ECTS credit equivalence is a European professional and academic recognition system for students who have completed several years of university studies in France or other European countries. ECTS credits are valid for life and enable students to continue their higher education at another European institution.
Would you like to understand how this system works? Here are the questions this article answers: How many ECTS credits are needed to validate a bachelor’s or master’s degree? How are ECTS credits calculated? How many ECTS credits do I need? What is the purpose of ECTS credits? How long are ECTS credits valid? What does it mean to acquire 120 ECTS credits?
ECTS credits are essential for academic exchanges across Europe. Established thanks to the birth of the Erasmus program and with the support of the European Union, it provides a clear, comprehensive framework for the various training courses offered by EU countries.
This unit makes it possible to establish a level of ECTS credit equivalence between various programs.
This European credit reflects the professional and academic recognition of the diplomas obtained by the student in a wider geographical area on the European scale.
Do you come from a non-European university?
Consult the ISIT equivalence guide
What is the purpose of ECTS credits?
ECTS credits are essential for attesting the academic level attained by a student. They represent the validation of each semester spent at a post-baccalaureate school or university. These accreditations enable students to prove their academic level, so they can hope to enroll in the foreign program of their choice.
Find out how many ECTS credits you have:
Generally speaking, the program in which you are enrolled must inform you of the number of ECTS credits you will acquire at the end of the academic year. This European equivalence system is compulsory if the course leads to a diploma or certification.
If you don’t have this information, contact your school’s education or admissions department to find out which credits you acquired at the end of your course, and how many ECTS you have obtained. In some cases, you’ll be able to see the credits as you earn them, directly on your report card or digital transcript. In this way, the information is clear and can be consulted at any time.
How are ECTS credits calculated?
To make it easier for you to understand the levels of each academic course, this is a quick summary of the levels at which European credits are obtained:
One semester is equivalent to 30 ECTS credits. In other words, the competences attested during one year will earn you 60 ECTS credits.
How many European credits are needed to complete a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree?
Each year, provided they have successfully completed their year, students obtain 60 European credits.
- Validation of a Bac+2 diploma results in 120 credits
- Validation of a Bac+3 diploma results in 180 credits
- Validation of a Bac+5 diploma results in 300 credits
How long are ECTS credits valid?
ECTS credits are valid for life. Once they have been acquired, you can continue your higher education studies or start a professional career once you’ve obtained your diploma.