THE EUROPEAN CREDIT TRANSFER and ACCUMULATION SYSTEM (ECTS)
The ECTS system is
used across Europe for credit transfer (student mobility) and credit
accumulation (learning paths towards a degree). It also informs
curriculum design and quality assurance.
In most cases, student workload ranges from 1,500 to 1,800
hours for an academic year, and one credit corresponds to 25-30 hours
of work.
ECTS key documents include: course catalogue, learning agreement, transcript of
records as well as the Diploma Supplement (DS).
ECTS recognition decisions remain the responsibility of the competent authorities: professors
involved in student exchange, university admission officers,
recognition advisory centres (ENIC-NARIC), ministry officials or
employers.
The European Commission (DG Education and Culture) has decided to resume the
awarding of the ECTS/DS labels as of 2009, and intends to organize
yearly application rounds in the coming years.
