Academic Recognition and ECTS
Adhering to the Erasmus University Charter and its political framework for maintaining good quality exchanges, LBUS is committed to managing foreign exchange programmes and internships with the norms found in the charter and using ECTS methodology. 60 ECTS credits represent the full work load of one academic year. The average input of 1600 working hours needed for studies of one academic year corresponds to 60 credits. One credit thus represents 26,7 hours of student workload. The credit system is based on a full student workload and is not limited to contact hours only. The working hours include lectures, practical work, seminars, exercises, independent study, written examinations, and research.
Through the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) the study period at a partner university in a foreign country is fully recognized at LBUS.
Credit transfer and accumulation are facilitated by the use of the ECTS key documents: Course Catalogue, Student Application Form, Learning Agreement and Transcript of Records, as well as the Diploma Supplement. Based on this documents the Validation Commitee from each Faculty approves the validation of courses and ECTS.
From this engagement stems a series of rights and obligations for students who take part in an Erasmus exchange programme:
The rights of an exchange student:
- Obtaining a Learning Agreement (study mobility) or a Training Agreement (internship mobility) specifying the learning activities provided by the host university or institution and the credits that will be obtained. This contract must be signed, before the start of the exchange, by the three parties involved i.e. the departmental coordinator and the institutional coordinator at LBUS, the departmental coordinator and the institutional coordinator at the host university and the student him or herself.
- Obtaining, at the end of the academic stay, a Transcript of Records which indicates the credits and grades achieved or a report of the internship and a Transcript of Work covering the work performed and specifying the attained results. These documents are signed by the host university or institution.
- Full recognition by LBUS of courses or training that were satisfactorily accomplished during the exchange period according to the Learning Agreement or training Agreement.
The obligations of an exchange student
- Ensure that all modifications to the Learning Agreement or Training Agreement are agreed upon, in writing, by both LBUS and the host institution immediately upon introduction of these modifications. These changes will lead to an amendment that must be signed by all three parties.
- Perform the entire period of study or training as agreed upon by all three parties, under the supervision of the host university or institution, and to submit to exams or other forms of evaluation.
Respecting the ECTS regulations guarantees the student academic recognition of courses and/or training in his or her LBUS curriculum of the study and training courses followed at the partner university. Furthermore, it gives transparency to the transfer of credits and grades.
The functioning of LLP/Erasmus programme within LBUS and all practical information on student, academic and administrative staff mobility (process on selection procedures, distribution and transferring of finances, and full recognition of study period abroad) is clearly defined in the internal Erasmus regulations which may be accessed online at the following links.