The ECTS - European Credit Transfer System ? was developed by the European Commission in order to provide common procedures to guarantee academic recognition of studies abroad. It provides a way of measuring and comparing learning achievements and transferring them from one institution to another.

Since its beginning, Universidade do Minho (UM) recognised the importance of the European Credit Transfer Systems (ECTS) and correct implementation of its tools. In 1994/1995, UM participated in the ECTS pilot project in the subject area of History and since 1995/1996 ECTS has been extended to all study areas represented. Following the creation of new degree courses UM has made some effort to offer these new areas and respective units the opportunity to introduce the system in a gradual and systematic way.

It is important to highlight that, as far as UM is concerned, ECTS is compulsorily used in all student mobility activities, having been extended to the cooperation with the third countries.

With this Information Package, in Portuguese and English, UM wishes to provide all partner Higher Education Institutions (Teaching staff and Students) with the transparency necessary for the organization of any transnational mobility period, as well as to help the students who intend to choose UM as host institution in their decision.