Convert between US semester credits and European ECTS credits
The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is the standard credit system used across European universities. If you're studying abroad in Europe or transferring credits internationally, understanding ECTS conversion is essential.
ECTS credits represent the workload required to complete a course. One ECTS credit equals approximately 25-30 hours of student work, including lectures, seminars, independent study, and exams. A full academic year typically equals 60 ECTS credits in Europe, equivalent to 30 US semester credits.
The general conversion formula is simple: 1 US credit = 2 ECTS credits. This means a typical 3-credit US course equals 6 ECTS credits. However, always verify with your specific university, as some institutions use slightly different conversion ratios.
When planning your study abroad semester, use this calculator to ensure you're taking enough ECTS credits to meet your home university's requirements. Most US universities require 12-15 credits per semester for full-time status, which translates to 24-30 ECTS credits in Europe.
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