In the EAHEA Credit Systems, an hour of guided self-study counts as 0.5 to 1.0 hour of workload, and 0.75 is the default factor that applies when no other factor is stated. It suits typical independent reading or case study. The provider states the factor it uses, applies the same factor to the same kind of activity throughout a program and counts only planned, guided activity.
Self-study is where credit figures are most often inflated or understated. A course may have 20 hours in a room and 60 hours of reading, and the credit total depends heavily on how those 60 hours are counted. The factor makes that choice visible. This guide explains what guided self-study is, how the factor works, how to choose a value, how it changes a result and what reviewers look for. It applies to providers authorized by the European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA).
What Guided Self-Study Is
It is planned learning that the learner completes alone or in a group outside direct instruction, with a defined task, a source or a timeline set by the provider: readings, case studies, exercises, projects, preparation for a seminar. The word “guided” matters. Learning that a person does on their own initiative, without a plan from the provider, is not part of the nominal workload.
How the Factor Works
Workload hours from self-study equal the planned self-study hours multiplied by the factor. Direct instruction and practical hours count at 1.0, and assessment counts at its real duration. The factor may be 0.5, 0.75 or 1.0 in the EAHEA Credit Calculator, and the default is 0.75.
| Planned Self-Study | Factor 0.5 | Factor 0.75 | Factor 1.0 |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20 hours | 10 | 15 | 20 |
| 60 hours | 30 | 45 | 60 |
| 200 hours | 100 | 150 | 200 |
Choosing a Value
The default of 0.75 is meant for typical independent reading or case study, where the planned time is realistic and the work is moderately demanding. A provider that uses another value should have a reason it can explain. These are practical guidelines for judging the choice, not EAHEA rules beyond the range itself:
- Use a value closer to 1.0 when the activity is tightly structured, with a clear task, deadlines and feedback, so that the planned time is close to the time learners actually spend.
- Use a value closer to 0.5 when the activity is loosely directed or optional, and the planned time is only a rough guide.
- Keep 0.75 when there is no strong reason to depart from it.
The Effect on Credits
A course with 20 hours of instruction, 10 hours of practice, 60 hours of guided self-study and 4 hours of assessment shows how much the factor matters at the standard MUC ratio of 12.5 hours:
| Factor | Total Workload | Calculation | Credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| 0.5 | 64 | 64 ÷ 12.5 = 5.12 | 5 |
| 0.75 | 79 | 79 ÷ 12.5 = 6.32 | 6 |
| 1.0 | 94 | 94 ÷ 12.5 = 7.52 | 8 |
The same course can give 5, 6 or 8 credits, depending only on the factor. This is why EAHEA asks providers to state the factor and use it consistently, and why a reviewer should treat an unusually high factor in a program that is mostly self-study with some care.
Consistency Within a Program
Use the same factor for the same kind of activity throughout a program. If case study reading is counted at 0.75 in one module, it should not be counted at 1.0 in another module of the same kind. Different kinds of activity may have different factors, but the provider should be able to say why. A single factor for all self-study is the simplest way to stay consistent.
What Is Not Counted
- Breaks, travel and waiting time.
- Reading and practice that learners do without a plan from the provider.
- Work experience that is not an assessed learning activity.
- Time for activities that have no learning outcome connected to the program.
Showing Your Reasoning
- List each self-study task with its planned hours.
- State the factor and, if it is not 0.75, the reason.
- Show the resulting workload hours in the calculation.
- Keep the study guide or syllabus that shows the tasks.
- Review the planned hours when feedback shows that learners spend much more or less time.
See the worked examples in calculating EAHEA credits for a short course and how a master’s program states its workload in ILC. For online programs, see describing workload in online courses.
Limits
- The factor is a tool for stating workload. It does not measure the quality of the learning.
- Only an authorized provider may calculate and state EAHEA credits.
- Credits do not oblige another institution to accept them, and EAHEA does not guarantee any outcome.
The EAHEA Credit Calculator lets a provider enter workload by component and choose the factor. The ratio is a separate choice, explained in why a provider declares a conversion ratio.
Providers that want to state EAHEA credits without accreditation can read the requirements on the ECS Provider Certificate page of the credits site.
Frequently Asked Questions
A range of 0.5 to 1.0 workload hours per planned hour, with 0.75 as the default.
Planned learning outside direct instruction, with tasks and a timeline set by the provider, such as readings, case studies and exercises.
The range allows it, but the factor should reflect the real activity, and the choice should be explainable and consistent.
No. Breaks, travel and waiting time are not counted.
No. The factor changes how self-study hours count toward workload. The ratio converts workload into credits.
Yes. The provider states the factor it uses and applies it consistently.