European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System

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European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is a standard for comparing the study attainment and performance of students of higher education across the European Union and other collaborating European countries. For successfully completed studies, ECTS credits are awarded. One academic year corresponds to 60 ECTS-credits that are equivalent to 1500-1800 hours of study in all countries irrespective of standard or qualification type and is used to facilitate transfer and progression throughout the Union.

The ECTS will be complemented by the European credit transfer system for vocational education and training (ECVET) which the ministers responsible for vocational training in 32 European countries agreed to develop in the Maastricht Communiqué of 14 December 2004.

ECTS also includes a standard grading scale, intended to be shown in addition to local (i.e. national) standard grades ^[1]:

**List of credits given in one year in European countries**
Country	Credits in one year	Abbreviation (Unit)	Notes
European	60	ECTS-credits
Austria	60	ECTS (also ECTS credits)	See: Education in Austria
Croatia	60	ECTS bodova	See: Education in Croatia
Czech Republic	60	kredit
Denmark	60	ECTS point	See: Education in Denmark
England, Wales and Northern Ireland	120 (60 ECTS)	credits	See: Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme
Estonia	40	ainepunkt (AP)	See: Education in Estonia
Finland	60	opintopiste	See: Education in Finland
France	60	crédits	See: Education in France
Iceland	30	einingar	See: Education in Iceland
Italy	60	crediti formativi universitari (CFU)	See: Education in Italy
Macedonia	60	kredit (ECTS)	See: Education in Macedonia
The Netherlands	60	studiepunten (ECTS)	See: Education in the Netherlands
Norway	60	studiepoeng	See: Higher education in Norway
Poland	60	punkt ECTS	See: Education in Poland
Portugal	60	créditos	See: Higher education in Portugal
Romania	60	credite	See: Education in Romania
Scotland	120 (60 ECTS)	credits	See: SCQF
Serbia	60	ECTS bodova	See: Education in Serbia
Slovenia	60	kreditne točke	See: Education in Slovenia
Spain	72 (60 ECTS)	credits	See: Education in Spain
Sweden	60	högskolepoäng (Used from July 2007)	See: Education in Sweden

Obsolete systems:

**List of credits given in one year in European countries**
Country	Credits in one year	Abbreviation (Unit)	Notes
Austria (old system)	40	Semesterwochenstunden (SSt)	See: Education in Austria
Denmark	1	Studenter årsværk (STÅ) (slowly phased out in Danish legislation since 2000)	See: Education in Denmark
Finland (old system)	40	opintoviikko	See: Education in Finland
Germany (old system)	40	Semesterwochenstunden (SWS)	See: Education in Germany
The Netherlands	42	studiepunten	See: Education in the Netherlands
Norway	20	vekttall	See: Higher education in Norway
Sweden	40	poäng (used until July 2007)	See: Education in Sweden