ECTS Credits
ECTS credits are a value allocated to course units to describe the
student workload required to complete them. They reflect the quantity of
work each course requires in relation to the total lectures, practical work,
seminars, individual work (in the library or at home) and examinations or other
assessment activities.
ECTS credits express a relative value rather than
an absolute measure of student workload.
60 ECTS credits represent the full workload of an academic year; normally
30 ECTS credits are given for a semester and 20 credits for a term. The
Norwegian National System of credit allocation is easily adapted for conversion
into ECTS credits. One Norwegian «studiepoeng» (credit) is calculated as
the equivalent of one ECTS credits.
ECTS credits are allocated to course units but are only awarded to
students who successfully complete the course by satisfying the assessment
requirements. In other words, students do not get ECTS credits simply for
attending classes or spending time abroad, they must fullfill the assessment
requirements at the host institution to demonstrate that they satisfy the
stated learning objectives for the course unit.
The assessment procedure may take various forms: Written or oral examinations,
course work, or a combination of the two, or other means such as presentations
at seminars etc.