ECTSkaltaiset

ECTSkaltaiset is a term used in Finnish and Nordic higher education contexts to describe credit units that are functionally similar to the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) but are not part of the formal ECTS framework. The label, often translated as “ECTS-like credits,” is used to facilitate recognition of courses and study periods when an institution does not use ECTS or when programs operate outside the official ECTS system. The concept aims to provide a workload-based measure that can be related to ECTS in inter-institutional discussions.

The term emerged in discussions about cross-border education, private providers, and national policy in the late 20th and early 21st centuries. Today, ECTSkaltaiset is primarily encountered in institutional guidelines, internal transfer policies, and informal scholarly discourse rather than as a universally adopted standard. It is not an officially recognized framework across Europe, and its use depends on bilateral or multilateral agreements between institutions.

In practice, ECTSkaltaiset units are defined by workload norms set by issuing institutions, often corresponding to 25–30 hours of student effort per unit. Conversions to ECTS can be established through formal agreements but are not guaranteed, which means recognition for credit transfer may vary between partner universities and programs. The lack of standardized criteria is a common point of debate.

Related topics include the official ECTS framework, credit transfer practices, and higher education policy.