ECTS system on Erasmus

So, what is ECTS system?

It is the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS in short). It was created by the European Commission. You earn ECTS points for every exam you pass on your erasmus exchange. Different exams are accredited different values of ECTS point. Usually it is like this – the harder the exam the more ECTS points you will recieve after you pass it. The great thing about ECTS system is that these points are internationaly acknowledged. You can for example pass few exams while on erasmus in Germany and when you finish the exam you “take” this points with you home – this ECTS points are also valid on your university. Although every university has its own rules on rewarding students with ECTS points for particular exams or courses, but the differences are not that big. According to the ECTS program, student should earn at least 60 points per year (that usually means you have to have at least 30 per semester). ECTS also includes a standard ECTS grading scale, intended to be shown in addition to local (i.e. national) standard grades. So basicly an ECTS point represent the number of hours you should be (or you have been) preparing for exam. And finally – the more ECTS points you obtain, the better :)

Definition of ECTS system

Official definition of ECTS. ECTS is meant to provide an effective and generally applicable mechanism for recognition of students’ academic achievement between partner institutions from different countries. Higher education institutions could be granted support for developing the use of ECTS within those departments in which the system had not yet been applied.