Student's workload and study credits

The instruction belongs to the following themes

By selecting a degree programme you are able to see the general content as well as the possible degree programme-specific content.

When you are planning your courses, please note that the students’ workload should correspond to the study credits they are awarded for the course. If you are teaching under a degree programme, the learning objectives stated in the degree programme curriculum can be used as a guide for estimating the workload.

Estimating workload in distance teaching and learning

Please note that distance learning is more demanding for students than contact teaching. In addition to the workload, remember to take into account the stage and level of studies. Use the information below on the scope of different types of learning tasks. The students’ workload should correspond to the credits they are awarded for the course. The tasks you assign for distance learning should not increase the amount of work nor the level of difficulty compared to the same course organised in class.

Student work in hours
Average reading speeds
Average writing speeds
Study credit calculator

Student work in hours

One study credit corresponds to 27 hours of work. For example, a course of five credits requires the student to complete 135 hours of study. The tables below contain estimates of how much time students need for reading and writing. The tables and calculator are a good tool for estimating the students’ workload.

Keep in mind that students will also need time for other work (such as team work, presentations, searching for information, revision, etc.). The course instructions you provide to your students should also include an estimate of how many hours of work they are supposed to put into each task.

Average reading speeds

Style of text and the expected level of learning

Average number of pages read by the student in one hour

General text to be skimmed through

13–15 pages

Demanding text to be skimmed through

10–12 pages

General text for deep reading

7–9 pages

Demanding text for deep reading

6–7 pages

Average writing speeds

Style of text and the level of the task

Number of pages the student writes in 10 hours

General text, needs only little processing (e.g.
a traineeship report with focus on the practical side)

7 pages

Demanding text, needs only little processing (e.g. a summary)

4 pages

General text, requires a lot of processing (e.g. a learning diary)

4 pages

Demanding text, requires a lot of processing (e.g. a research report, a thesis)

2 pages

Study credit calculator

The workload calculator was updated by the pedagogical university lecturers in year 2021

(the old study credit calculator, from year 2004)