Grading system

The grading system is a key issue in the academic recognition process for students participating in international mobility programmes. Grading scales may be different in different countries which could possibly cause difficulty in the equivalence process after returning to the home university.

Considering different grading systems in Europe, the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS) has been developed in the framework of the Lifelong Learning Programme to make the comparison of different national scales easier and the assessment process more transparent.

The ECTS enables to divide students into groups: pass and fail. The system enables to assess the students´ performances in subjects attended at the host institution. The ECTS provides additional information about the students´ achievements in specific courses. The passing grades are divided into five groups. The ECTS does not intend to replace local grades but to provide qualitative information about the students´ academic performance.

The University of SS. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava (UCM) provides study programmes at the bachelor, master and doctoral levels. Students conclude their study by passing their final examinations and defending their thesis.

At the beginning of an academic year or a semester, students choose their required subjects, required optional subjects, and elective subjects according to their curriculums. The chosen subjects enable the students to achieve 60 credit points per year (30 credits per semester). The subjects recommended for the given year may suppose knowledge of required subjects from earlier years of study.

In order to successfully complete the academic year, students have to pass examinations and/or gain credit points for class work in all the required subjects and in a defined number of required optional and elective subjects and so to accumulate at least 60 credit points per year (30 credits per semester). Credits are awarded for class work or for passing examination as required by the curriculum. Students at UCM sit for written, oral, or combined examinations (the latter are comprised of both written and oral parts).

Examinations may be repeated twice within the examination period concerned.

Considering the good practices in the use of ECTS tools, UCM issues to all exchange students transcripts of records that include local grades, the ECTS-grades and the number of achieved ECTS-credits in each course unit. Transcripts of Records are issued at the end of the study period concerned.