Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme
Encyclopedia
Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme (CATS) is used by many universities
in the United Kingdom
to monitor, record and reward passage through a modular degree course and to facilitate movement between courses and institutions. Typically a university course of 10 to 20 2-hour sessions would, on successful completion, be worth between 10 and 20 CATS points, at one of Levels 1 to 3.
360 points need to be accumulated (240 points at level 2 or above and 120 points at level 3) to qualify for award of an honours degree. A foundation degree
is broadly equivalent to 240 points, and a 'pass/ordinary degree' to 300 points.
A postgraduate Master's degree
is equivalent to 180 points at Level M.
It is possible to equate CATS with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)
. Two CATS points are equivalent to one ECTS point.
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
in the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to monitor, record and reward passage through a modular degree course and to facilitate movement between courses and institutions. Typically a university course of 10 to 20 2-hour sessions would, on successful completion, be worth between 10 and 20 CATS points, at one of Levels 1 to 3.
360 points need to be accumulated (240 points at level 2 or above and 120 points at level 3) to qualify for award of an honours degree. A foundation degree
Foundation degree
The Foundation Degree is a vocational qualification introduced by the government of the United Kingdom in September 2001, which is available in England, Wales and Northern Ireland...
is broadly equivalent to 240 points, and a 'pass/ordinary degree' to 300 points.
A postgraduate Master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
is equivalent to 180 points at Level M.
It is possible to equate CATS with the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework
The Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework is the national credit transfer system for all levels of qualifications in Scotland...
and the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS)
European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System
This page describes ECTS-credits. For information about the ECTS grading system go to ECTS grading scale.European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System is a standard for comparing the study attainment and performance of students of higher education across the European Union and other...
. Two CATS points are equivalent to one ECTS point.