Õppekoormus

Õppekoormus (study load) is the amount of study a student is expected to undertake in a program or course. In Estonia the term is most commonly used in higher education and is expressed in ECTS credits, which reflect both classroom instruction and independent study. The concept covers lectures, seminars, laboratories, assignments, exam preparation and other activities that contribute to learning.

Measurement and units: In European higher education, one ECTS credit roughly corresponds to about 25 hours of total student work. A typical full academic year is 60 ECTS, translating to about 1,500 to 1,800 hours of study, depending on how hours are allocated by a specific institution. A standard bachelor’s degree commonly totals 180 ECTS. Courses and programs are designed so that the sum of credits corresponds to the expected workload for a given term or year, enabling comparability across institutions.

Impact and planning: Õppekoormus guides curriculum design, admission requirements, progression rules and the scheduling of courses. It helps students plan their studies and manage wellbeing, since excessive workload can affect performance and health. Institutions may impose maximum per‑semester loads to prevent overload, while some students may request overloads with permission or choose part‑time study to balance other commitments.

Levels of education: In higher education, õppekoormus is typically expressed in ECTS credits. In primary and secondary education, the term is used less formally to describe the weekly instruction time and the amount of homework and assignments, which varies by grade and school. Overall, õppekoormus serves as a standardized measure of the expected student effort in Estonian education.