One full time equivalent (FTE) year of study equates to 120 OERu credits (or 30 North American credits) see explanation and corresponding conversion tables below.
(See also: How many micro-courses are needed for full-course credit?)
Typical course size in different regions of the world
As an international network, the OERu must ensure transnational credit transfer. However, the course sizes that make up a year of study differ across international jurisdictions. The international standard for one year of full-time study is approximately 1200 notional learning hours. The difference in course sizes typically found in different regions is illustrated in the table below:
Region / Country | Number of courses for 1 FTE year of study |
Learning hours per course |
Total learning hours |
---|---|---|---|
North America | 10 | 120 | 1200 |
Australia | 8 | 160 | 1280 |
United Kingdom | 6 | 200 | 1200 |
New Zealand | 8 | 150 | 1200 |
Size of OERu micro-courses
To achieve a standard transfer “currency” the OERu has adopted a modular micro-course format. Each micro-course equates to 40 notional hours of learning effort. Therefore, in North America 3 micro-courses are typically required to make up a standard 3-credit course, whereas in Australia, 4 micro-courses must be completed to qualify for transcript credit for the relevant course. In the United Kingdom, 5 micro-courses are the equivalent of 20 UK credits.
OERu credit conversion model compared to North American Credits
In the OERu credit transfer model:
- 1 OERu credit = 10 notional learning hours.
- 1 North American credit = 40 notional learning hours.
Therefore:
Example |
Notional Learning hours |
OERu credits |
No. of OERu micro-courses |
3 credit North American course | 120 | 12 | 3 micro-courses |
16 credit New Zealand course | 160 | 16 | 4 micro-courses |
20 credit United Kingdom course | 200 | 20 | 5 micro-course |