The European Community Course Credit System (ECTS)
This is a system based on allocation and transfer of academic credits. It was developed and tested in a pilot scheme by 145 European institutions of higher education in all EU member States and EFTA countries. ECTS was developed as an instrument
to improve academic co-operation between European universities by means of an effective and general procedure. ECTS serves as a model of academic recognition, as it provides greater transparency regarding study programmes and student achievements. ECTS in no way regulates the content, structure and/or equivalence of study programmes. These are issues of quality which are to be determined by the higher education institutions themselves.
ECTS-Credits are allocated to each course unit. 60 credits represent the workload of an academic year of study. Each institution produces an information package as a guide to all courses available to ECTS students. Students receive a transcript of records listing all successfully completed courses, together with a diploma supplement. The diploma supplement comprises all information about the structure and content of the study programme which is relevant for academic exchange and academic or vocational applications.