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.
Austria has been a Governmental Member of EQAR since 2008.
Focus of external quality assurance
Public universities: Institutional audit
Universities of applied sciences: Institutional and initial programme accreditation; Institutional audit (after an uninterrupted accreditation period of 12 years)
Private universities: Institutional and initial programme accreditation
University colleges of teacher education:own methodology
Can higher education institutions choose a suitable EQAR-registered agency?
Public universities: yes.
Universities of applied science: after having been re-accredited by the national Agency for Quality Assurance and Accreditation Austria (AQ Austria)
Private universities & university colleges of teacher education: no.
Eligibility requirements for foreign agencies:
Registration on EQAR
QA agencies have to submit an expression of interest to the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy.
Condition for the agency's work: compliance with the criteria by the Federal Ministry of Science, Research and Economy.
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.
