European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)
What is ECTS?
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) has been designed to make the higher education systems in Europe more transparent and to support the Bologna Process. ECTS contributes to cross-border academic recognition, offers the transfer of learning achievements between institutions of higher education, increases flexibility towards the acquisition of academic degrees and supports student mobility. In addition, ECTS helps shaping programs of study and ensuring quality.
Students who have achieved credits at one university can get recognition upon review and validation of the learning outcomes at another university. This includes the possibility to transfer credits from one program of study to another if the degree awarding institution accepts the learning outcomes as equivalent.
ECTS has been adopted by most of the countries of the European Higher Education Area. Universities that apply ECTS publish a detailed description of their programs of study, modules, study and examination regulations as well as their services, usually on their websites.
Credit transfer and accumulation will be supported through the use of so-called ECTS key documents and diploma supplements.
ECTS at Leuphana
ECTS has been applied at Leuphana University of Lüneburg since the implementation of Bachelor's and Master's programs in the scope of the Bologna Process. All information relevant for successful studies has been published on the University's websites. Leuphana uses the following ECTS key documents:
- Online student application
- Learning Agreement
- Transcript of Records
In addition, graduates receive together with their degree certificate a Diploma Supplement with additional information on the University, the completed program of study and the achieved skills and qualifications.
ECTS credits
ECTS Credits define the student workload necessary to achieve the learning outcomes defined for a course of study respectively a study module. The workload reflects the time a student needs for all learning activities (class contact hours and self study) to achieve the expected learning outcomes (knowledge, skills, and competencies).
The standard annual workload of a full-time student would be 1500 - 1800 hours correponding to 60 ECTS-Credits. Thus, one ECTS credit corresponds to a workload of 25-30 hours. A standard module at Leuphana University comprises 5 ECTS credits.
Further information on ECTS can be found on the websites of the European Commission
For information on the local grading system click here