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ECTS Credits

ECTS credits are a value allocated to course units to describe the student workload required to complete them. They reflect the quantity of work each course requires in relation to the total lectures, practical work, seminars, individual work (in the library or at home) and examinations or other assessment activities.

ECTS credits express a relative value rather than an absolute measure of student workload.

60 ECTS credits represent the full workload of an academic year; normally 30 ECTS credits are given for a semester and 20 credits for a term.  The Norwegian National System of credit allocation is easily adapted for conversion into ECTS credits.  One Norwegian «studiepoeng» (credit) is calculated as the equivalent of one ECTS credits.

ECTS credits are allocated to course units but are only awarded to students who successfully complete the course by satisfying the assessment requirements. In other words, students do not get ECTS credits simply for attending classes or spending time abroad, they must fullfill the assessment requirements at the host institution to demonstrate that they satisfy the stated learning objectives for the course unit. 

The assessment procedure may take various forms: Written or oral examinations, course work, or a combination of the two, or other means such as presentations at seminars etc.