The study activity model Excel tool
The study activity model Excel tool
The Excel tool has been developed to support teaching staff, coordinators and study boards in the organisation of courses, semesters and programmes. The tool may be used to calculate student workload (study intensity) and to ensure that the workload matches the required study intensity of a full-time degree programme.*
Why use the Excel tool?
The Excel tool may be used for visualising the expected student workload
All new students must be informed of the expected workload in a typical semester. The Excel tool and, more specifically, the figure 'Expected study intensity in a semester' may visualise the total semester workload to students.
The Excel tool may be used to ensure the required study intensity
Each degree programme must ensure that study intensity corresponds to approximately 825 hours in a typical semester. It is entirely up to the individual programme to decide how best to do this. The Excel tool supports the organisation of semesters with an appropriate distribution of hours and activities across the semester.
How to use the Excel tool
The students' study intensity (workload) is based on approximately 825 hours (30 ECTS credits) in a semester which is the expected workload of Danish full-time students.* The total student workload must thus add up to approximately 825 hours for each semester.
When the student activity model has been adapted to a degree programme, the activities in the model can be copied to the table in the Excel tool. The study activities already included in the Excel tool are not exhaustive and are merely included for guidance purposes. When using the tool, please feel free to rename, delete or add additional study activities, when necessary.
The expected study intensity, indicated as hours, is then added to the various semester activities. The study intensity includes all study activities such as problem-based project work, teaching and individual study activities.
The figure 'Expected Study Intensity in the Semester' reflects the hours manually added to the table and will change automatically as the table is filled in. The figure will then depict the expected workload for one semester.
Download the Excel tool
You can download the AAU study activity model Excel tool template in both English and Danish via the links below.
AAU Study activity Excel tool (English)AAU Studieaktivitetsmodellen Excel Værktøj (Danish)Example of completed Excel tool
*The European guidelines stipulate that 1 ECTS credit corresponds to between 25 and 30 hours and that 60 ECTS credits correspond to between 1,500 and 1,800 hours (Source: “ECTS Users’ Guide.” European Commission). In Denmark, 60 ECTS credits were previously set to approximately 1,650 hours; 1 ECTS credit thus corresponded to 27-28 hours. Today, the guidelines have softened up, allowing institutions to define their ideal equivalency within the range of 1,500 to 1,800 hours. (Source: “ECTS på de videregående uddannelser” [ECTS in Higher Education Programmes]. Danish Evaluation Institute, EVA, 2014).
AAU does not stipulate a common standard for the number of hours that 60 ECTS credits correspond to; thus, this may vary across programmes. The study activity model is based on the average number of hours within the defined range, where 60 ECTS credits correspond to approximately 1,650 hours and 30 ECTS credits correspond to approximately 825 hours. However, this standard is only a guide.