The European Approach was adopted by EHEA ministers in 2015. As a political commitment made in the Bologna Process, and not a legally binding agreement or treaty, it requires implementation at the national level. Depending on the country, legislative changes at different levels may thus be required to make the European Approach effectively available to higher education institutions.
The map below shows the EHEA countries in which the European Approach can be used by some or all higher education institutions. Please consult the information on each country for specific requirements, conditions or restrictions.
Please note that the map only shows those higher education systems in which institutions have a right to use the European Approach at their own choice, and this is laid down in official documentation. In some cases, institutions might also be able to use the European Approach on the basis of an individual, case-by-case agreement with their government or national quality assurance agency. Such arrangements are beyond the scope of this map.
Germany has been a Governmental Member of EQAR since 2008.
Focus of external quality assurance
Programme Accreditation
System Accreditation (which enables the institution to self accredit its study programmes).
Can higher education institutions choose a suitable EQAR-registered agency?
Yes, all German higher education institutions (HEIs)
Eligibility requirements for foreign agencies: EQAR-registration
Conditions for the agencies’ work (e.g. criteria to be used): use of national standards and criteria (see below)
Recognition of reviews carried out by foreign agencies: starting with mid-2018 applications for program and system accreditation must be addressed to the German Accreditation Council.
Yes. all German higher education institutions can opt for programme accreditation of joint degrees by an EQAR-registered agency using the European Approach. See here for further information.
Nationally recognised QA agencies can also ratify individual accreditation decisions by other EQAR-registered agencies on joint programmes between a German and foreign institution.
European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes available to all higher education institutions (either through recognition of single external quality assurance procedure for programmes or by virtue of HEIs being self-accrediting)
European Approach available to some higher education institutions or only under specific conditions
European Approach not available to higher education institutions in the country
1 All references to Kosovo, whether the territory, institutions or population, on this site shall be understood in full compliance with United Nation’s Security Council Resolution 1244 and without prejudice to the status of Kosovo.
