Joint Programme Design Filtering Tool

Is national accreditation required for a joint programme? 
In Finland, we do not have programme specific accreditation (not on national level nor on university level). We can use European Approach as external accreditation method for JPs but programmes are not accredited at national level as universities as audited.

University policy for joint programme accreditation.
Internal process. Currently all new programme or double degree  proposals must go through internal “GATE-process” (gate 0 and gate 1) . This procedure is good to initiate at least one year before the planned start of the programme. Individual degrees and degree programs are not accredited in Finland. We have auditing system. FINEEC (the Finnish Education Evaluation Centre) conducts audits of quality assurance systems of Higher Education Institutions. The approved FINEEC audit means that the university's quality system fulfils both the national quality management criteria set for higher education institutions and the relevant European standards and recommendations.

Qualification to be awarded for a joint programme. 
In the field of technology and engineering: Degree awarded: Master of Science (Technology)  

Do you have experience using the European approach for joint programmes?
NO. EIT Innoenergy is planning to start the procedure (situation Jan 2024)

National accreditation procedure - legal obstacles/challenges (new 15 Jan 2024)
In Finland, we do not have programme specific accreditation. We can use European Approach as external accreditation method for JPs but programmes are not accredited at national level as universities as audited. Due to “self-accrediting” status for their programmes, higher education institutions can employ the European Approach.

Comments for modifications /Updates
Checked 15.2.2024 EK

Is national accreditation required for a joint programme? 
Yes, both where the joint programme is set up as a stand-alone degree programme and where it is created as a study programme within an existing degree programme.

University policy for joint programme accreditation.
Integrate the new program in an existing accredited program, to avoid more bureaucracy 

Qualification to be awarded for a joint programme. 
Master  “mention X”(the name of the specialization has to be in a list pre-approved by the ministry 

Do you have experience using the European approach for joint programmes?
  No

National accreditation procedure - legal obstacles/challenges (new 15 Jan 2024)
The national body for accrediting a Master's programme is the HCERES, which publishes guidelines each year. Accreditation is granted for a period of five years and covers all areas such as: the purpose of the programme, its positioning in the academic context, its pedagogical management and quality assurance systems.

Comments for modifications /Updates
Checked 25/03/2024 ES

Is national accreditation required for a joint programme? 
No, KTH is entitled to set up new (joint) programmes within the areas of Engineering, science and some other fields. 

University policy for joint programme accreditation.
Internal process, where new joint programmes need approval from university management.

Qualification to be awarded for a joint programme. 
Teknologie Masterexamen/ Master of Science  

Do you have experience using the European approach for joint programmes? Updated info 2025
KTH is currently part of the European Approach process coordinated by UPC for the EIT programme SELECT.

National accreditation procedure - legal obstacles/challenges
Universities have the mandate for self-accreditation of joint programmes, as long as the subject area is established at the university. KTH can be a part of a consortium applying for accreditation via the European Approach, but it will not affect the accreditation status in Sweden. A consortium cannot submit an application to the Swedish Higher Education Authority for accreditation via the European Approach (legal hindrance).

Comments for modifications /Updates
Checked 09.05.2025/KaK

Is national accreditation required for a joint programme? 
Yes, in case the joint programme is established as an autonomous degree programme. If it is created as a curriculum within an existing degree programme, national accreditation is not required.  

University policy for joint programme accreditation.
Not yet available. However, in the framework of a recent reorganization of the administrative offices at POLITO, an internal working group on Joint Programmes was set up in February 2023. The group has analyzed the current internal process to implement JPs and the related obstacles, with the final objective of drawing up Guidelines on JPs at POLITO level to publish on the university website and share with the university community (professors and administrative staff), as a common reference tool. The work is currently ongoing with the aiming of creating a first draft within the end of 2023. In this process in spring 2023 POLITO has also run a few meetings with other Italian universities working on JPs to share experiences and good practices.

Qualification to be awarded for a joint programme. 
If a double/multiple degree is awarded: - Bachelor's degree: "Laurea" National Degree and double degree - Master's degree: “Laurea Magistrale” National Degree (Master of Science) and double degree  

Do you have experience using the European approach for joint programmes?
Not so far, European approach not yet available for Italian HEIs.

National accreditation procedure - legal obstacles/challenges (new 15 Jan 2024)
In Italy we need a specific initial accreditation for each new degree programme. Accreditation procedures are carried out by the Italian National Agency for the evaluation of Universities and Research Institutes (ANVUR). European Approach is not in force in Italy: in case a consortium submits an application for accreditation via the European Approach to an Agency of a country where the European Approach is in force, at the time being this will not automatically recognised in Italy and would require in any case an initial accreditation of the degree program carried out by ANVUR in addition to the European Approach accreditation.

Comments for modifications /Updates
Checked 11/04/2024/it.

Is national accreditation required for a joint programme? 
No. Due to the system accreditation, TU Darmstadt has the right to accredit all its study programmes (for autonomous programmes as well as optional double degree variants in existing degree programmes) itself by the Executive Board.

University policy for joint programme accreditation
We have defined processes internally to ensure the quality assurance  of optional double degree variants in existing degree programmes --> see process maps

At TU Darmstadt, degree programme quality assurance is conducted in the framework of the institutional evaluations.

 Core steps for the (continued) development of its degree programmes:

1. The academic committee and the Departmental Council elaborate ideas for the development of its degree programmes which are also evaluated by an external review board (evaluation committee). 
2. The external evaluation committee’s recommendations flow into concrete course development.
3. The degree programmes are approved by the Executive Board. 
4. In a dialogue-based process involving the Senate Committee on Teaching and the Senate, it is determined that the courses fulfil all the quality criteria. 
5. The Executive Board approves the degree programmes and initiates the final publication of the degree programme regulations.

Qualification to be awarded for a joint programme: 

• M.Sc.: Master of Science   
• M.A.: Master of Arts

Master of Science (M.Sc.) in the subject groups:

mathematics, natural sciences, medicine, agricultural, forestry and food sciences, in the subject groups engineering sciences and economic sciences with a corresponding content focus 

Master of Arts (M.A.) in the subject groups:

linguistic and cultural studies, sport, sport science, social sciences, science of art, performing arts and, with a corresponding content focus, in the subject groups economic sciences as well as in applied arts study programmes.

• In the case of interdisciplinary and combined study programmes, the qualification designation depends on the most important subject area on the study programme. 
• Subject additions to the qualification designations and mixed-language qualification designations are excluded.

more information [EN] --> § 6 (2), Specimen decree pursuant to Article 4, paragraphs 1 – 4 of the interstate study accreditation treaty 

more information [GER] --> § 6 (2), Studienakkreditierungsverordnung (StakV) 

Do you have experience using the European approach for joint programmes?
Used it only once so far by establishing the joint programme “M.Sc. Sustainable Urban Development” leading to a joint degree; the partner university is the Vietnamese-German University (VGU) in Ho Chi Minh City point  

National accreditation procedure - legal obstacles/challenges (new 15 Jan 2024)
It is possible to use the European approach, but only for joint programmes leading to a joint degree. Accreditation under national law is valid for a period of eight years and under the European approach for six years.

Comments for modifications /Updates
MB

Is national accreditation required for a joint programme? 
No, all study programmes (for autonomous new programmes and as part of existing curricula) have to be "accredited" by the Senate of the university.

University policy for joint programme accreditation.
Internal process: 1. Application to incorporate joint programme into Development Plan of university: a. Proposal for joint programme by committee of supporters to Committee for Development of Studies including statements by Dean of Faculty, Dean of Studies, Faculty Board of Senate, stakeholders at partner university. Committee for Development of Studies may ask for further information and/or assessment by experts. Discussion of proposal. Recommendation for (or against) incorporation into Development Plan. 2. Decision by Rectorate, University Board and Senate. 3. Development of curriculum. 4. Decision by Senate. 5. Signing of cooperation agreement. 6. Start of joint programme.

Qualification to be awarded for a joint programme. 
Dipl.-Ing. or DI (= Diplomingenieur*in) or MSc (Master of Science)

Do you have experience using the European approach for joint programmes?
No, we have not yet used the European approach. 

National accreditation procedure - legal obstacles/challenges (new 15 Jan 2024)
There is no mandatory national accreditation procedure, study programmes are "accredited" by the Senate. European Approach could be implemented.

Is national accreditation required for a joint programme? 
Yes.

University policy for joint programme accreditation.
IST For proposals awarding multiple (double) degrees: - Once initiated, the project shall be communicated to the International Area (NRI). - The project shall be hosted by a degree already accredited at IST. - The project must be validated with the academic coordinator(s) of the MSc degree related to the proposal (to avoid overlaps). - Before submission the project shall be delivered to academic area and International area and then needs to be validated by the Scientific council and Pedagogic council. For proposals awarding a Joint degree (requires joint accreditation): - Once initiated, the project shall be communicated to the International Area (NRI) and Academic Area. - Since a new degree will be created, all the procedures necessary to create a new degree shall be fulfilled: i) approval by the scientific council ii) approval by the pedagogical council iii) approval by the management Board iv) approval by the school council v) approval by the University Senate vi) submission, simultaneously by all partners in the respective national accreditation agency.

Qualification to be awarded for a joint programme. 
 IST Master in “mention X” (the name of the accredited degree) - For proposals awarding multiple (double) degrees, the project shall be hosted by a degree already accredited at IST. - For proposals awarding a Joint degree, joint accreditation is required .

Do you have experience using the European approach for joint programmes?
IST - No IST is now undergoing the first accreditation process of a joint programme adopting the European Approach to quality assurance for study cycles organized in association.

National accreditation procedure - legal obstacles/challenges (new 15 Jan 2024)
IST In Portugal all degree awarding programmes need accreditation from the national accreditation agency. Accreditation is granted for a period of six years. The European Approach to quality assurance for study cycles organized in association is being adopted since 2023. In cases where the evaluation of the study cycle is conducted by another European agency, the Portuguese agency will monitor the procedure through a collaboration protocol and verify the compliance of the documentation submitted on the platform with legal provisions. The slowness and temporal mismatch of the procedures may pose a challenge.

Comments for modifications /Updates
updated 10.05.2024 SS

Is national accreditation required for a joint programme? 
Yes, no differentiated track for joint international programs. It is possible to use the European Approach

University policy for joint programme accreditation.
#ERROR!

Qualification to be awarded for a joint programme. 
Master Universitario

Do you have experience using the European approach for joint programmes?
No

National accreditation procedure - legal obstacles/challenges (new 15 Jan 2024)
The Spanish accreditation procedure allows using the European Approach methodology for joint program accreditation. The challenge is to converge with all European partners to share this methodology.

Comments for modifications /Updates
checked 24.10.2023 GD checked 26.01.2024 GD

Is national accreditation required for a joint programme? 
No

University policy for joint programme accreditation.
Internal process, where new joint programmes needs approval from university management. New joint programme must comply with the requirements of the national law.

Qualification to be awarded for a joint programme. 
Magister/ Magister inżynier (Master level)

Do you have experience using the European approach for joint programmes?
3 Erasmus Mundus Joint Master programmes running currently, 1 proposal sent, 1 under preparation

National accreditation procedure - legal obstacles/challenges (new 15 Jan 2024)
Really enabling the accreditation of programs through the European Approach - clear guidelines, the Polish Accreditation Committee (PKA) should enable and facilitate the use of tools from the Bologna process - it would be suggested that the PKA develop a kind of "manual" or "guide".