Information on ECTC
ECTS stands for European Community Course Credit Transfer Systems. It is a system of academic credit allocation which has been developed by 145 universities within the European Union and EFTA countries, under an ERASMUS pilot scheme (European Community Action Scheme for the Mobility of University Students).
ECTS promotes academic recognition between partner institutions in Europe to enable students to follow part of their study program abroad. The European Commission believes that ECTS is the best model for academic recognition and is encouraging all universities to apply for financial support to develop the system under the new EU educational programme, SOCRATES. The SOCRATES chapter focussing on Higher Education has kept the name ERASMUS and extends activities previously funded under the ERASMUS programme.
How does ECTS work?
ECTS is a decentralised system based upon the principle of mutual trust and confidence between the participating higher education institutions. The few rules of ECTS provides concerning Information (on courses available), Agreement (between the home and host institutions) and the Use of Credit Points (to indicate student workload) are set out to reinforce this mutual trust and confidence. Each ECTS department will describe the course it offers not only in terms of content but also in terms of credit point allocation. The allocation of credit points to courses ECTS is a credit system based on student workload. Student workload involves classes placements and self-study. It includes all work involved in preparing for an examination.
The basic allocation of academic credits in ECTS is 60 credits per year of study or 30 credits per semester. It is important that no special classes should be set up for ECTS purposes, but that all ECTS course are mainstream courses of the participating institutions, as followed by home students under normal regulations.
Depending on the student workload of the classes offered, the participating institutions will subdivide the credits allocated to specific classes. Placements and optional classes which form an integral part of the course of study do not receive academic credit.
Non-credit classes may, however, be mentioned in the transcript of records.
Credits are awarded only when the class has been completed and if all examinations required have been successfully taken.
