What Is the ECTS Credit System: How It Works in Ukraine and Abroad

What Is ECTS

ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) is a standardised system for comparing academic credits across Europe. It allows the volume of a student’s workload to be assessed and makes educational programmes from different countries comparable — that is, transparent and mutually compatible. For example, if a student studied in Poland and wants to transfer to Germany, the university will recognise their previous results because both countries use the same credit system.

Simply put, ECTS credits are conventional units that show how much time and effort a student has invested in their studies.

This system is part of the Bologna Process — an international initiative uniting more than 48 countries, aimed at creating a unified higher education area. Thanks to this, students can:

• study at different universities and in different countries;
• participate in exchange programmes (such as Erasmus+);
• have their academic results recognised abroad without lengthy bureaucratic procedures.

How Credits and Grading Work in ECTS

The core idea of ECTS is to assess not only knowledge, but also the volume of work completed.

1 academic year equals 60 ECTS credits. The number of hours per credit varies by country:

• in Ukraine, 1 ECTS credit equals exactly 30 hours of student workload (as defined by the Law on Higher Education);
• in Europe, standards vary: in most EU countries (such as Germany or Austria), 1 credit equals 25 to 28 hours — so the total number of hours per year ranges between 1,500 and 1,800.

Credits are awarded for:

• lectures and practical classes;
• independent work;
• exam preparation;
• completing projects and research.

It is important to understand that credits ≠ grades. A grade reflects the level of knowledge, while credits reflect the volume of work completed. So credits can be earned even for a course passed with a satisfactory mark.

How Many ECTS Credits Are Required for Different Levels of Education

To better understand the scale of academic workload, here is how credits are distributed across education levels:

As the table shows, even intensive educational programmes can carry significant ECTS credit weight. For instance, 30 credits from IT courses is exactly as many as a student accumulates in one semester of a bachelor’s or master’s programme. In other words, after 8–10 months of professional training, a person receives an officially confirmed volume of learning in a format recognised by universities across Europe.

How ECTS Is Used Around the World

In European Union countries (Germany, France, Italy, Spain), the ECTS system is the standard for higher education. In Northern Europe (Sweden, Finland), credits also reflect the level of student independence and research capability. Even countries outside the EU actively use or adapt the system.

What about those with their own credit systems? Here is a brief comparison:

A practical example: if you studied at an American university, your 15 credits are equivalent to approximately 30 ECTS credits. In other words, the systems do not correspond on a one-to-one basis.

ECTS for Professional Development

The credit system is used not only in universities but also in professional development. In Ukraine, it is important for civil servants, educators, and specialists undergoing retraining. For example, civil servants are required to regularly upgrade their qualifications (at least once every three years), accumulating ECTS credits through master’s programmes, specialised courses, or educational platforms.

For IT specialists, ECTS credits are not mandatory, but they offer a real advantage — particularly for those targeting the European job market or planning to continue their studies abroad.

From Courses to Diploma: How IT Education at the Academy for Heroes Integrates into the ECTS System

Although the ECTS system is traditionally associated with higher education, it is increasingly being applied in non-formal learning — including professional courses. For example, the NGO “Academy for Heroes” awards graduates of its free IT courses certificates worth 30 ECTS credits upon completion.

This transforms the training into a significant educational achievement with a clearly defined “academic weight” that is recognised by universities and employers. In concrete terms:

1. Academic equivalent: this volume (30 credits) corresponds to half an academic year or one full university semester;
2. Official recognition: instead of a standard certificate, you receive a document in which every hour of study has been converted into internationally recognised units. This is a strong addition to your CV;
3. Flexibility of learning: the credits earned may be recognised by a university as results of non-formal education — this is provided for under Ukrainian legislation, although the recognition procedure depends on the specific institution.

Frequently Asked Questions about the ECTS Certificate

Do ECTS credits expire if I take academic leave?

No. Credits that you have already earned and that are recorded in your transcript are not cancelled. Academic leave only suspends the accumulation of new credits.

Can ECTS credits be “bought” or “forged”?

No. ECTS credits are not a separate document — they are part of an official academic record. They are awarded only by an institution that has the legal authority to do so, after you have genuinely completed the programme.

The NGO “Academy for Heroes” issues these credits officially. Our certificates carry legal force, unlike “documents” from non-accredited courses that are not recognised by the state or other educational institutions.

How many hours of study equal 1 ECTS credit?

1 ECTS credit corresponds to approximately 25–30 hours of academic workload (including contact hours, independent study, and exam preparation). The exact figure may vary slightly depending on the university and country.

Why does the number of hours per credit differ between countries?

Although the ECTS system is unified, each country sets the precise “value” of an hour at the legislative level. In Ukraine, this figure is fixed at 30 hours. In EU countries it may be slightly lower (25–28 hours), which reflects different approaches to the intensity of independent study. However, when transferring from one university to another, the number of credits itself usually remains unchanged.

Is a Diploma Supplement required, and where can I get one?

The Diploma Supplement is a mandatory annex to the diploma that lists all your ECTS credits, grades, and a description of your study programme. In Ukraine, universities are required to issue it free of charge alongside the diploma. If you have not received one, submit a written request to your faculty office.