ECTS calculator and ECTS Grading Scale Conversion [2023]

ECTS points or credits hold sheer importance if you want to study Master’s, postgraduate, or Ph.D. abroad. ECTS credit hours calculator is used for converting your credit hours per semester to ECTS points within minutes.

Thus, if you are wondering how to calculate ECTS credits, then simply use our ECTS credits calculator

ECTS Calculator

By using this calculator, you won’t need to perform lengthy calculations and can have your converted answer simply by putting in some basic information.

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Formula: (Hours spent in lecture per week + Hours spent in self-study per week)*(Number of weeks in a semester)/30

However, if you don’t know what is ECTS and what is ECTS credits meaning then we have got a solution for that as well. Carry on with us till the end of the article, to get all of your questions answered.

What is ECTS Point?

ECTS points stand for ‘European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System.’ It is a standard method used for comparing academic credits at an international level. Credits earned at one higher education institution can be used toward a certification earned at another using the ECTS system.

The ECTS system permits credits earned at one higher education institution to be used toward a certification earned at a different school. The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) is a technology used by the European Higher Education Area to increase the transparency of studies and courses. 

It makes it easier for students to migrate between nations and have their academic credentials and learning durations abroad acknowledged. Most countries in the European Higher Education Area have adopted ECTS as their national credit system, and it is becoming more widely utilized.

The ECTS system is also used to recognize full-time Bachelor’s, Master’s, and Doctorate (Ph.D.) degrees, in addition, to studying exchange experiences. 

The ECTS is a key component of the Bologna Process, and it is designed to assist foreign students in getting more out of their international study period. The ECTS was created with Erasmus students in mind, as a way to recognize courses and programs they took while studying abroad.

However, if you don’t know what the Bologna process is, then let us introduce to you that term as well.

Bologna Process and ECTS Points 

The Bologna Process is a sequence of ministerial conferences and treaties between European nations aimed at ensuring that higher-education degrees are comparable in terms of criteria and quality. The Lisbon Recognition Convention resulted in the establishment of the European Higher Education Area.

The Bologna Process’s first general aims were to reduce barriers to student mobility across Europe, as well as to improve the international appeal of European higher education. 

In order to reduce these barriers, ECTS points were introduced. ECTS points are widely accepted across Europe and are getting popular in other countries as well, thanks to the ease they create in the documentation process. Know more about ECTS

Why are ECTS Credits Required?

ECTS points make the performance and credibility of students more transparent. It makes them comparable across all platforms that come under EHEA. By using ECTS students can go abroad and study easily in any country that is a member of EHEA (European Higher Education Area).

You can pursue a Degree in one EHEA nation and other degrees in another EHEA country as if you were studying in both. Moreover, if you are planning to study a joint degree program, then with the aid of ECTS credits, your home university will be able to keep track of your study hours easily.

And the best part about these ECTS points is that it makes the lengthy and complex paperwork much simplified and easier to process. 

How do ECTS Points Work?

ECTS credit points are provided for finishing a course, seminar, or module. Every ECTS credit point corresponds to the quantity of work you completed during that time.

ECT points vary from country to country. For example; 

  • In Germany, 1 ECTS = 30 hours.
  • In the Netherlands, 1 ECTS = 28 hours.
  • In Belgium, 1 ECTS = 30 hours.
  • In Romania, 1 ECTS = 30 hours.
  • In Finland, 1 ECTS = 27 hours.
  • In Hungary, 1 ECTS = 30 hours.
  • In Italy, 1 ECTS = 25 hours.
  • In Portugal, 1 ECTS = 27 hours.
  • In Australia, 1 ECTS = 25 hours.
  • In Spain, 1 ECTS = 25 hours.

On an average basis, the minimum to a maximum amount of hours in one ECTS can range from 25 to 30 hours. 

Just so you can have a better idea of how ECTS exactly works, have a look at the ECTS conversion table for the German grading system. With the help of the ECTS calculator Germany conversion table, you can easily convert the internationally used grades into German grades and vice versa.

German GradeGerman Grade Meaning ECTS PointsECTS Credits Meaning 
1.0-1.5Sehr GutAExcellent
1.6-2.5GutB/CGood
3.6-4.0AusreichendC/DSatisfactory/Sufficient
4.1-6.0Nicht ausreichendE/FFail

Now let’s have a look at some of the ECTS credits assigned to different types of degrees and study programs.

  • 1 complete year of studies equals 60 ECTS points.
  • 3 complete years of Bachelor’s studies equals 180 ECTS points.
  • 4 complete years of Bachelor’s studies equals 240 ECTS points.
  • 1 complete year of Master’s studies equals 90 points.
  • 2 complete years of Master’s studies equals 120 points.
  • The doctorate program comprises 240 points.

Similarly, for getting enrolled in a doctorate program, you would require a total of 540 ECTS points in most of the universities of EHEA countries. Now with the help of this ECTS conversion table, you can carry out the conversion of ECTS points to credit hours and vice versa easily.

For instance, the 180 ECTS credits conversion comes to be equal to 3 years of Bachelor’s credit hours. Similarly, 90 ECTS points equal one year of Master’s studies. 

The ECTS grading systems are supposed to augment local grades, such as on a transcript of records, rather than replace them. The ECTS is based on the class percentile, much like the American grading system. That is, a student’s grade reflects how well they fared in comparison to their peers in the same department.

How to Calculate ECTS Points?

In order to calculate the ECTS points manually, follow the below-mentioned steps.

  • Calculate the total credit hours of a subject in a week.
  • Multiple it then with the total number of weeks in a semester.
  • Then divide the answer by 30, since 1 ECTS = 30 hours.
  • The answer will be the total number of ECTS in a subject per semester.

However, if you don’t want to go through such hassling, then simply use our ECTS Grade Calculator. With the help of our ECTS grade calculator, you can have complex conversions solved with a few simple entries.

Do ECTS Points Play an Important Role in Acquiring a Master’s Degree?

When applying for a Master’s or other postgraduate program, ECTS credits are significant. Students may be required to have a particular number of ECTS credits in the subject area they wish to apply for as part of their master’s entrance criteria. This is especially crucial for students who want to take a course that isn’t immediately related to their previous studies.

ECTS points prove to be utterly useful as they make things a lot simpler especially if you want to attain a Master’s degree from a country, which is different from the country from where you attained your Bachelor’s degree.

Do ECTS Points Play an Important Role in Acquiring a Ph.D. Degree?

Applying for a doctorate or Ph.D. program is entirely different from enrolling in a Master’s or undergraduate course. But still, it can give the staff and admission office a better idea about your educational performance and credibility. 

ECTS points will also help to make your academic achievements more transparent and visible. It will prove beneficial for those students who want to pursue further Ph.D. studies that are broader in scope than their previously studied subjects.

ECTS Points to U.S Credits

ECTS credits are 50% of the U.S credits. It means the conversion rate from ECTS to American credits is usually 2:1, which means that 90 ECTS equals 45 American credits. However, there are a few colleges in the United States that use different credit systems. As a result, this conversion percentage fluctuates.

Thus, it means that in the U.S, one credit point is equal to 60 hours, which is double of ECTS accepted EHEA countries. 

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQS)

In which countries ECTS point system is used?

In the following countries, the ECTS credit system is used.
The United Kingdom.
Germany.
Italy.
The Netherlands.
Portugal.
Sweden.
Ireland.
Spain.
France.
Belgium.
Hungary.
Finland.
Australia.

How many ECTS points are required to acquire a Bachelor’s degree?

In order to acquire a Bachelor’s degree, a total of 180 ECTS credits are required.

How many ECTS credits are needed to acquire a Master’s degree?

To acquire a Master’s degree, 90 to 120 ECTS credits are required depending upon the type of course.

How many credits make up an ECTS degree?

An ordinary degree comprises three levels. At level one, you acquire 60 ECTS. At level two, you get 60 ECTS again and another 60 ECTS at level three. Therefore, an ordinary degree comprises 180 ECTS points in total

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