the European Higher Education Area for making studies and courses more transparent. It helps students to move between countries and to have their academic qualifications and study periods abroad recognised.
ECTS allows credits taken at one higher education institution to count toward a qualification studied at another. ECTS credits represent learning based on defined learning outcomes and their associated workload.
ECTS enhances the flexibility of study programmes for students. It also supports the planning, delivery and evaluation of higher education programmes. It is a central tool in the Bologna Process, which aims to make national education systems more comparable internationally. ECTS also helps make other documents, such as the Diploma Supplement, clearer and easier to use in different countries.
Most countries in the European Higher Education Area have adopted ECTS as their national credit system, and it is increasingly used elsewhere.
Why is ECTS needed?
Differences between national higher education systems can create problems with the recognition of qualifications and mobility periods abroad. This issue is addressed in part by improving understanding of the learning outcomes and workload of programmes of study.
ECTS also makes it possible to blend different learning styles, such as university and work-based learning, within the same programme of study or through lifelong learning.
How does it work?
60 ECTS credits are the equivalent of a full year of study or work. In a standard academic year, these credits are usually broken down into several smaller modules. A typical 'short cycle qualification' includes 90-120 ECTS credits. A ‘first cycle’ (or bachelor's) degree consists of either 180 or 240 ECTS credits.
Usually a ‘second cycle’ (or master's) degree equates to 90 or 120 ECTS credits. The use of ECTS at the ‘third cycle’, or PhD level, varies.
ECTS supports student mobility between higher education institutions. Course catalogues, Learning Agreements, and Transcripts of Records support the recognition and transfer of credits students earn during a mobility period abroad. The ECTS Users' Guide describes the system and how it is used in greater detail.
Credit allocation policy
ECTS credit allocation policy (institutional credit framework)
Source: ECTS users guide (2015)
|
Local grade |
Percentage of successful students normally achieving this grade |
Definition |
Pass/fail system |
|
10 |
96%–100% |
Excellent performance, outstanding knowledge and skills (Excellent) |
PASS |
|
9 |
86–95% |
Strong performance, good knowledge and skills (Very good) |
|
|
8 |
76–85% |
Above-average performance, knowledge and skills (Good) |
|
|
7 |
66–75% |
Average performance, knowledge and skills with non-essential shortcomings (Highly satisfactory) |
|
|
6 |
61–65% |
Below-average performance, knowledge and skills with substantial shortcomings (Satisfactory) |
|
|
5 |
46–60% |
Knowledge and skills meet minimum criteria (Sufficient) |
|
|
4 |
36–45% |
Knowledge and skills do not meet minimum criteria/below minimum criteria (Insufficient) |
FAIL |
|
3 |
26–35% |
||
|
2 |
16–25% |
||
|
1 |
0–15% |