A master’s level program states its workload in Institutional Learning Credits (ILC), where one credit equals 25 to 30 hours of total nominal student workload and the standard ratio is 27.5. A program may use the name Master only if its total workload reaches at least 1,200 hours, and an MBA track needs at least 1,500 hours. The credits are the rounded result of the total workload divided by the ratio.
Postgraduate programs combine lectures, seminars, independent reading and a thesis or project, and the time spent outside class is the largest part. If a provider only counts classroom hours, the credit figure becomes far too low, and if it counts every reading hour at full value, it becomes too high. This guide shows how a master’s program works out and states its workload in ILC. It applies to providers authorized by the European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA).
What ILC Covers
ILC is the EAHEA credit for licentiate, postgraduate and master’s level programs, including MBA tracks. It applies to programs above 150 hours of total workload, since a program of 150 hours or less is credited in MUC at every level. The credit is a measure of effort and level. It is not a grade and not a measure of quality.
The Workload Components
- Direct instruction: lectures, seminars and live online sessions, counted at 1.0.
- Practical workshops and labs: supervised practice, counted at 1.0.
- Guided self-study: planned reading, case study, research and thesis work, counted at 0.5 to 1.0, with 0.75 as the default.
- Assessment: examinations, presentations and the defense, counted at their real duration.
Breaks, travel and waiting time do not count. A provider should keep the same factor for the same kind of activity throughout the program. See the guided self-study factor.
The Example Program
A two-year part-time master’s program in public policy has the following plan:
| Component | Planned Hours | Factor | Workload Hours |
|---|---|---|---|
| Direct instruction | 400 | 1.0 | 400 |
| Practical workshops | 100 | 1.0 | 100 |
| Guided self-study, including thesis work | 1,000 | 0.75 | 750 |
| Assessment | 100 | 1.0 | 100 |
| Total | 1,600 | 1,350 |
The Calculation
- The program is above 150 hours and is a master’s level program, so the system is ILC.
- The provider declares the standard ratio of 27.5 hours per ILC.
- 1,350 divided by 27.5 equals 49.09.
- Rounded once, the program states 49 ILC.
The same program under the other ends of the range gives different figures:
| Ratio | Hours per ILC | Credits |
|---|---|---|
| Lowest | 25 | 54 |
| Standard | 27.5 | 49 |
| Highest | 30 | 45 |
The provider chooses one ratio for its ILC programs and applies it everywhere. See why a provider declares a conversion ratio.
Checking the Level Name
A level name has a minimum total workload, and the minimum does not depend on the ratio a provider declares. For ILC, the published minimums are 1,200 hours for a master’s level name and 1,500 hours for an MBA track.
| Name | Minimum Workload | Example Program (1,350 Hours) |
|---|---|---|
| Master-level name | 1,200 hours | Reached |
| MBA track | 1,500 hours | Not reached |
The program can therefore be called a master’s level program, but not an MBA track. A name with a field of study, such as Master of Public Policy, follows the minimum of its level. See level names and minimum workload.
The Ratio
A lower ratio produces more credits for the same workload. A provider should not be tempted to pick the lowest ratio to make a program look larger. Choose the ratio once, based on the provider’s teaching model, and publish it where the credits are stated.
Writing the Statement
- “49 ILC” on the transcript supplement, with the name of the system.
- The total nominal workload in hours, so that a reader can compare it with other systems.
- The EAHEA notice that the credits are independent of ECTS, CATS and U.S. credit hours.
- The self-study factor and the ratio, if the provider publishes them.
See how receiving institutions read a transcript supplement.
Limits
- ILC credits describe workload and level. They are not an accreditation of the program.
- Only an authorized provider may state them. Check the Accredited Institutions or ECS Provider Directory.
- Another institution decides on its own whether to accept credits, and EAHEA does not guarantee any outcome.
Programs above this level are covered in how a doctoral program states its workload in EUC, and below it in calculating credits for a professional certificate program. Use the EAHEA Credit Calculator to check a result.
Services This Guide Covers
Frequently Asked Questions
Between 25 and 30 hours of total nominal student workload. The standard ratio is 27.5 hours.
1,200 hours of total nominal workload. An MBA track needs at least 1,500 hours.
Planned and guided thesis work counts as guided self-study at the factor the provider states, usually 0.75.
Yes, within the range of 25 to 30 hours. It declares one ratio, and the standard ratio applies if it declares none.
No. It states the size and level of a program, and accreditation is a separate quality review.
That is the university’s decision. EAHEA does not guarantee acceptance.