China University credits workload

[billhank]

Hi,

I have been accepted to study within the English-taught software engineering program at Wuhan University for one year.

I am currently working on being able to have the credits acquired in China transferred to my program back in Canada.

I'm having trouble finding how many hours of class and work outside of class one credit is generally equivalent to.

Anyone could help me?

Thanks a lot!

Bill

[skylee]

Have you tried asking the university direct?

[billhank]

Several times but they never answer my question!!

[fanglu]

You're trying to find out how many class hours per week, right? (The number of credits that is equivalent to is surely a question for your Canadian university.)

If they won't answer and you need an answer before you go, maybe you should just estimate. You can always tell your Canadian university if you were wrong once you get back.

[skylee]

Re #4, I think the OP's question is about the University's definition of a credit point, eg 1 credit could require say 45 study hours including out of classroom self study time etc. This is useful for credit transfer.

In HK such info can usually be found in the student handbooks which are almost certainly on the univs'websites. In Mainland China, who knows.

[billhank]

The English version of their website seem to be significantly smaller than the Chinese version. I wouldn't be surprised if the information was available over there

[gato]

The number of credits equals the number of hours per in-classroom time at most Chinese university.

The number of hours out-of-classroom per unit would vary between courses and schools. Sometimes is it is nearly zero. Other times, it is more. Software engineering would require more more outside work. But in general, out-of-classroom time is less than than that required in North America and Europe, which is why Chinese university students usually take a lot more courses per semester -- 20-30 units per semester. Kind of like middle school, really.

[billhank]

I'd be surprised since the program is supposed to be completed in about 4 years and it is composed of 150 credits. That would be about 18-19 credits per semester. To be honest, I agree with you, the whole out of classroom hours thing is ridiculous but all the school systems feel better about themselves thinking everyone spends 3 hours a day studying at home... I have read on a website that the credits were roughly equivalent to 1.5 ECTS or 1 US credit which would be exactly what I need them to be

[Cat Jones]

Is your course undergraduate or masters?

On the MBA at Beida a 30 hour course is 2 credits, 45 hours is 3 credits.

[gato]

I'd be surprised since the program is supposed to be completed in about 4 years and it is composed of 150 credits. That would be about 18-19 credits per semester

In most Chinese undergrad programs, students have either no or very few classes in their 4th year, which is set aside for "thesis" and internships. 150 divided by 6 semesters would be 25 units per semester.

[msittig]

How about asking to be put in touch with another foreign student who is already in the program?