What ECTS Credits Are and How to Use Them

Understanding and Using ECTS Credits

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) is used in higher education to describe the workload required to complete courses and programmes, and to support transparency, transfer and accumulation of learning outcomes across institutions and countries.

1. What ECTS credits are

ECTS credits express the total learning effort needed to successfully complete a course or programme. This effort goes beyond classroom teaching and includes:

• attendance in lectures and seminars,
• independent study,
• assignments and projects,
• laboratory work,
• exam preparation and participation.

2. Practical meaning of ECTS

In practical terms:

• 1 ECTS credit corresponds to approximately 25–30 hours of total learning effort.
• 60 ECTS correspond to one full academic year of full-time studies.

ECTS credits are particularly useful for:

• transferring studies from one university to another (e.g. Erasmus, change of institution),
• comparing programmes across countries and institutions,
• accumulating qualifications towards degrees and other formal titles.

In many cases they also help:

• in the recognition of qualifications in other European countries,
• in scoring for ASEP competitions (depending on relevance and the specific call),
• in the evaluation of candidates for postgraduate studies and other academic procedures.

3. Example of a training programme

If, for example, you have completed a 300-hour training programme that awards 12 ECTS credits, this means that:

• the programme has substantial workload,
• it is recognised as a serious and structured training experience,
• it may be useful both academically (e.g. for postgraduate applications) and professionally (e.g. additional points in competitions, stronger CV).

4. Recognition of ECTS by DOATAP

4.1 What DOATAP recognises

DOATAP is the Greek authority responsible for recognising foreign higher education degrees. However:

• It does not recognise standalone training programmes or certificates, even if they award ECTS credits.
• It recognises only full academic degrees such as:
  • Bachelor’s degrees,
  • Master’s degrees,
  • Doctoral degrees,
  under specific conditions.

4.2 How ECTS relate to degree recognition

If a Master’s programme, for example, carries 60, 90 or 120 ECTS credits, these credits are not recognised on their own. The entire degree is assessed and, if the criteria are met, recognised as a whole. ECTS credits:

• indicate the level and intensity of the programme,
• help assess the duration and content of the studies.

5. Recognition and scoring of ECTS by ASEP

ASEP may take ECTS credits into account in certain cases, always depending on the specific call and category of positions.

5.1 Scoring for training programmes

• Training programmes of at least 300 hours that clearly indicate ECTS credits are often eligible for scoring in ASEP calls.
• The number of points awarded depends on:
  • the duration of the programme (hours),
  • its relevance to the field or position,
  • the status of the provider (HEI, Lifelong Learning Centre, IEK, private provider).
• Programmes offered by University Lifelong Learning Centres (e.g. HOU and other HEIs) are usually considered strong and reliable for scoring.

5.2 Training for teachers

In the education sector (e.g. Special Education, Adult Education), many university training programmes with ECTS credits are used:

• for inclusion in substitute teacher lists,
• for additional scoring in competitions,
• as proof of specialised training.

In Special Education in particular, programmes exceeding 400 hours with ECTS are commonly treated as substantial training, but the exact requirements always depend on the wording of each call.

6. Practical tips

To make the most of the ECTS credits of your programmes:

• Always keep the programme’s study guide or official brochure, where the ECTS allocation is clearly stated.
• Request a certificate of attendance or completion that explicitly mentions the total hours and ECTS credits.
• Check each ASEP call separately; scoring rules and eligibility criteria can differ significantly.

If you have a specific ASEP call or training programme in mind and want to understand how it translates into points or recognition, we can review it together and suggest your best options.