• Higher Education in Europe
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    • Qualifications framework
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• European Higher Education Area

European Credit System

The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) is the generalised basis for all the national credit systems in Europe. ECTS was introduced when the Erasmus Mobility programme was launched in the 1980s.

ECTS is based on the principle that 60 credits measure the workload of an average 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.
Credits in ECTS can only be obtained after a satisfactory assessment of the learning outcomes achieved. In this context, 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.

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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