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What are credit points?

Credit points refer to the value attached to each subject undertaken as part of a degree.  Credit points are also a guide to the number of hours per week you should be studying the subject.  Most subjects are single session (half-yearly) duration, offered in Autumn or Spring session, and normally have a value of 6 or 8 credit points.  Double session (annual) subjects usually have a value of 12 credit points.

Each credit point has an implied workload of 26 hours over the duration of the subject.  For example, for a 6 credit point single session subject you should spend a total of 12 hours per week in attending classes and working on your own for that subject (i.e. 6 credit points x 26 hours ÷ 13 weeks = 12 hours).  Summer session subjects only run for 7 weeks and therefore require twice as many hours per week as subjects offered in Autumn or Spring.

Three year Bachelor degrees generally require the completion of 144 credit points, four-year degrees 192 credit points and five-year degrees 240 credit points.  Double degrees may require additional credit points.