ECTS system

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ECTS (European Credit Transfer System)

ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) is the system used by universities and higher education institutions in the mobility context. It is used to draw up the study contract between the student, the host institution and the home institution, each course being credited with an ECTS value.

Like credits, the ECTS weighting for each course is calculated according to the overall volume of work required of the student; it is not limited exclusively to hours attending courses.


The numerical value between 1 and 60 allocated to each course expresses the total amount of work which the student must put in for the course, including attendance at theoretical and practical classes, seminars and laboratory sessions as well as placements, research work or field surveys, and individual work - in the library or at home.  The time needed for exams and other assessment methods is also included in the calculation.

ECTS credit allocation

The ECTS credit allocation is based on the student workload estimated to achieve the learning outcomes.

At the University of Liège, the ECTS credits allocated to each teaching activity is decided according to each Faculty by different committees at faculty level (Council of Studies, Department, Faculty…) in charge of designing the course programmes. These committees are composed not only by Professors, but also by scientific staff and students representatives.

In order to settle the credits allocated to each course, they take into account specific modalities of each teaching activity (ex cathedra, seminar, compulsory lectures, personal work, etc.), but also the pedagogical feedback that students are invited to give each year at the end of each module or course unit. Finally, the ECTS allocation must be evaluated within the entire course programme of the qualification and with respect to the other courses that compose it.

ECTS credit allocation are regularly reassessed to take into account the modifications brought to a course unit in terms of content, teaching methods or following the students opinions, expressed through their delegates or through the Council of studies of each course programme.

Recognition procedures

In the context of ECTS, 60 credits represent one academic year's work. As a general rule, 30 credits are equivalent to a term's study. The use of ECTS credits makes it easier to put a value on what is learned during periods of study abroad.Credits are gained after a positive assessment of the skills and knowledge acquired. The programme of courses taken at ULg is listed in the learning agreement drawn up with the department coordinator of the home university. The learning agreement lists the courses taken at ULg and the number of ECTS credits.

The ECTS system is based on the principle of transparency of results. Thus, at the end of the period, ULg will send your academic record to the department coordinator of the home university. Only courses listed in the learning agreement will appear in the official transcript of records. 

Our institution's use of these different documents guarantees total recognition of your period of study.  

ECTS Institutional Co-ordinator : Dominique d'Arripe