ECTS

European Credit Transfer System

ECTSINTRODUCTION

Move without obstacles: recognition of studies and diplomas

European Credit Transfer System ECTS

Three core elements: 1. Information

2. Mutual Agreement

3. Use of ECTS-credits

ECTSINTRODUCTION

Transparency:

1. ECTS-credits are a numerical value = workload

2. Information package

3. easily transferable from one institution to another

4. learning agreement covering the programme of study to be taken and the ECTS credits to be awarded

ECTSINTRODUCTION

voluntary participation, transparency, flexibility and a climate of mutual trust and confidence

allocation of ECTS credits to course units

production of an Information package, in the native language and in another EU language

use of student application forms, transcripts of records and ECTS learning agreements

ECTS-CREDITS

ECTS-credits: numerical value (between 1 and 60), describes workload

60 ECTS-credits represent the workload of an academic year

Swedish courses have credits 20 Swedish credits = 30 ECTS

ECTS-credits = workload NOT the level or difficulty

ECTS ALLOCATION

ECTS credits are allocated to course units

only awarded to students who successfully complete the course by satisfying the assessment requirements

ECTS CREDIT TRANSFER

home and host institutions prepare and exchange transcripts of records

copies of these transcripts are given to the student

home institution recognises the amount of credit received

Learning Agreement gives the student a guarantee in advance that the credits for the approved programme of study will be transferred

Two good models of credit transfer in common use

ECTS CREDIT TRANSFER

a block of course units chosen to replace the year or the semester at the home institution

course units or groups of course units which correspond to the home course units

on returnon return ; credits according to ECTS-credits

full academic recognition is givenfull academic recognition is given !!!

ECTS CREDIT TRANSFER

Partial failure:

1. If the host institution offers their own students a second attempt at an assessment, the mobile student should take advantage of this procedure

2. When the host's procedures are at an end, the matter of the students' progress rests with the home institution, in accordance with its rules.

In the event of serious failure the student may need to repeat the period of study

ECTSINFORMATION PACKAGE

information packages as guides for potential partners and students and staff

intended to facilitate curriculum transparency, to help teachers guide students to choose appropriate programmes and plan their studies abroad, and to provide practical information

systematically updated each year

some elements are crucial : good course unit descriptions;details of examination systems and grading schemes;credits

ECTSINFORMATION PACKAGE

Table of contents 

INTRODUCTION; Whta is ECTSa brief description of ECTS

I. The InstitutionA. Name and addressB. Academic calendar C. The ECTS institutional coordinator

D. General description of the institution E. Registration procedures

ECTSINFORMATION PACKAGE

II. General practical informationA. Host country formalities B. Getting there C. Cost of living D. Accommodation E. Health and insurance

1. Medical facilities 2. Special needs students 3. Insurance cover

F. Study facilities at the host institution 1. Libraries 2. Specialist facilities

G. Other practical information H. Extra-mural and leisure activities

ECTSINFORMATION PACKAGE

III. The department

A -General description of the department

B - Degree structure 1. Qualifications 2. Course structure diagram

ECTSINFORMATION PACKAGE

III. The department

C -Individual course units 1. Identification 2. Description 3. Level 4. Compulsory or optional course units 5. Teaching staff 6. Length7. Teaching and learning methods 8. Assessment9. The language 10. ECTS credit allocation

ECTSINFORMATION PACKAGE

IV. Glossary

A glossary of the terminology used in the information package could be useful to avoid misunderstandings

V. Examples of good practice

Examples of degree course structures are added as well as examples of individual course unit descriptions

STUDENT APPLICATION FORM

the student will fill in a student application form

the student must already have a precise idea on the programme of study

elaborated in conjunction with the home institution’s ECTS departmental coordinator and with the agreement of the home institution’s ECTS institutional coordinator

The LEARNING AGREEMENT

before the student leaves for the host institution a learning agreement should be signed

The student agrees to undertake the programme of study at the host institution as an integral part of his or her higher education

  The home institution provides the student with a guarantee that the home institution will give full academic recognition in respect of the course units listed on the agreement

The host institution confirms that the programme of study is acceptable

A copy of the signed learning agreement should be given to all parties involved

CHANGES

The learning agreement form provides for changes to the originally agreed study programme/learning agreement

Agreement to the changes by all parties must be obtained in order to guarantee full academic recognition

Changes to the originally agreed programme will be indicated on the reverse side of the learning agreement and duly counter-signed by the student and the coordinators of both the home and host institutions

TRANSCRIPT OF RECORDS

Credit transfer in ECTS operates by means of exchange of transcripts of records between home and host institutions and vice versa

Transcripts of records describe the learning achievements of each ECTS student prior to and after the period of study abroad

Every course taken by the student is recorded on the transcript of records with not only the ECTS credits but also with the grade awarded according to the local grading scale and, possibly, the grade awarded according to the ECTS grading scale

A signed copy of the transcripts of records should be given to all parties involved

ECTS GRADING SCALE

Common currency to measure the quality of student achievements

many different grading systems co-exist in Europe

interpretation of grades varies considerably from one country to another

failure to communicate grades might have serious consequences for mobile students

A European-wide facilititaing scale

ECTS-GRADING SCALEECTS Percentage of

successful students normally

achieving the grade

Definition

gradeA 10 EXCELLENT - outstanding performance

with only minor errorsB 25 VERY GOOD -above the average

standard but with some errorsC 30 GOOD -generally sound work with a

number of notable errorsD 25 SATISFACTORY- fair but with

significant shortcomingsE 10 SUFFICIENT - performance meets the

minimum criteriaFX - FAIL- some more work required before

the credit can be awardedF - FAIL- considerable further work is

required

ECTS-GRADING SCALE

ECTS grades “A” to “E” accompany the award of credit

ECTS grades “FX” and “F” attract zero credit

CONVERSION GRADES

ECTS F-FX E D C B A A+

SWEDEN U/R G- G- G G+ VGVG+

GERMANY 5.0-4.1 4.0-3.6 3.5-2.8 2.7-2.1 2.0-1.5 1.4-1.0 1.0

MID SWEDEN UNIVERSITY: ECTS-DECISION

Beslutdatum 98-01-29 Dnr 40/9701077

Beslut 1Beslutas att:

Endast utländska studenter på utbytesprogram skall omfattas av ECTSTolka ECTS betygsskala som ett målrelaterat betygssystem med rekommenderade betygsgränser vis 90-80-70-60-50% av möjligt resultat med hänsyn tagen till de verbala definitioner på ECTS betygen A t.o.m. E

ECTS-background/mor information

Rektorsbeslut Dnr 40/9701077

http://europa.eu.int/comm/education/programmes/socrates/guide-sw.doc

http://www.mh.se/internationaloffice/

www.programkontoret.se