ECTS Credit Calculator

European universities use ECTS to compare academic workloads. The ECTS Credit Calculator converts your local study hours into credits accepted across 40+ countries—so your application meets admission, transfer, and visa requirements. This calculator helps you plan better, avoid delays, and meet eligibility requirements.

What is the ECTS Credit Calculator?

It’s an online tool that helps international students calculate their ECTS credits for European study programs by converting total study hours into standardized credits used across 40+ European countries.

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How the ECTS Credit Calculator Works

The ECTS Credit Calculator converts your total study hours into ECTS credits, which are accepted across European countries. The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) assigns 1 ECTS credit for every 25 to 30 hours of academic work, including lectures, lab sessions, assignments, exam prep, and self-study.

To use the calculator, you simply divide your total workload by the number of hours defined per credit. Here’s a quick example:

Example: A 150-hour course equals 5 ECTS credits when using a 30-hour-per-credit rule.

The ECTS Credit Calculator helps you quickly determine credit equivalence when applying to:

• Bachelor’s programs in Europe (usually 180–240 ECTS over 3–4 years)
• Master’s degrees, which often require 60–120 ECTS
• Semester exchange programs, where you must match credit load with your home university

It simplifies the process and ensures your academic background aligns with European credit standards.

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Calculate Your ECTS Credits for European Study Programs

Most European universities won’t review your application unless your credits match their expected course load. An ECTS Credit Calculator shows how your academic hours convert into ECTS credits—something your home university transcript may not explain clearly.

ECTS Credit Calculator for Study in Europe

How the Calculator Works (Formula Behind the Tool)

The ECTS Credit Calculator uses a simple formula accepted by all universities in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA):

ECTS Credits = Total Study Hours ÷ 25–30

This includes lectures, assignments, labs, self-study, and exams. If you know your total academic workload, you can estimate your credits even before using the tool.

Example: A subject that takes 150 hours to complete equals:

• 6 ECTS credits (150 ÷ 25)
• 5 ECTS credits (150 ÷ 30)

If you're applying to multiple universities, calculate this for each subject or semester to check if you meet the overall requirement.

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ECTS Credit Requirements for European Study Programs

Each degree level has a fixed ECTS range. Use this table to check if your current credits align with the expected load:

Typical ECTS Credits by Degree Type

For example, if you're applying for a Master’s in Germany, most programs will expect a Bachelor’s degree with at least 180 ECTS credits.

Convert Indian, US, and UK Credits Using the ECTS Credit Calculator (H2)

Every country follows a different academic credit system. To study in Europe, you need to convert your existing credits into ECTS to meet admission requirements. The ECTS Credit Calculator makes this process easier by aligning your local credits with what European universities recognize.

Convert US Credits to ECTS Credits Easily

In the US, most universities follow a semester-based system where 1 US credit equals 15 hours of instruction. To convert:

1 US credit = 2 ECTS credits

If your transcript shows 15 US credits in a semester, this equals 30 ECTS credits—which matches the European semester standard.

Convert UK Credits to ECTS Credits

UK institutions use a different scale, often referred to as CATS (Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme). Here, one academic year usually totals 120 UK credits.

2 UK credits = 1 ECTS credit

That means 120 UK credits convert to 60 ECTS credits, which aligns with one full year of European study.

Convert Indian Credits to ECTS Credits Using Study Hours

India doesn’t follow a unified national credit system, so conversion depends on your study hours. Start by checking:

• Your total class hours per subject
• The course syllabus or transcript
• Any academic handbook that outlines workload

Then apply the standard ECTS formula:

ECTS Credits = Total Study Hours ÷ 25–30

The ECTS Credit Calculator helps Indian students match their subject-wise workload to ECTS values accepted in Europe. This is especially useful when your university doesn’t issue credits in a globally recognized format.

ECTS Credit Conversion Table for Indian, US, and UK Students

The calculator standardizes these systems so you can meet ECTS thresholds during applications, course matching, or exchange planning.

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ECTS Grading Scale Explained

European universities also follow a standardized ECTS grading scale to assess student performance. This scale helps compare grades across institutions by showing where a student ranks relative to peers.

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ECTS Credit Calculator by Country: Hours Breakdown 

Each country in Europe sets its own standard for how many study hours equal one ECTS credit. Germany uses 30 hours per credit, while the UK uses 20. If you're applying to universities in different countries, this difference can change how your credits are evaluated. 

Use the ECTS Credit Calculator to calculate your ECTS credits for European study programs before applying to any of the countries below.

ECTS Conversion by Country

For example, if you completed 150 hours of study for one subject, that would be:

• 5 ECTS in Germany (150 ÷ 30)
• 6 ECTS in France (150 ÷ 25)

This difference matters when matching course loads, credit transfers, or checking eligibility. Always calculate based on the destination country’s standard. The calculator handles this for you, so you don’t apply with the wrong estimate.

Popular Study Abroad Destinations Using the ECTS Credit System

If you're applying to a European university, your credits must meet the ECTS standard. This system is used by all 40+ countries in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), and many of them require ECTS alignment as part of the admission process. Countries like Germany, France, and Sweden will not evaluate your application correctly unless your transcript reflects the expected credit format.

Use the ECTS Credit Calculator to convert your study hours or local credits before applying to any of the countries below.

• Country
• Germany
• France
• Sweden
• Netherlands
• Ireland
• Finland
• Italy
• Spain

Learning Agreements and How to Transfer ECTS Credits

If you’re applying for an exchange semester or transferring to a new university in Europe, you’ll need a Learning Agreement to secure your credits in advance.

Here’s how the credit transfer process works:

• Check credit requirements: Talk to your university advisor to find out how many credits you need and which subjects qualify.
• Find matching courses: Look for classes at the host university that match the content and workload of your home program. Use the ECTS Credit Calculator to make sure the credits line up.
• Sign a Learning Agreement: List the selected courses and ECTS values in a document signed by both institutions before your exchange starts.
• Keep your coursework: Save syllabi, assignments, and grades. Your home university may ask for them when verifying your credit load.
• Submit your transcript: After the semester ends, get an official transcript from the host university. Your credits will only transfer once this is submitted.

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ECTS Credit Requirements for European Degrees

To get into a European university, your credits must match the program’s required ECTS load. Bachelor’s, Master’s, and PhD programs all have specific credit ranges. If your degree falls short, the university may reject your application or ask for additional coursework. Use the table below to see what’s expected.

ECTS Requirements by Degree Level

If you completed a 3-year Bachelor’s in India with 120 credits, you’ll need to convert your study hours to check if they meet the 180 ECTS minimum required for a European Master’s. The ECTS Credit Calculator helps bridge this gap so you can see how close your actual workload is to the European standard. This avoids delays or rejections caused by unclear credit conversion.

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Benefits of Using an ECTS Credit Calculator

Manually converting hours and credits wastes time and increases the chance of errors. The ECTS Credit Calculator gives fast, accurate results so you can plan your studies, avoid application issues, and meet university or visa deadlines.

Why the ECTS Credit Calculator Helps

It’s especially useful for Indian, US, and UK students whose universities use different systems. Instead of guessing or calculating manually, use the tool to meet ECTS standards.

Try upGrad’s ECTS Credit Calculator now to avoid application delays.

Applying soon? Use this study abroad checklist to prep smarter