Relevance of ECTS credits to apply for Masters Programmes
Posted date: 13 Sep 2021
The European Credit Transfer System - or, to be more exact, the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System - makes studying in the European Higher Education Area much more comparable. A credit system indicates that at any university, one course or module is equal in value. The ECTS system aids students and universities in defining and comprehending the effort associated with lectures and studies. Although it may appear intimidating at first, it is actually extremely simple to comprehend.
During their education, students can study and live in different European countries thanks to the system. It also makes studying abroad much more convenient because universities can compare the classes and courses they offer, allowing you to receive credit for your semester or year spent abroad. The required workload to finish a study programme, or a module within a study programme, is expressed in ECTS points, or ECTS credits.
In general, 60 ECTS credits are awarded for each year of full-time study. Modules are commonly used to partition this. So, for example, in a year, you might have four courses with a similar workload, each worth 15 ECTS credits and totaling 60 ECTS for the year. The total workload for a study programme is calculated by adding the ECTS points of all modules:
* Bachelor's degrees normally vary from 180 ECTS (3 years full-time) to 240 ECTS (four years full-time) (4 years full-time).
* The typical length of a master's degree is 60 ECTS (1 year full-time) to 120 ECTS (2 years full-time) (2 years full-time).
* Because of the variable length of the work load, it's difficult to say exactly how many credits a PhD programme will contain.
When applying for Master's or other postgraduate programmes, ECTS credits are significant.
When it comes to admissions, there are no hard and fast regulations, but ECTS credits can make life a bit easier for everyone - especially for students applying to Master's programmes in countries other than their home country. Students may be required to have a particular number of ECTS credits in the subject area they wish to apply for as part of their master's admission criteria.
This is especially crucial for students who want to take a course that isn't immediately related to their previous studies. For example, if you wish to pursue a Master's degree in engineering, you may need to demonstrate math proficiency. Even if you have never studied engineering before, the ECTS credits you earned in Mathematics-related courses during your Bachelor's degree can help you demonstrate that you have the necessary expertise for the Master's programme you are applying to.
Posted By
GSP Admin
