Credit System
Degrees and structure
Most students start their university studies with a bachelor's degree, also called an undergraduate degree (BA, BSc), followed by a master's degree, also called a graduate degree (MSc, MA).
After completing their graduate studies, students can get a research-based doctoral degree (PhD). Reykjavik University offers degrees on all three levels: undergraduate, graduate and PhD. Please note that only graduate and PhD degrees are taught and conducted in English.
Students are either full-paying, which means they pay tuition each semester, or exchange students from other universities, in which case they pay the tuition at their home school.
ECTS credits
Reykjavik University applies credits equivalent to the European Credit Transfer System. Teaching is organised in courses evaluated according to standardised credits (ECTS). A full-time study usually consists of 60 credits per academic year and 30 credits each semester, and it reflects all students' workloads. Student workload can include activities such as lectures, projects, internships and assessments to achieve the defined learning outcomes in a course. One ECTS credit typically consists of 25–30 hours of student workload. The maximum amount of credits a student may take in one semester is 36 ECTS.
Grades and definitions
Grades are generally awarded in whole and half numbers on a scale of 0‐10. Students need to achieve a minimum grade to pass a course and achieve credits. The passing grade is generally 5,00 in undergraduate and 6,00 in graduate studies.
Other marks that are used in RU's grading system:
- T = Transferred Credits
- P = Passed
- F = Failed
| Grade range | Definition |
|---|---|
| 9,00 - 10,00 | First Class with Distinction |
| 7,25 - 8,99 | First Class |
| 6,00 - 7,24 | Second Class |
| 5,00 - 5,99 | Third Class |
Further information regarding assessment, grading, and examinations can be found in individual school and faculty chapters in the course Catalog.