ECTS credit allocation - CFU
In the University credit system, one CFU - University Credits equals one ECTS credit and represents the workload of a student during educational activities aimed at passing the exams.
Educational activities include individual study, class time (lectures, seminars, mock exams), laboratory and practical activities (professional training and traineeships in a company). The average quantity of training activities for a full-time student with an adequate initial preparation in one academic year is worth 60 credits - CFU. 25 hours dedicated to study purposes (individual study, lectures, laboratory activities, traineeships) correspond to 1 CFU.
The First cycle degree is awarded with 180 credits - CFU, while the Second cycle degree is awarded with a total amount of 300 credits - CFU.
First and Second level Masters, of the duration of 1 year, are awarded with additional 60 credits - CFU.
If, after the First cycle degree a Second cycle degree belonging to a different class is chosen, then a university educational debt may occur (e.g.: your First cycle degree is in Physics and you apply for a Second cycle degree in Mathematics). In this case the lacks will be expressed in university educational debts which have to be covered by the student.
The credit system allows students to change degree course: the educational authority is responsible for assessing the valid credits and those to be achieved within a given period of time.
How are the educational activities organised?
Students may dedicate 1500 hours per year to study purposes (individual study, lectures, laboratory activities, traineeships).
1500 hours correspond to 60 CFU - ECTS credits. This means 1 credit CFU - ECTS credit quantifies the commitment/study required to reach given educational goals: higher CFU - ECTS credits correspond to more difficult courses (and related exams).
At the end of each course an examination will assess each student’s quality of learning. Such assessment is expressed as a fraction of 30.
The CFU - ECTS credits (the quantity of learning) corresponding to each course are awarded by passing the examination, regardless of the mark.
The credit system applies to all educational activities, both of study and of practical or experimental kind: basically, credits are awarded also for activities without final examinations (such as professional training and traineeships).
ECTS credit allocation at the University of Parma
The Academic Regulations of the University show the relationship between hours and credits (ECTS). Each credit corresponds to a number of class hours between 5 and 8, with the exception of courses that need to comply with European directives. Each department, with regard to the aforesaid bond, establishes the correspondence hours / credits for their courses of study.