Accreditation

2.2. Joint programme :  The European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes defines a ‘joint programme’ as ‘an integrated curriculum coordinated and offered jointly by different higher education institutions from EHEA countries, and leading to double/multiple degrees or a joint degree’. (source: definition on EQAR website). This is the most official definition of a joint programme, although clearly a joint programme can be offered by institutions from different countries, whether or not (some of) these institutions are located within or outside of the EHEA.

2.3. Jointness of a programme : ‘Jointness’ of a programme refers to the extent to which the programme has been developed jointly by all partners involved, and the level of programme integration between the partner institutions, including curriculum, quality assurance, marketing, selection and admissions, management, quality assurance, exam regulations, and funding.

2.4 Joint degree : The European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes defines a ‘joint degree’ as ‘a single document awarded by higher education institutions offering the joint programme and nationally acknowledged as the recognised award of the joint programme’. (source: definition on EQAR website)
However, it is important to note that a ‘degree’ is an award, not the document (the diploma) providing evidence of having obtained the degree. It is possible to issue a joint degree, as evidenced by issuing separate documents (the diplomas).

2.5. Double / multiple degrees : The European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes defines ‘double or multiple degrees’ as ‘separate degrees awarded by higher education institutions offering the joint programme attesting the successful completion of this programme (if two degrees are awarded by two institutions, this is a ‘double degree’)’. (source: definition on EQAR website)

2.7. Joint diploma : In this guide, a ‘joint diploma’ refers to ‘a document issued on successful completion of the programme, indicating that the degree holder has obtained the degree’.

2.8. Joint qualification :  ECA defines a ‘qualification’ as ‘the formal outcome of an assessment and validation process which is obtained when a competent body determines that an individual has achieved learning outcomes to given standards’. ECA definition In this guide, a ‘joint qualification’ refers to ‘one single qualification that a joint programme may lead to’. In this case, the degree-awarding universities issue a joint/double/multiple degree leading to the same qualification (e.g. bachelor of arts, bachelor of science, master of arts, master of science, master in laws, PhD).  Note that a joint programme can also lead to one joint degree and two different qualifications. One example is the joint programme European Master in Law and Economics (EMLE), that leads to one joint master degree, where several degree-awarding universities (at the moment: four) issue a joint degree with the qualification ‘LLM European Master in Law and Economics’, while the other partner-universities (at the moment: six) award separate degrees with different qualifications, including ‘Master of Science’ and ‘Master of Arts’.