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  6. ECTS and German university grades

ECTS and German university grades

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ECTS and German university grades

International recognition of academic achievements

European Credit Transfer System (ECTS)

The European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) was developed by the European Commission to ensure a common method of academic accreditation for international study. The ECTS allows academic achievement to be measured, compared and transferred between universities.

Students can achieve 60 ECTS credits in the academic year and usually study 30 credits per semester. Please note that no special courses are held for the sake of ECTS credits but that all courses are regular courses of the participating institutions and are attended by regular students according to the normal regulations. Credits are only awarded if the course has been completed and all course achievements and examinations have been passed in accordance with the examination regulations.

If you have completed the programme agreed upon by your home university and your host university, the credits achieved shall be transferred. You can then return to your degree programme at your home university without having lost time or credits. Credits are transferred via the transcript of records and students are awarded grades according to the ECTS grade scale and the local grade scale.

German university grades

Grades at FAU are generally graded as follows; however the grades awarded for a specific degree programme may differ in the examination regulations for a specific degree programme:

Grade Text Explanation

1

Sehr gut (excellent) an outstanding achievement

2

Gut (good) an achievement that exceeds the average requirements considerably

3

Befriedigend (satisfactory) an achievement that fulfils average requirements

4

Ausreichend (sufficient) an achievement that fulfils the requirements despite flaws

5

Nicht ausreichend (unsatisfactory) an achievement that does not fulfil requirements due to major flaws

The examination regulations can specify whether the grades can be increased or decreased by 0.3 to indicate varying performance.

Grade Text Declaration

1.0

sehr gut (very good) pass

1.3

Sehr gut (excellent) – pass

1.7

Gut (good) + pass

2.0

gut (good) pass

2.3

Gut (good) – pass

2.7

Befriedigend (satisfactory) + pass

3.0

Befriedigend (satisfactory) pass

3.3

Befriedigend (satisfactory) – pass

3.7

Ausreichend (sufficient) + pass

4.0

Ausreichend (sufficient) pass

4.3

Nicht ausreichend (unsatisfactory) Nicht bestanden (fail)

4.7

Nicht ausreichend (unsatisfactory) Nicht bestanden (fail)

5

Nicht ausreichend (unsatisfactory) Nicht bestanden (fail)

Some modules only require regular attendance rather than an examination. These are awarded the grade ‘TN = Teilnahme’ which means the student has participated in the module and passed. If you do not complete an examination required by a module, credits cannot be awarded, despite regular attendance.

Below is a rough guide to how German grades correspond to grades awarded by universities in the USA:

(1.0) – outstanding, rarely achieved (A+)
(1.3) – very good (A)
(1.7 to 2.3) – good, seen as a relatively good result (A- to B)
(2.7 to 3.3) – satisfactory (B- to C)
(3.7 to 4.0) – sufficient (D)
(5.0) – fail, no certificate issued (F)

Below is a rough guide to how points awarded in law and related subjects correspond to grades:

Points

0

1–3

 4–6

 7–9

10–12

 13–15

16–18

German designation

ungenügend: eine völlig unbrauchbare Leistung

mangelhaft: eine an erheblichen Mängeln leidende, im ganzen nicht mehr brauchbare Leistung

ausreichend: eine Leistung, die trotz ihrer Mängel durchschnittlichen Anforderungen noch entspricht

befriedigend: eine Leistung, die in jeder Hinsicht durchschnittlichen Anforderungen entspricht

vollbefriedigend: eine über den durchschnittlichen Anforderungen liegende Leistung

gut: eine erheblich über den durchschnittlichen Anforderungen liegende Leistung

sehr gut: eine besonders hervorragende Leistung

English equivalent

fail

fail

satisfactory

good

very good

excellent

excellent

French equivalent

insuffisant

 insuffisant

passable

satisfaisant

très satisfaisant

bien

très bien

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 




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