International Student Exchange Program. ISEP Transcript Evaluation Guidelines

Transcription

1 International Student Exchange Program ISEP Transcript Evaluation Guidelines Revised 2001

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3 Foreword We are pleased to present the Revised 2001 edition of the ISEP Transcript Evaluation Guidelines. We have compiled the following information on the academic systems abroad of many of our ISEP countries to assist United States ISEP coordinators in transcript evaluation. While our primary purpose in creating this document was to help you evaluate work done abroad by your US students, we also hope you will find it useful when evaluating the transcripts of incoming international exchange students. The information presented on each country s education system has been gathered from a variety of sources, including the experience of Program Officers at ISEP central, the education section of embassy websites, and ISEP member institutions. Please note that most credential guides, such as the AACRO and WES guides, currently used in the United States are designed for admissions officers. They are used to evaluate transcripts of international students applying for admission to US institutions degree programs. The guides are not primarily intended for study abroad advisors, registrars and faculty who evaluate the transcripts of US students returning to the home campus after a semester or year of study abroad. The ISEP Transcript Evaluation Guideline attempts to provide transcript evaluators information to translate grades/marks and to transfer credits from host institutions to home institutions. The approach to grading in many non-us institutions is quite different from the US system. US institutions tend to use letter grades to show a student s performance in a particular course, while most non-us institutions use numbers or terms such as très bien, sehr gut, aprobado etcetera. You will come across a number of these terms and others when you go through this guideline. There is also a difference in how grades or marks are awarded for courses completed. Spanish and French institutions are known for their very strict grading methods. An A average student should not be expected to return from a French institution with marks of 16 and above. 16 is a very high mark and is not easily dispensed by French professors. A number of European ISEP member institutions use a system called ECTS credits. ECTS - European Community Course Credit Transfer System - was developed by the Commission of the European Community in order to provide common procedures to guarantee academic recognition for studies abroad. ECTS is a credit system based on student workload. Student workload refers to the time spent following lectures, doing practical work and independent study. ECTS credits express relative, rather than absolute values. In the ECTS system a full workload constitutes at least 60 credits per academic year and 30 credits per semester. It is up to each institution to decide how to go about transferring credits from the students host institutions. Please keep in mind that students studying at a university in a foreign country are coping with different methods of instruction, different types of assignments and assessment. If they are taking regular academic classes taught in a foreign language, the challenge is even greater. Taking these challenges into account when awarding credit would seem to be fair to students. We hope you will find these guidelines a useful tool and encourage you to share them with those involved in transcript evaluation on your campus. We ask that you acknowledge ISEP as the source of the information if you do photocopy the guidelines for use by members of your campus community. We welcome any suggestions and comments you may have that will assist us in serving you better. Copyright 2001 the International Student Exchange Program. These guidelines were specifically developed for coordinators at ISEP member institutions and may not be reproduced in any fashion without the express permission of ISEP.

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5 TABLE OF CONTENTS Coordinator Suggestions for Pre-departure Orientation Transcript Guidelines for ISEP Coordinators and Participants I III ARGENTINA 1 AUSTRALIA 2 AUSTRIA 3 PEOPLE S REP. CHINA HONK KONG 5 COSTA RICA 6 FINLAND 7 FRANCE 8 GERMANY 10 GHANA 12 HUNGARY 14 ICELAND 15 ITALY 16 JAPAN 17 KOREA 18 MALTA 19 MEXICO 20 NETHERLANDS 21 NICARAGUA 23 PHILIPPINES 24 SPAIN 25 SWEDEN 27 SWITZERLAND 28 THAILAND 29 UNITED KINGDOM 30 URUGUAY 32

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7 This handout was adapted from a presentation at the ISEP 1999 conference by Carol Fairweather, Associate Director and ISEP Coordinator, Study Abroad Programs, University of Denver, Colorado. AN ISEP COORDINATOR S ADVICE Two years ago, I had two ISEP students with problem transcripts. One had studied in France for a year and one studied in Spain for a year. Both were exceptional students with good grades going into the ISEP program. When the transcripts came, one student s transcript had only three out of the eight classes she had taken abroad. The other student s transcript was missing most of a three-week, intensive language program she had completed at the host school, and the transcript listed a D+ for a language lab course, whereas the student had earned high marks for more difficult, direct-immersion philosophy courses. She believed the D+ did not reflect her language ability. Both students were on financial aid, so the problem was not only one of a lack of credit but also a financial one. A student s financial aid is at risk if he or she is deemed not to have taken enough credit for the equivalent of a full time load. I contacted ISEP for help, talked to colleagues, and consulted the dusty books I had inherited on my bookshelves. Almost a year later, after many hours of hard work and tears, we obtained credit on the transcripts. What did I learn? I realized that I had a responsibility to better prepare my students before they left and the students also had a responsibility to take steps to help obtain a complete transcript. I now make the students aware that getting a complete transcript is not automatic. It must not be taken for granted. ISEP Coordinator's Responsibilities Educate the students before departure about the educational system of the country and the grading system of that country. Make the students aware of the potential problems. Student's Responsibilities Get written approval from the home school for all courses to be taken abroad prior to departure. academic advisor with any requested changes to list of courses to be taken abroad. Obtain approval in writing. Know the names of your professors and how to contact them. Make contact with the professor early in the semester, explaining you are an international student on an ISEP exchange program. Verify that you are on the professor s class list. Fill out the ISEP Enrollment Verification Form (the EVF is included in the original Participant Placement Acceptance Packet from ISEP) including the professor's name and ask the professor to sign next to his name and course. Give the original EVF to host coordinator, keep a copy for yourself, send a copy to your home ISEP coordinator. Stay to the end of the program abroad, make sure all work is completed and take the finals. There is no guarantee of credit if a student leaves early. If you make special arrangements with a professor for an exam (for example, substitute a written paper for the final exam), obtain the agreement in writing from the professor and give a copy to the host ISEP coordinator and bring a copy home. Make sure you hand in final papers to the correct location or person. Make copies of any papers before you hand them in, as you may not have the paper stored on a computer you can access at home. Bring back course descriptions, syllabuses, reading lists, notebooks, and all assignments done for a class--anything that may help show what work you did in the course if a question regarding credit arises after your return. Fall 2001

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9 Transcript Guidelines for ISEP Coordinators and Participants Different countries approach course registration and the recording and reporting of grades differently. In the United States, registration and recording of grades are centralized, and transcripts are usually issued at the end of every semester. In many other countries, registration is a less formal process, and transcripts may not be issued until students have completed their degree program. Earning grades in one educational system and applying the credit towards a degree in another country is a complex process, which requires the cooperation of all of the parties involved in an ISEP exchange home and host institutions, ISEP participants and ISEP Central. Each has the following responsibilities. 1. The home institution coordinator helps the student appreciate differences between the educational systems at home and abroad assists students in selecting sites appropriate to their academic goals advises students about getting pre-approval for courses to be taken abroad reminds students of their responsibility for knowing and following procedures at their home and host institution assists students in getting credit for work done abroad upon their return 2. The host institution coordinator advises students in selecting courses that meet their needs (as defined in the study site request) within the context of the host academic system informs ISEP participants of any special host institution procedures they must follow in order to receive a transcript at Non-US institutions: reviews, collects and signs enrollment verification form, keeps copy on file, and sends original to participant s home ISEP coordinator ensures that a transcript is issued within four weeks of the completion of a student s exchange sends the original transcript to ISEP Central notifies ISEP if the transcript is being withheld (for example, the student might owe money to the host university) The transcript should include the following: Name and official seal of host institution Year during which students attended Course title and, for non-us institutions, type of class (lecture, seminar, etc.) Duration of course (semester, year, etc.) Hours of class (either per week or total) or credit unit Grade Coordinator s signature or other official signature Explanation of credit units or and grading system Optional but useful: name of and comments by professor III Fall 2001

10 3. The ISEP participant is responsible for: familiarizing him/herself with the host institution academic system getting approval from the home institution for courses to be taken abroad (US students abroad): completing the enrollment verification form and giving it to the host coordinator as soon as final decisions about course selection are made. The form should include the following information: title and duration (semester, academic year, etc.) of courses taken number of hours per week names of professors This form is not only a requirement for US students receiving financial aid; in countries where registration is not a formal, centralized process it may also be the only written record of courses taken. informing home coordinator or academic advisor and host coordinator of changes made in the academic program abroad during the study period abroad retaining written assignments, course outlines and other materials that may be submitted to home institution to facilitate credit transfer knowing and following procedures relating to transcripts at host institution completing all required work before leaving the host campus (Note: If a participant arranges with a professor to substitute another assignment for a scheduled exam, this arrangement should be made in writing and a copy given to the host coordinator) returning transcript verification form to ISEP, clearly explaining any problems or possible errors If a student leaves before the completion of the scheduled exchange period, ISEP cannot guarantee that he or she will receive a transcript. 4. ISEP Central forwards the transcript to the home institution coordinator as soon as possible after it is received and keeps a copy on file follows up with the host institution if transcript verification form is returned with an indication of a problem. runs regular checks of transcripts received and request outstanding transcripts from institutions provides information about academic systems and suggestions for the conversion of grades for exchange students. IV Fall 2001

11 ARGENTINA Universities in Argentina are autonomous. Higher education is provided in three types of institutions: national, provincial and private universities, institutions of technical and professional studies and teacher-training colleges. Admission: Secondary school credentials, as well an entrance exam in some cases, are required for admission to Argentine universities. Academic Calendar: The academic year is divided into two terms. Argentina s academic calendar is on the southern hemisphere schedule, with classes usually beginning in March and ending in December. Degrees The first two years of university study are devoted to the study of basic subjects. The total program of study lasts five or six years and leads to a licenciatura or professional title. More recent years have seen the creation of universities which award a bachillerato universitario after four years of study. The doctorado (doctorate) is awarded at least two years after completion of the licenciatura. Grades Grade 10 Outstanding A 9-8 Very good B+ 7-6 Good B 5-4 Pass C 3-0 Fail D U.S. Equivalent Argentine universities tend to be more severe in their grading than in the U.S. and a mark of 10 is rarely awarded. Credit Equivalent Unit of Measurement: Credits: 1 credit is a total of 14 hours of lecture. Average full-workload ranges between credits per semester. 1

12 AUSTRALIA About 12 percent of Australians enroll for higher education in universities and technical institutes. Admission: Institutions are government supported and admission is competitive based on academic merit. Australian universities emphasize research, applied studies and teacher training, while technical institutes provide vocational training. Universities are divided into faculties or departments. Arts and sciences faculties generally offer a three-year bachelor s degree and a four-year honors degree. The master s degree takes one or two years of further study and the Ph.D. takes three years. Coursework is generally less structured than in the United States and is based on the U.K. model. Independent study habits and selfdiscipline are important. Final exams figure heavily in grading, but recently there has been increased emphasis on semester exams and seminars involving class participation and papers. Grades awarded are HD (High Distinction), D (Distinction), C (Credit), P (Pass) and N (Failure). Academic Calendar: Australia follows the Southern Hemisphere calendar; therefore students will find it beneficial to begin their studies during the U.S. second term. The academic year begins in late February or early March and ends in November. Universities follow the quarter system, the semester system or a combination of both systems. Grades 10-8 High distinction A+ 7 Distinction A 6 Credit B 5 Pass C 4/PC Conceded pass <3 Fail F Credit Equivalents Unit of Measurement Credit points (not equivalent to US credits). Units (the equivalent of classes or modules) are given credit values ranging from a minimum of 10 credits to a maximum of 100 credits. The average number of classes taken per term is 4. A student who takes 4 classes will have 12 hours of lecture per week. Students are considered to be enrolled full-time when the value of the units in which they are enrolled in one-semester totals at least 75 credits (the normal full-time load is 100 credits). A student could conceivably study ten units or one unit. The usual number is four or five units per semester depending on the credit value of the units. 1 D 1 Excerpt taken from the University of Technology, Curtin s international office information brochure. 2

13 AUSTRIA Admissions: students must hold the Reifepruefungszeugnis, or Reifezeugnis, the secondary school leaving certificate. In addition to the standard form of access, universities also have qualification examinations (Studienberechtigungspruefung). Academic Year: The academic year begins early October and ends late September; it consists of two semesters, which run from approximately the beginning of October to the end of January (winter semester) and the beginning of March until the end of June (summer semester). There is a one-month semester vacation in February and a threemonth summer vacation (July-September). Degrees There are two kinds of study programs at the university level: regular (ordentliche Studien), which results in an academic degree, and special or non-degree (ausserordentliche Studien). First degrees include: Magister: first university degree, awarded after completion of a legal minimum of 4 or 5 years of study (usually lasts 6-7 years). Diplom-ingenieur: awarded in engineering, usually 6-7 years. Doktor: (doctoral level) awarded after 2-4 semesters of study beyond magister or Diplom-ingenieur. Diploma and Magister programs are divided into 2 stages (Studienabschnitte) in most fields. The first stage provides an overview of the field; the 2 nd emphasizes more specialized knowledge. During the second stage, students must write a thesis (Diplomarbeit) in addition to coursework. Registration & Credit Required subjects, courses & number of classes for each major are published in a study plan (studienplan). Subjects may be compulsory (Pflichtfaecher), elective (Freifaecher) or choice (Wahlfaecher), the latter meaning subjects selected by students within existing general guidelines. Registration is informal. Students do not register for individual classes or courses; accreditation hinges entirely on the successful completion of a course recorded on individual certificates (Zeugnis, Kolloquienzeugnis) or on a Certificate of Study Results (Nachweis ueber den Studienerfolg). Grades 1 Sehr gut A 2 gut B+/B 3 befriedigend B-/C+ 4 genuegend C 5 nicht genuegend F The equivalent to the US D does not exist. An individual grade (note) is awarded for a class, thesis or part of a large exam. An overall grade (Gesamtnote) is awarded for multi-part exams. Course types VO=Vorlesung/lecture, successful completion requires oral or written exams PS=Proseminar, requires term paper SE=Seminar/graduate seminar, requires term paper UE=Uebung/practical, grade is based on continuous assessment LU=Laboruebung, laboratory practical KO=Konversatorium/ tutorial 3

14 Exam types DP=Diplompruefung, major written or oral exam VP=Vorpruefung, qualifying exam EP=Ergaenzungspruefung, supplementary exam Credit Equivalent Unit of Measurement Credits A full workload is 6 courses in a semester of 15 weeks 12 hours of lecture per week. 4

15 PEOPLE S REPUBLIC OF CHINA HONG KONG Hong Kong returned to the People s Republic of China and became a Special Administrative Region on July 1, 1997 after one and a half centuries of British rule. The formation and evolution of higher education there has been quite unlike that in China. Further, as a Special Administrative Region of China, it continues to function with a high degree of autonomy, legislated under its Basic Law, which encompasses higher education. Hong Kong s colleges and universities operate separately from those within the jurisdiction of China s State Education Commission. These institutions are financed by Hong Kong s own University Grants Committee. Admission: Competitive admission to CUHK is based on passing the Hong Kong Advanced Level Examination after seven years of secondary education. Both English and Chinese examinations must be passed. University programs lead to Bachelor's, Master's, doctoral degrees and postgraduate diplomas. Students who satisfy graduation requirements shall be awarded bachelor's degree with one of the classifications: first-, second upper-, second lower-, third- class honors, or pass degree, depending on examination results. Grades excellent A good B fair C poor D fail F Credit Equivalent Unit of Measurement: Credit/units. A full workload per semester is about credits/units. A student with a workload of 12 credits will have an average of 12 hours of lecture per week. Coursework: This includes lectures, seminars, tutorials, laboratory work, fieldwork, examinations and research projects. Academic Calendar: The academic year is divided into two terms: September to December and January to May, with examinations scheduled in December and early May. 5

16 COSTA RICA Six years of primary education are followed by five years of secondary schooling in order to obtain the bachillerato in either sciences or humanities. A student can then take the entrance examination for one of three types of higher education institutions: universities, with faculties in humanities, sciences, law, medicine, economics, etc.; teacher training institutions; or international institutions for education in public administration and agricultural sciences. Credit Equivalent: Unit of Measurement: Credit hours (equivalent to U.S. credits). A full workload is 5-6 courses per semester. Academic Calendar: Costa Rica follows the Southern Hemisphere calendar. The academic year runs from February to November. Degrees After two to six years of study, the licenciado title is awarded. For medicine and dentistry, the doctor title is given after seven years. In education, the degree of bachillerato en ciencias de la educación is awarded after the first two years of study. Final examination and thesis are required for all degrees. Grades A B C F 6

17 FINLAND Higher education in Finland is divided into two sectors: Polytechnics and Universities. Polytechnics: At the beginning of the 1990 s, higher education in Finland underwent a radical restructuring, and the emergence of the Polytechnic sector dates from that period. The polytechnics were formed by upgrading and merging previously existing specialized institutions offering vocational higher education. The Polytechnic sector is still somewhat in a state of flux. In general, degree courses at the polytechnics focus on a given area of professional expertise, and require from 3.5 to 4 years to complete. Universities: There are 20 universities in Finland s dense network, including multifaculty universities, as well as technological, economics/business, and arts institutions. The University sector currently enrolls roughly 147,000 students. The remainder of the information here refers to the University sector. System of Study: Finnish universities award kandidaatti, maisteri, and tohtori degrees that correspond to U.S. Bachelor s, Master s, and Doctor s degrees. It is usually also possible to obtain a lisensiaatti degree prior to the Doctor s degree. In principle it takes a minimum of three years to complete a kandidaatti degree, or five years for a maisteri degree. Advanced degrees can be completed in two years (for the lisensiaatti) or four years (for the tohtori). A thesis is usually required at each level. Credit Transfer Credits: Individual courses at a Finnish university may carry one to several credits, and may last the whole semester or, very often, for much shorter periods during the term. With one opintoviikko equal to 40 hours of work, there is a rough parity between one Finnish credit and one typical U.S. semester credit. 3 Excellent A 2 Good B 1 Satisfactory C Grading scale may vary from one institution to another. Please refer to grading scale on each institution s transcript. Credit Equivalents Unit of Measurement ECTS: One Finnish credit unit refers to an input of approximately 40 hours of work; Conversion: 1 Finnish credit unit = 1.5 ECTS credits. One term of full time studies is about credits. 7

18 FRANCE Higher education has a long history in France dating back to the founding of the Sorbonne in Traditionally, the education system was extremely centralized, less so in the last thirty years. Higher education is provided in universities or Grandes Ecoles/other professional institutions. University - Universities have exercised self-government since Universities are composed of a teaching and research unit, affiliated centers and institutes. Grande Ecole - The Grandes Ecoles were established by the government to train students in humanities, business, science, engineering, math and social sciences. They are the Ivy League of France, considered to be the most prestigious arena of higher education from which the politicians and leaders of industry are selected. Admission University - Entrance to the university system is based on passing a national examination, the baccalaureat or the bac, taken after the third year of high school. Anyone who passes the bac may enter university. Grande Ecole - Entry to the Grandes Ecoles is extremely competitive; students must pass an exam for entry, usually after two years of preparatory school following high school. Only 10% of those who try to gain entry, after two years of preparatory classes, are admitted to a Grande Ecole. Limited enrollment permits faculty to know and follow student progress closely. The Instituts d Etudes Politiques (IEPs) in Rennes and Aix, the Ecole Superieure de Commerce et d Administration des Entreprises (Sup de Co) in Amiens and the Institut National des Sciences Appliquees de Lyon (INSA) are the four Grandes Ecoles that are ISEP members. Academic Calendar The academic year begins in early to mid- October and ends in June. A governmental reform in 1996 instructed all French universities to change from a full-year to a semester course schedule. Some universities have adopted the reform others have not. Semesters run from October through January and February through June. Degrees diplome d etudes universitaires generales (DEUG): awarded after two years of university study (DEUG level courses = first and second year university courses) licence: awarded after third year of university study (Licence level courses = third year university courses) maitrise: awarded after fourth year of university study (Maitrise level courses = fourth year university courses) diplome d etudes approfondies (DEA) and diplome d etudes superieures specialisees (DESS): awarded after fifth year of university study doctorat de troisieme cycle, doctorat de l universite: advanced training beyond the US masters degree level doctorat d etat: comparable to a US doctoral degree Overview of Curriculum French students follow a highly structured curriculum specific to the degree they are pursuing. At the end of each year, they must pass a set of required exams before they can move to the next year s program. Because 8

19 their studies are more specialized, French students tend to be more advanced in their major fields of study than American students after the same number of years at university. Also, most courses are designed for students majoring in a given field. Students studying in France through ISEP usually find courses at the DEUG level best fit their needs and abilities. There are two types of classes at university: cours magistraux/cm (lecture classes) and travaux diriges/td (seminars). Many courses have a CM and a TD component. Lecture courses usually require one exam. Attendance is not mandatory, although it is encouraged. Students are expected to work independently throughout the semester to prepare for the final exam. Grades The grading system in France is rather severe compared to the American system. Grades are awarded on a scale of 1 to 20. By tradition, the highest grades awarded by French professors are 14 or 15 and grades of 10 or 9 reflect satisfactory performance. Generally speaking, students work to pass a course rather than to earn a high grade. Regardless of scores on individual examinations, a French student needs an overall average of 10/20 to pass the year at university. This means some grades for individual courses can be below 10 and some above. In translating grades, it would be inaccurate merely to multiply a French grade by five to find its American equivalent Very good A Good A Quite Good B Satisfactory C Credit Equivalents Unit of Measurements ECTS; 1 French credit unit = 1.5 ECTS credits. One term of full time studies is about hours of class time per week. 9

20 GERMANY Admissions: the basic requirement for admission to a university is the Abiturprüfung, obtained after studying at the gymnasium. It is possible for individuals who did not attend either an academic high school or a Fachoberschule to earn the Abitur at night school or in general education institutions called Kollegs German universities once offered virtually open enrollment to all holders of an Abitur. Overcrowding is common in many German universities, and admission to some fields of study is now restricted. Young people hoping to study medicine, dentistry, and veterinary medicine must take special admissions exams. Students wanting to study other high-demand fields, including architecture, law, economics, psychology, and pharmacy, must apply to the Central Office for the Allocation of Study Places (ZVS:Zentralstelle für die Vergabe von Studienplätzen) in Dortmund (North Rhine-Westphalia), which ranks students on the basis of their grades on the Abitur exams and how long they have been on the waiting list to enter the desired program. Academic Year: The academic year begins in mid-october and ends in mid-july. It consists of two semesters, winter semester and summer semester. There is a one-month semester vacation in February and a summer vacation (typically July-September). Degrees Each degree program is divided into two distinct phases: Basic studies (grundstudium-4 semesters) and Main Studies (hauptstudium-2 to 4 additional semesters). Diplom: degree earned for studies in science, psychology and social sciences. Leads to vordiplom after 4 semesters, and dippom after 6 to 8 semesters. Magister artium: awarded in humanities, Leads to zwischenpruefung after 4 semesters, and magister artium after 6 to 8 semesters. Staatsexamen: degrees earned for studies in medicine, pharmocology, law & teaching. Leads to zwischenpruefung after 4 semesters, and staatsexamen after 6 to 8 semesters. Promotion: German doctoral degree, which requires 2 to 4 years of independent study beyond the degrees listed. The minimum requirement to pursue graduate studies is a vordiplom or zwishenpruefung plus two additional semesters. Registration & Credit Required subjects, courses & number of classes for each major are published in a study plan (studienplan). Subjects may be compulsory (Pflichtfaecher), elective (Freifaecher) or choice (Wahlfaecher), the latter meaning subjects selected by students within existing general guidelines. The German higher education system is based on the principle of Lehrfreiheit und Lernfreiheit (freedom to teach and freedom to learn). Professors are granted freedom to teach as they see fit and students proceed at their own pace and are not bound by attendance regulations or performance in class. Independent, self-directed study is heavily emphasized and is designed to encourage self-motivation and promote interesting discussion. 10

21 Assessment is based on oral and written reports in seminars for which the student receives a Schein, or certificate (a grade can be requested). German universities do NOT issue a record of your academic study while on an ISEP exchange. Procedures for obtaining credit are outlined in the German Handbook. Course types Vorlesung/lecture, number of students is not limited. Uebungen/small discussion groups accompanying Vorlesungen. Usually features homework assignments, research & writing papers Seminar dedicated to small-group learning. It covers a subject area in more detail and requires student participation by way of an oral presentation on a specific topic. Students are encouraged to participate intensively in 2 to 4 seminars per semester. Exam types DP=Diplompruefung, major written or oral exam VP=Vorpruefung, qualifying exam EP=Ergaenzungspruefung, supplementary exam Grades Sehr gut A gut B befriedigend C ausreichend C mangelhaft D ungenuegend F Credit Equivalents Unit of Measurement Hours per week or semester credits. A full workload varies between 4-6 classes per semester, or hours per week. 11

22 GHANA In the past decade, the country s spending on education has been between 28 to 40 percent of its annual budget. Education is viewed as important, a key to prosperity and progress. There are four universities in Ghana. The University of Ghana at Legon and Accra, where ISEP students study, is the flagship university in Ghana. Admission Entrance to universities is by examination following completion of senior secondary school. Only those with very high secondary school exams scores are accepted. Courses Class sizes range from 30 to 250. Most courses are offered in the lecture format. 100 and 200 level courses are for general requirements, 300 and 400 level courses are for students majoring in the particular subject. Academic Calendar The University calendar consists of two sixteen-week semesters with a six-week break in between. The ISEP program in Ghana includes two weeks of orientation, followed by two semesters each containing thirteen teaching weeks, one week for revision and two weeks of exams. The program includes a required Ghanaian language course (Twi), along with usually 4 other courses per semester, one of which tends to be an elective in African studies. Curriculum and Credit Ghanaian students follow a structured curriculum specific to the degree they are pursuing. The actual number of hours in class varies according to the department or subject and the amount of work expected of students outside of class. One course credit is defined as either--one hour lecture, one hour tutorial, one practical session of two to three hours, or six hours of field work--per week for a semester. Ghanaian students are expected to carry 18 credit hours per semester, although students may take fewer with special permission. Final examinations are normally required in every course. The final examination grade contributes 70% of the grades for the course while continuous assessment makes up the other 30%. Final examinations are graded twice--first by the professor of the course, then again by an outside examiner who is an expert in the field. Grades Student performances are graded as follows: Grade Grade Point Interpretation A 4.00 Excellent A Very Good B Good B 3.00 Above Average B Average C Pass C 1.50 Pass D 1.00 Fail * F 0-29 Fail * May be counted for credit if not in major field I = incomplete. Students are expected to complete the course the next time it is available. X = student did not complete a course for reasons adjudged by the Board of Examiners as unsatisfactory. Y = grade given when a course continues into the next semester. 12

23 Z = Disqualification from an examination as a result of an examination malpractice or offense. Credit Equivalents Unit of Measurement Credit hours (the same as U.S. credits). A full workload is a minimum of 5 classes per semester. 13

24 HUNGARY The arts and sciences universities offer a five-year curriculum, which is divided into graduate and undergraduate levels. Students graduating from these institutions receive accreditation as secondary school teachers, in addition to their subject degree (B.A.). Master's degrees are awarded pending successful exams in three subjects and a foreign language, research and defense of a dissertation. Doctoral degrees are awarded by the Hungarian Academy of Sciences. Academic Calendar: The academic calendar is usually divided into two semesters: September to December and February to May. Grades 5 excellent A 4 good B 3 average C 2 Pass D 1 Fail F Credit Equivalent Unit of Measurement: ECTS. Hungarian credits are equivalent to US credits. A full workload is 60 ECTS credits an academic year. 14

25 ICELAND There is no general legislation covering higher education as a whole in Iceland. Constitutionally, each higher education institution is directly responsible to the Ministry of Culture and Education. There are two types of higher educational institutions in Iceland: universities and colleges. Universities have research responsibilities and offer more than one program of study. Colleges offer specialized training courses at higher education level, but generally do not carry out research. Their teaching is, however, based on the results of university research. Academic Calendar: The academic year usually starts in September and ends in May. First semester starts either in late August or early September and ends in December. Second semester starts early January and ends late May. Grades A B C D F Credit Equivalent Unit of Measurement: ECTS 1 Icelandic credit = 2ECTS credits. 60 ECTS credits are considered to be a full workload for an academic year. 15

26 ITALY There are more than 50 laurea-granting institutions of higher learning in Italy; the majority is state-supported. The main degree conferred is the laurea. Admission: Before entering the university, Italian students take the esame di maturità. University classes in Italy tend to be large as a result of a liberalized admissions policy. Italian students often enroll in many courses and then take exams in only a few of them. Most students study independently for exams. Roll is not taken in class and regular attendance is not really expected, although officially it is required Credit Equivalent Unit of Measurement: Credits The average number of classes taken per semester is 3, and is considered to be a full workload. Students have an average of 6-8 hours of lecture time per week, per class, per semester. A student taking 3 classes (full load) will spend hours per week in class. There are 3 hours of lecture time per week for annual courses. Academic Calendar: The academic year runs from November to July. Most courses run the entire academic year. Course-work is assessed by year-end examination (esame di profitto). Other exams and course assignments may be required as well. Grades Grade U.S 30 A A B C D/Pass 17-0 Fail 16

27 JAPAN Japanese universities offer four-year bachelor's degrees and six-year medical degrees. Junior colleges offer two-and threeyear programs in the humanities that can be used as credit towards a bachelor's degree. Special training schools and technical colleges provide vocational training and advanced college-level courses. Universities are divided into faculties or colleges; each faculty or college is divided into departments and/or courses. Japanese universities require at least 124 credits for graduation. Academic Calendar: The Japanese academic calendar is from April to March, dividing the year into two semesters lasting from April to July and from September to March. Special arrangements are made for ISEP participants to take their exams in December. Grades Grades A B C 59-0 F U.S. Equivalent Credit Equivalent Unit of Measurement: Credit hours Most students at Chukyo University take approximately 10 classes per year and receive 40 credits in one academic year while the exchange students take the same number of classes, but receive fewer credits. Here is the reason, with an explanation of the Chukyo credit system as follows: 1. One credit is equivalent to 15 hours of class. 2. A period of the class is 2 hours long (classes meet once a week). 3. There are 30 weeks in one academic year. Therefore, one receives 4 credits per class (2 hours x 30 weeks = 60 hours) after completing one academic year. However, one credit for the language classes, which the exchange students mainly take at Chukyo, is equivalent to 30 hours of class. So, the exchange students receive only 2 credits per class (2 hours x 30 weeks = 60 hours). Thus, the overall credit number earned by the exchange students are less than the credits earned by the regular students although they complete 10 to 12 classes during their stay at Chukyo. 17

28 KOREA Higher education in Korea includes universities and colleges that offer undergraduate and some graduate programs; two-year junior colleges; and technical vocational schools. Seventy-eight percent of higher learning institutions are private, funded through gifts and fees. State funds and fees support public institutions. Admission: In order to apply to higher education institutions, a Korean student must complete 12 years of primary and secondary school (the latter may be completed at a technical institution) and receive a secondary school-leaving certificate. Admission depends upon grades and qualifying exams. If admitted to a university or college, a student must then choose a major and be accepted by an individual department, where places are often limited. Academic Calendar: The regular academic year, which runs from March to December, has two terms and only offers courses taught in Korean. Special programs taught in English run on an August- June academic year. Course-work is assessed through exams, essays and class participation Degrees Colleges and universities offer B.A. degrees after four years of study; two additional years in the same subject earn a master's degree; and with three more study years, a doctorate is awarded. Grades Grade 4.5 A+ 4.0 A 3.7 A- 3.3 B+ 3.0 B 2.7 B- 2.3 C+ 2.0 C 1.7 C- 1.3 D+ 1.0 D 0 F Credit Equivalent U.S. Equivalent Unit of Measurement: Hours per week. 3 hours of class work per week, for sixteen weeks will be equivalent to 3 U.S. credits. Eight hours of class lecture per week for six weeks (summer session) will be equivalent to 3 U.S. credits. 18

29 MALTA Education is compulsory from ages At the secondary school level, there are area and grammar schools, which provide five years of college preparatory courses, and trade schools, which provide three years of practical training. After secondary school, students pursue two years of study prior to entry to university. First-degree programs generally take three years with an additional one to two years for the Honors program, which requires a dissertation. A master's degree requires a further two years of study. Some areas also offer a master's in philosophy and doctoral programs. Grading and assessment at the University of Malta is strict, compared to U.S. universities. The teaching method is done through lectures and tutorials; students are expected to study independently throughout the semester. Assignments and quizzes are not regular, so it is almost impossible for professors to follow students progress. Assessment is usually based on attendance and a final exam or paper. Grades Grade (US Equivalent) A+, A B+, B C+, C D+, D F Excellent Very good Good Pass Fail Please note that a grade of D is quite common in the Maltese grading system, and should be rated higher than the US D. Credit Equivalent Unit of Measurement: Credit hours A full workload for an academic year is between credits. The average student has 14 hours of lecture per week. Academic Calendar: The academic year runs from September to June. 19

30 MEXICO After six years of primary education, students can continue in the first three-year phase of secondary education. A student then continues in either an escuela normal for teacher-training; a preparatoria universitaria for the bachillerato, which permits admission to all university faculties; or in a preparatoria técnica for technical training, with further study at a technological institution. Academic Calendar: The academic year is from Early August to May. First semester is from early August to December. Second semester is from early January to May. Degrees After three to five years of higher education, a professional title in engineering, architecture, etc., is given. Similarly, the licenciatura degree is achieved for studies in humanities, social sciences or law. One or two years more are required for the maestria, and two or three more for the doctorado. For the latter, oral examinations and a thesis are required. Papers may be assigned during the semester, but term projects and final exams carry the most weight in assigning grades. Grades Grade 100 excellent A very good A good B average C U.S equivalent less than 70 fail F Failing courses are not usually included on official transcripts. Credit Equivalent Unit of Measurement: Units/credit hours. The average number of classes taken by a student per semester is 6. The average student has 30 hours of class lecture per week. 8 units are equivalent to 3 credits at the undergraduate level. At the graduate level, 12 units are equivalent to 3 credits. 20

31 NETHERLANDS Primary & Secondary Education Elementary school (ages 4-12) is mandatory and is followed by secondary education, either in the form of vocational training, high school or gymnasium (pre-university 6- year program). 10 years total compulsory education. Admissions: students must have completed the highly selective six-year high school program called the University Preparatory subjects: Dutch, English, French, German, history, geography, mathematics, physics, chemistry, biology & physical education. As students have completed their general education courses by the time they enter university, the university curriculum focuses almost exclusively on the student' major and field of specialization; of the 168 points required to obtain a doctorandus degree, 154 are dedicated to a student s major, and 14 points to electives. Academic Year: The academic year consists of 1680 study hours (1600 for visiting students), or 42 weeks of full time study, which are equivalent to 40 Dutch credit points: one credit-point equals 40 study hours. Most courses are worth 4 or 8 credits. Student workload refers to the time spent in lectures, practicals, independent study, preparations for examinations & the actual examination. The first year, the propadeuse, is an introductory year to provide the foundation for study in the student s field. Students are required to pass the propaedeutisch exam in order to continue on to the remaining years of study. Degrees Doctorandus: 168 points required, equivalent to the Masters degree, officially takes four years to complete. Degrees tend to be very demanding and many students require an additional two years of study to complete their program. The kandidaats degree (equivalent to the Bachelors degree) no longer exists. Post-doctoraal: programs of varying length & content. There are one-year teacher training programs, short-term recurrent education programs to upgrade professional expertise; long-term research programs; & four-year research programs leading to the doctoraat degree, also known as the promotie. HBO: Students completing their four-year program in engineering receive the title ingenieur, while all others receive the title Baccalaureus. Students graduating with a Baccalaureus degree may then continue to a university to receive a Doctorandus, or attend a post-hbo program. Grades outstanding performance A very good A good B satisfactory/pass C marginal pass D <5.5 fail F The grades 9 and 10 are rarely given in the Netherlands, and a grade of 6 is considered a satisfactory mark. Grading also tends to be stricter in the Netherlands than in the US. 21

32 Credit Equivalents Unit of Measurement ECTS; 1 Dutch credit = 1.5 ECTS credits. 1 Dutch credit = 40 study hours. An average course is worth 4 Dutch credits. A full workload is about 40 Dutch credits an academic year. 22

33 NICARAGUA Higher education is one of the four stages in the Nicaraguan educational system, all of which are linked and coordinated by the National Council for Education. The responsibilities of the higher education system consist of training professionals and advanced-level technicians in the areas of agricultural sciences, medical sciences, national science, mathematics, humanities and technological sciences. The council of higher education is made up of both private and state universities. Credit Equivalent: Unit of Measurement: Credit hours (equivalent to US credit hours). A full course load is 5 classes per semester hours are spent per week in class lectures. Admission: On completing the required secondary school program, an entrance examination is required for admission to an institution of higher education. Qualifications (títulos) are awarded upon completion of a plan of study which may last from three to six years in professional and higher technical courses. Academic Calendar: The Academic year runs from late February to early December. First semester is from late February to June, while second semester is early August to early December. Grades: Grade U.S. Equivalent -1 A+ -2 A -3 B -4 C 3-0 F 23

34 PHILIPPINES About 650 institutions provide higher education in the Philippines: seven state universities, 25 state colleges, 35 private universities and more than 550 private colleges. About 25 foreign nationalities are present in university enrollment: Chinese, American and Thai have the largest representation. Admission: Admission to higher education is based on the secondary school-leaving certificate. In addition, all high school graduates must pass a National Examination (NCEE) for admission to postsecondary academic or professional degree programs. This exam does not ensure admission to a specific institution; further qualifications may be required for specific programs. Academic Calendar: An academic year is from late May to March; semesters are from late May to October and early November to March. Degrees The bachelor's degree requires four to five years of study. In medicine and pharmacy, however, the first degree requires six years of study. Graduate programs, mainly in the field of Teacher Education, are offered at only a few institutions. Graduate degrees are also offered in the fields of engineering/technology, law, medicine and related health fields, business and the behavioral sciences. The master's degree is generally awarded after two years of study beyond the bachelor's. The doctoral degree requires two to three additional years. Credits Grade A B -1.2 C 3-0 D* 4-0 F *Conditional pass of fail U.S. Equivalent Credit Equivalent: Unit of Measurement: Units 1 unit of credit corresponds to one hour of lecture/recitation each week for the period of a complete semester. In all courses, 2½ hours to 3 hours of laboratory work. In technical courses, 3 hours of drafting or workshop is equivalent to 1 hour of lecture/recitation. 24