Education system at Hof University
The education system at Hof University is structured according to the Bologna Process, which ensures comparability in the standards of higher education qualifications in the European Union and other participating countries. The most essential part is the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). This standard enables the comparison of study attainment and performance of students.
At Hof University it results in the following regulations:
- An academic year is structured into 2 semesters:
- winter semester (October - February) and
- summer semester (March - July).
- An academic year is equivalent to a workload of 1.500 – 1.800 hours, which is awarded with 60 ECTS.
- The workload of a course is the total of attendance and self-study hours, which the students normally need in order to achieve the defined learning outcome.
- The workload of one semester corresponds to 30 ECTS (1 ECTS = 30 hours of workload).
- For example: a 5 ECTS course corresponds to 150 hours of workload, which includes attendance and self-study hours.
- The semester is structured into a lecture and an exam period. The exam period starts after the lecture period at the end of the semester and runs approximately for 4 weeks.
- Credits are awarded only when the module has been completed and all required examinations have been successfully taken.
- In general, most of the modules at Hof University are designed as final examination. This means there is no continuous assessment during the lecture period and no mid-term examination.
Further information about the European Credit Transfer System is available on the website of the European Comission.
ECTS per study cycle
1st cycle: 180 - 240 ECTS - Bachelor's degree
2nd cycle: 90 - 120 ECTS - Master's degree
3rd cycle: no fixed ECTS range - Doctoral Degree
German grading system
Grades at Hof University are issued according to the German Numerical Grading System. The workload of the courses are indicated in ECTS.
Exchange students will receive a Transcript of Records after the completion of their exchange program.
The German Numerical Grading System is equivalent to the following ECTS grades:
Numerical Mark | German Grade | equivalent ECTS Grades |
1,00 - 1,59 | Very good | A |
1,60 - 2,59 | Good | B |
2,60 - 3,29 | Satisfactory | C |
3,30 - 3,59 | Satisfactory | D |
3,60 - 4,00 | Sufficient | E |
4,01 - 5,00 | Failed | F |
FAQs about the grading system
There are two semesters per academic year in Germany - winter and summer semester. Exams are conducted directly at the end of the semester as final exams. There are no mid-term exams during the semester.
You should contact your home institution for the required workload for your exchange program.
From our side, exhange students may take as many courses as they wish but it is advisable to take no more than 30 – 35 credits.
Winter semester: assessment of grades takes place on 1st March. Exchange students will receive their Transcript of Records by End of March.
Summer semester: assessment of grades takes place on 15th August. Exchange students will receive their Transcript of Records by Mid September.
Your Transcript of Records will be sent to you and your home institution by email. Upon request, a hard copy will be send to your home institution by post.