Course Points System Significance: An Examination of ECTS Impact on Academic Studies
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a valuable tool in the European higher education sector, designed to aid students in semester planning, workload estimation, and the recognition of foreign studies.
Semester Planning
Each academic year corresponds to 60 ECTS credits, making a typical semester workload around 30 ECTS credits. This standardization enables institutions to design semesters with a balanced course load, ensuring students have a manageable and comparable workload across universities in Europe.
Workload Estimation
One ECTS credit equates to approximately 25 to 30 hours of student work, encompassing lectures, readings, exam preparation, assignments, and internships. For an academic year (60 ECTS), the total workload is about 1500–1800 hours. This standardization allows universities to accurately estimate and communicate the total effort required for each course or module.
Recognition of Foreign Study Achievements
ECTS facilitates the transfer and accumulation of credits between universities across Europe and collaborating countries. When a student studies abroad, their completed courses with assigned ECTS credits can be recognized at their home institution without repeated assessment, supporting academic progression and mobility. The system also provides a compatible grading scale to help translate local grades into a common European framework, easing grade recognition and credit transfer.
In addition to these benefits, the ECTS system offers a transparent, uniform credit and workload framework that aids in organizing study programs by semester, fairly estimating the workload, and recognizing study periods or entire programs completed abroad across European higher education institutions.
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It is essential to note that students in a Bachelor's or Diplom study program must complete at least 4 ECTS per semester, starting from the winter semester 2022/23. Moreover, to continue receiving family allowance after the first year of university, you must prove that you have completed the STEOP (Study Entrance and Orientation Phase) to the extent of 14 ECTS or courses to the extent of 16 ECTS. Students in a Bachelor's or Diplom study program must provide proof of 16 completed ECTS credits by the fourth semester. If a Bachelor's or Diplom student completes fewer than 16 ECTS credits in the first four semesters, they will lose their admission and will not be able to continue this field of study at any higher education institution for the next 2 years.
Lastly, the university website also offers a checklist for a successful start to the semester. Utilizing the ECTS system effectively can contribute significantly to a student's academic success and overall university experience.
- Navigating online education and self-development opportunities can provide flexible and convenient learning experiences, complementing the traditional ECTS-based education system.
- Students searching for additional learning resources may find a wealth of materials online, with many platforms offering courses that can be converted into ECTS credits, helping to broaden their academic horizons.
