ECTS Weekly Workload Calculator
Most European universities map each ECTS credit to 25–30 hours of total effort. Use this calculator to turn credits into weekly workload ranges and separate the time spent in contact hours versus independent study or assignments.
Actual workload varies with assessment type and personal study habits. Use programme handbooks and lecturer guidance to refine the estimate.
Examples
- 6 ECTS module over 15 weeks, defaults ⇒ Plan for 10.0–12.0 hours per week (150.0–180.0 total). Of this, lectures/tutorials take about 4.0–4.8 h/week and independent study 6.0–7.2 h/week.
- Annual plan 60 ECTS over 40 weeks, contact share 35% ⇒ Plan for 37.5–45.0 hours per week (1,500.0–1,800.0 total). Of this, lectures/tutorials take about 13.1–15.8 h/week and independent study 24.4–29.3 h/week.
FAQ
How do I include exam preparation weeks?
Reduce the number of effective weeks to exclude revision periods, then add a separate block of hours for exam prep on top of the result.
What if my university uses 27 hours per credit?
Set the low and high hour fields to 27 to keep the range tight, or use 26–28 if you want a tolerance band around the official figure.
Can I compare part-time and full-time loads?
Yes—run the calculator twice with different credit totals or week counts to see how weekly hours change between study modes.
Additional Information
- Many universities publish programme guides with exact hours-per-credit; adjust the bounds to match your institution.
- Contact share includes seminars, labs, and guided group work, while the remainder covers reading, assignments, and revision.
- Use fewer weeks in the calculator to simulate compressed teaching blocks or exam preparation phases.