TheECTSpistettä

The ECTSpistettä, also known as the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System points, is a standardized system used in European higher education to measure and compare student workload. It was developed to facilitate student mobility and academic recognition across different countries. The primary unit of the ECTSpistettä is the ECTS credit, which represents the average time a student is expected to spend on all learning activities required to successfully complete a module, course, or program. This includes lectures, seminars, practical work, independent study, and examinations.

One ECTS credit is equivalent to approximately 25 hours of student workload. A full academic year of study is typically recognized as 60 ECTS credits. These credits are awarded upon successful completion of the required learning outcomes and assessments, regardless of the grading achieved. The system aims to make study programs comparable, allowing students to transfer credits earned at one institution to another, thereby simplifying the process of studying abroad. It also helps in the recognition of qualifications and learning periods undertaken in different European countries. The ECTSpistettä is a fundamental component of the Bologna Process, which seeks to create a more compatible and competitive European higher education area.