Credit Transfer System CTS -Chile

Credits in themselves are representative of the workload that curricular activity demands from a student; they are used  to achieve the desired learning outcome.  From a quantitative point of view, one credit is equivalent to the respective proportion  of the total workload , i.e that which is necessary to complete one year of full time studies.

It is thought  that the annual student workload is equivalent to 60 credits, which amounts to approximately 1,400 - 1, 900 hours of actual work. This  estimation provides a certain amount of flexibility to meet the needs of HE institutions.  Based on this hypothesis, 1 (one) credit represents between 24 and 31 hours of actual student work.

Therefore, as a general rule, one (academic year) of full time academic studies is equivalent to 60 credits,  one semester of 30 credits, and a trimester of 20 credits. According to this  system, a  four year program corresponds to 240 credits and a five year program is  equal to 300 credits.

How did the initiative come it being?

The concept of  the ‘System of Transferable Credits’ was first devised  in April 2003 by virtue of the written agreement of the Rectors of CRUCH Universities, a document which is also known as ‘The Declaration of Valparaiso’.   In Point 2 of the declaration it states the following : “To adopt a system of credits compatible with Chilean Universities and the ECTS system and to highlight the curricular requirements of students in accordance with the availability of time”.

On the other hand, a significant number of curricular innovation initiatives have resulted in methodological changes. These changes have impelled students to learn new tasks- the impact of which has not been evaluated yet.  In a similar vein, the growth of national and international student mobility programs requires  the usage of foreign currency.   Finally, the creation of joint academic networks that seek harmonization and new curricular design require a common exchange ‘language’ similar to  the SCT-Chilean model.

After the signing of the Valparaiso Agreement, the university rectors recommended that their Academic Vice-rectors develop an Academic Credit System with the support of the MECESUP Program- the aim of which is:  to  facilitate practical and theoretical understanding of academic  programs, become familiarized with the demands of academic study and  create  student mobility in  Chile and abroad. This system creates a process of transformation that provides support for the development of quality Higher Education.

After the signing of the agreement, the rectors from  Chilean Universities, namely those which form part of CRUCH, decided to form a network of quality-based HE institutions  by means of the June 2005 Declaration of Arica. The network aimed to promote harmony, student exchanges, and extensive collaboration in research and postgraduate studies. It sought  to promote  convergence as the “voluntary adoption of suitable policies  that are necessary  to reach  common objectives”.

A system of common academic credits at all universities and Higher Education institutes is an extra  step towards achieving this systemic  objective. For this reason, the Chilean Higher Education Institutions should agree on speaking the same language* and  developing  transparency and mutual trust.

At the CRUCH meeting (Nº 478), which took place in the Amanda Labarca Room of the Metropolitan Technological University on August 31, 2006, a decision was made to  establish a system of academic credits for all its members and to improve the quality of Higher Education. This system has three basic components. In the first place,  the system should be  based on the total workload of students. This means that one should consider the amount of time dedicated to each of the curricular activities that the student needs to carry out in order to achieve  the learning outcomes  of each subject. It includes theoretical or cathedra classes, practicum, field studies, professional or degree-related practicum, practical activities, laboratory or workshop experience, clinical or field work, professional or degree-related practicum, cathedra assistantship, academic work, and personal study among others. The second component is related to the amount of time that a student dedicates to his/her degree studies. For instance, one academic year of full time studies is equal to 1,400- 1,900 hours of academic work.  The third characteristic refers to the idea of there being a kind of standard credit allocator in which  a specific number of credits is assigned to various curricular activities. It is said that the total work load corresponds to approximately 1,400- 1,900 hours, which amounts to 60 SCT credits.

Who is part of the group?

The group  is comprised of Academic Vice-Rectors from 25 Chilean Universities, all of whom belong to CRUCH (Council of Rectors of Chilean Universities).

For more information, please click on the following link:

Sistema de Créditos Académicos Transferibles, SCT-Chile

Translator’s notes: The phrase  “speaking the same language” is used in the figurative  sense here.

Revised & Edited: 11-06-09