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ECTS - European Credit Transfer System

The European Community promotes studies abroad as a means of improving the quality of academic cooperation, thus bringing benefits to students and higher education institutions. The European Commission has developed a European Credit Transfer System, which provides a way of measuring and comparing learning achievements, and transferring them from one country to another. The European Credit Transfer System guarantees full academic recognition and ensures that no time will be lost in completing a degree. This is achieved through the use of a common ECTS credit unit and a common ECTS grading scale. Vaasan ammattikorkeakoulu, University of Applied Sciences, has the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) in use.

ECTS DOCUMENTS

ECTS makes use of three important documents: (1) The information package, which provides general information on the host institution as well as detailed descriptions of the degree programmes and courses available. (2) The application form, CV & learning agreement, which, in addition to providing personal data on the student, describes the study programme and the ECTS credits to be awarded after successful completion of the courses. (3) The transcript of records, which shows the learning achievements of the student. The transcript indicates all courses taken by the student, the number of ECTS credits completed and the grades awarded to the student.

BENEFITS OF THE ECTS

For the student, the ECTS helps the process of transferring the credits of studies completed abroad and enables access to regular courses alongside local students, with the benefit of full participation in the academic life of the host institution. This characteristic of the ECTS distinguishes it from many other student mobility programmes. The ECTS also enables further studies abroad. For the higher education institutions, the ECTS improves access to information on foreign curricula and provides common procedures for academic recognition.

THE ECTS GRADING SCALE

 Examination and assessment results are usually expressed in grades. There are many different grading systems in Europe. In ECTS, 60 credits represents the workload of one year of study; normally 30 credits are given for 6 months (a semester) and 20 credits for a term (a trimester). Practical placement, thesis work and optional courses, which form an integral part of the course of study, also receive ECTS credits. Non-credit courses can only be mentioned in the transcript of records. ECTS credits are allocated to courses and are awarded to students who successfully complete the courses by passing the exams or other forms of assessment. The ECTS grading scale has been developed to help institutions to interpret the grades awarded to exchange students. The following chart describes the use of the ECTS grading system.