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Colleagues, Below are the anonymised details of thirteen responses that I received to my query about teaching hours. Thank you to everyone who took the time, including one or two from outside the UK & Irish systems, whose responses addressed the issue in slightly different terms. Though the sample is relatively small, it gives a flavour of current practice. It is clear that there is significant variation in approach. Because different places have 10-, 15-, 20-, 30- and even 40-credit modules, I have assessed how many hours are taught per 10 credits in the following narrative. You can then do the maths to compare with your own institution. (These figures generally refer to post-A Level, by the way. Some of you indicated that you teach a little more language to ab initio groups where you have them.). The credits referred to here are in all cases UK credits (120 per annum) rather than ECTS. Language: The maximum amount of language that is taught for 20 credits is generally 72 hours, usually 3 hrs per week @ 24 weeks. Sometimes this is semesterised as two 10-credit modules for the same weekly teaching load. This amounts to 36 hours total teaching (over a semester or year) for 10 credits. In some places it is significantly less: Unis C, D & E, using various different credit formats, teach 24 hours for 10 credits. Uni F teachs 36 in year 1 but 24 thereafter per 10 credits. Uni J teaches only 12 hours per 10 credits, with another 12 as "self-study", which is tested. There is no difference between pre-1992 and post-1992 institutions in this respect. Content: Broadly speaking content modules are taught on average 12 hours less than language for 10 credits. Teaching ranges from 12 hours for 10 credits (Unis B, H, I, K, L) right up to 24 hours for 10 credits (Unis A, D, G), with different systems producing various gradations between (Unis C, E, F, J, M). I hope that this is helpful. It's clear that my own place is at the upper end of the "contact hours" for both language and content, but is by no means out on its own. Best wishes, Pól. Pre-92 Uni A: L: 3 hrs pw over 24w for 20 credits; C: 1 hr pw over 24w for 10 credits. Uni B: L: 3 hrs pw over 24w for 20 credits; C: 2 hrs pw over 12w for 20 credits. Uni C: L: 4 hrs pw over 12w for 20 credits; C: 1.5 hrs pw over 24w for 20 credits. Uni D: L: 3-4 hrs pw over 20-24w for 30 credits; C: 3 hrs pw over 10-12w for 15 credits. Uni E: L: 3 hrs pw over 12w for 15 credits; C: 2 hrs pw over 12w for 15 credits. Uni F: L: 3 hrs pw over 12w for 10 credits (year 1) L: 2 hrs pw over 12w for 10 credits (after year 1) C: 1.5 hrs pw over 12w for 10 credits or 3 hrs pw over 12w for 20 credits; Uni G: L: 3 hrs pw over 12w for 10 credits (but cutting back to 2 hrs pw from next year); C: 2 hrs pw over 12w for 10 credits. Uni H: L: 1 hr taugh + 1 hr self-study (tested) over 12w for 10 credits; C: 2 hrs pw over 12w for 20 credits. Uni I: L: 2 hrs pw over 24w for 20 credits; C: 2 hrs pw over 12w for 20 credits. Uni J: L: 3 hrs pw over 22w for 20 credits; C: 1.5/2 hrs pw over 22w for 20 credits Uni K: Yr 1: 3 hrs L & 2 hrs C pw over 25w for 40 credits; Yr 2 & 3: L: 3 hrs pw over 23w/20w for 32 credits; C: 2 hrs pw over 10w for 16 credits. Post-92: Uni L: L: 2 hrs pw over 24 w for 20 credits; C: 1 hr pw over 24 w for 20 credits. Uni M: L: 3 hrs pw over 12 w for 15 credits; C: 2 hrs pw over 12 w for 15 credits.