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How is ECTS used by institutions and students?

Planning the programme of study abroad

Students who wish to study abroad contact their home departmental coordinator and study the information packages of other institutions to choose their destination and plan their programme of study abroad. This helps the student to select courses which are appropriate in their content and academic level, for recognition by the home institution as part of the student's final degree.

Using the ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits helps students to organise a study programme which is realistic in terms of overall workload. The ECTS credit rating demonstrates the relative weight of each course in the proposed programme of study.

Ensuring full academic recognition

An ECTS study programme must be approved by both the home and the host institutions before the student leaves for the study period abroad. If the programme of study described in the learning agreement is completed satisfactorily by the student, it is fully recognised by the home institution.

This means that the volume of study abroad, measured in terms of numbers of ECTS credits achieved, will replace an equivalent volume of study and assessment which would otherwise have been undertaken at the home institution.

How are ECTS credits transferred?

Institutions prepare and exchange transcripts of records for each student participating in ECTS. A copy of the transcript is given to the student and exchanged between the home and the host institutions before and after the period of study abroad.