All the courses offered by the HES-SO are organised according to the principles defined by the Bologna Declaration. This agreement stipulates, among other things, the use of a credit attribution system called the ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System). The ECTS is a system for the recognition of learning outcomes, enabling the transfer and accumulation of credits.

Every diploma corresponds to a defined number of credits. In Universities of Applied Sciences, the bachelor’s degree corresponds to 180 credits, while the master’s generally corresponds to 90 ECTS credits (sometimes 120 ECTS, depending on the course).

A credit is defined by the amount of work required of the student in order to achieve the learning outcomes of the programme of studies. These are generally expressed in the form of results to be achieved or skills to be acquired. The volume of work, expressed in credits, does not provide information on the quality of the work done, but the quantity.

For the UASs, 1 credit corresponds to around 30 hours of work. At the HES-SO, the credits are not attributed to the courses, but to modules. These modules vary in size (2 to 18 credits). Each completed module enables the student to obtain a defined number of credits.

At the HES-SO:

• 1 credit corresponds to a volume of work of 30 hours.
  
• 60 credits are required to complete one year of full-time study.
  
• 180 credits are required to obtain a bachelor’s degree; 90 to 120 credits in addition to those of the bachelor’s degree are required for a master’s degree.

An ECTS rating scale from A to F facilitates the interpretation of grades obtained abroad.

The general principles of acquisition of ECTS credits at the HES-SO are those referred to in the “ECTS User's guide” of the Bologna Declaration. This document is supplemented by the framework directives for each degree. Specific to the HES-SO, these are:

• Bachelor’s: Status of undergraduate students and Organisation of undergraduate studies
  
• Master’s: Framework directives
  
• Continuing education (MAS/EMBA, DAS, CAS, day courses, etc.): Continuing education
  

For further information:

• The Education and Training website of the European Commission gives information on the ECTS system.
  
• The Rectors’ Conference of the Swiss Universities provides documentation and recommendations relating to the ECTS system.
  
• The European University Association provides information on the Bologna process.