What is ECTS?
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a tool which enables students to collect credits for learning achieved through higher education. ECTS is a learner-centered system which aims to increase transparency of learning outcomes and learning processes. It aims to facilitate planning, delivery, evaluation, recognition and validation of qualifications and units of learning as well as student mobility. ECTS is widely used in formal higher education and can be applied to other lifelong learning activities. ECTS is a system of academic credit allocation and transfer which has been developed experimentally by 145 universities in EU Member States and EFTA countries and is now being implemented by more than 1.000 institutions. The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) is intended to promote co-operation between European Higher Education Institutions and to enhance opportunities for students to study abroad which is an important element in academic and professional career development. To facilitate academic recognition, the mojority of European universities have adopted the ECTS.
What are ECTS credits?
ECTS credits are based on the workload students need in order to achieve expected learning outcomes. Learning outcomes describe what a learner is expected to know, understand and be able t oto after successful completion of a process of learning. They relate to level descriptors in national and European qualifications frameworks.
Workload indicates the time students typically need to complete all learning activities (such as lectures, seminars, projects, practical work, self-study and examinations) required to achieve the expected learning outcomes.
60 ECTS credits are attached to the workload of a full-time year of formal learning (academic year) and the associated learning outcomes. In most cases, student workload ranges from 1500 to 1800 hours for an academic year, whereby one credit corresponds to 25 to 30 hours of work.
How can ECTS credits be used?
Credits are allocated to entire qualifications or study programmes as well as to their educational components (such as modules, course units, dissertation work, work placements and laboratory work). The number of credits ascribed to each component is based on its weight in terms of the workload students need in order to achieve the learning outcomes in a formal context.
Credits are awarded to individual students (full-time or part-time) after completion of the learning activities required by a formal programme of study or by a single educational component and the successful assessment of the achieved learning outcomes. Credits may be accumulated with a view to obtaining qualifications, as decided by the degree-awarding institution.
If students have achieved (learning outcomes in other learning contexts or timeframes (formal, non-formal or informal), the associated credits may be awarded after successful assessment, validation or recognition of these learning outcomes.
Credits awarded in one programme may be transferred into another programme, offered by the same or another institution. This transfer can only take place if the degree-awarding institution recognizes the credits and the associated learning outcomes. Partner institutions should agree in advance on the recognition of periods of study abroad.
Credit transfer and accumulation are facilitated by the use of the ECTS key documents (Course Catalogue, Student Application Form, Learning Agreement and Transcript of Records) as well as the Diploma Supplement.
The ECTS System is essentially based on three core elements:
- Information on study programs and student achievement
- Mutual agreement between the partner institutions and the student
- A common credit framework to indicate student workload
These three core elements of ECTS are made operational through the use of three key documents: the “information package”, “the application form or learning agreement” and the “transcript of records”. ECTS is not intended to restrict students, teachers or institutions and in no way regulates the content, structure or equivalence of study programs.
This specially designed ECTS Information Package has been prepared by Mugla Sitki Kocman University with the aim of clarifying details about the academic programs and the understanding of education for Mugla Sitki Kocman University which have been formed in tune with Bologna Process. Each detail in the ECTS Information Package about the ECTS credits of courses, student workloads, evaluation process and the relation of all these components with each other have been explained step by step.
All of the information provided in the ECTS Information Guide is a complete package which integrates the National Qualifications defined by Higher Education Council of Turkey (YÖK) and their compatibility with the implementation of Bologna Process.
The purpose of the ECTS Information Package of Mugla Sitki Kocman University is not only inform the stakeholders in national and international level about the academic programmes in our university but also provide practical information about Muğla.