The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System, or ECTS, is a standardized system used across Europe to facilitate the transfer of academic credits between institutions. It helps students and universities recognize and compare learning achievements, making it easier for students to study abroad or switch universities. In ECTS, one academic year typically corresponds to 60 credits, which equates to around 1,500 to 1,800 hours of study. Each course or module is assigned a specific number of credits based on the workload required, allowing students to accumulate credits towards their degree programs efficiently.