European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)

The ECTS - European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System - was developed by the European Commission in order to provide common procedures to guarantee academic recognition of studies abroad.

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System is a student-centred system based on the student workload required to achieve the objectives of a programme, objectives preferably specified in terms of the learning outcomes and competences to be acquired.

ECTS within Ghent University

Ghent University was amongst the first universities in Europe that succesfully applied for an ECTS-label (2004).

Internationalisation has always been a key feature of Ghent University; the implementation of ECTS on various levels (course catalogue, procedure for exchange students, availability of all relevant information in English, ...) is a continuing responsability of the involved administrative departments within Ghent University.

The ECTS Information Package is the result of an ongoing process of updating and finetuning and provides more insight in the possibilities for international exchange that Ghent University has to offer.

What is ECTS?

The ECTS system is based on three core elements:

  • information (on study programmes and students achievement)
  • mutual agreement (between the partner institutions and the student)
  • the use of ECTS credits (to indicate student workload, not only for exchange students but also for the UGent students)

 

Credits are allocated to all educational components of a study programme (such as modules, courses, placements, dissertation work, etc.) and reflect the quantity of work each component requires to achieve its specific objectives or learning outcomes in relation to the total quantity of work necessary to complete a full year of study successfully.

Full academic recognition is a conditio sine qua non for student mobility in the framework of the Erasmus programme. Full academic recognition means that the study period abroad (including examinations or other forms of assessment) replaces a comparable period of study at the home institution (including examinations or other forms of assessment), though the content of the agreed study programme may differ.

  • the Learning Agreement covers the programme of study to be taken and the ECTS credits to be awarded for their satisfactory completion, committing both home and host institution, as well as the student
  • the Transcript of Records shows students' learning achievements in a way which is comprehensive, commonly understood and easily transferable from one institution to another
  • the Proof of Recognition shows students that the study abroad period has been recognised in the home institution

More information

For more information about ECTS within Ghent University, you can always contact the institutional ECTS co-ordinator, Prof. Dr. Kristiaan Versluys - Director of Educational Affairs

  • Address: Sint-Pietersnieuwstraat 25, B-9000 Ghent, Belgium
  • Phone: +32 9 264 95 65
  • Fax: +32 9 264 41 88
  • E-mail: Kristiaan.Versluys@UGent.be