Credits

FU-BEST awards ECTS (European Credit Transfer System) credits. ECTS is based on the principle that the workload of a full-time student during one academic year is equivalent to 60 credits. This includes in-class contact hours as well as individual work on assignments and class preparation. On average, the student workload of a full-time study program in Europe is between 1,500 and 1,800 hours per year; thus, one ECTS credit represents between 25 and 30 hours of work.

Grades

FU-BEST uses the grading system of Freie Universität Berlin, featuring numerical grades. Please see the table below for comparison with the U.S. equivalents as far as grades are concerned. The program itself does not award Pass/Fail grades; students interested in this type of grade should make appropriate arrangements with their own home institutions. FU-BEST transcripts (produced in English) contain only German/Freie Universität grades.

FUB Grade	Points on 100-Scale
1,0	98-100
1,3	95-97
1,7	90-94
2,0	85-89
2,3	80-84
2,7	75-79
3,0	70-74
3,3	65-69
3,7	60-64
4,0	50-59
5,0	< 50

Transcripts

FU-BEST will issue a Freie Universität Berlin transcript for each participant. The transcript lists all courses taken, the number of contact hours, the ECTS credits earned, and the final grade. Please note that credits can only be awarded if a participant successfully completes a FU-BEST course and is currently or has been enrolled at a university or college. Academic work arranged and supervised by any program or institution other than FU-BEST or Freie Universität Berlin will not appear on the transcript. FU-BEST issues the transcripts approximately 4 weeks after the end of the program. The transcript will be sent to the student’s home address or to the student’s home institution/provider organization; each student will receive a personal electronic grade report. It is the student’s responsibility to provide FU-BEST with a correct mailing address for the official transcript. Students should bear in mind that overseas mail delivery may take two weeks or longer.

Because each institution has its own policy regarding credit transfer from other institutions, FU-BEST strongly recommends that students consult with the appropriate advisor(s) and professor(s) in order to receive credit transfer approval prior to enrolling in the FU-BEST program.

Additional transcripts can be ordered via the Transcript Request Form (pdf).