Joint European Degree Label

The label can be awarded to programmes which offer

• Joint Bachelor's degrees, or level 6 according to the European Qualifications Framework (EQF)
• Joint Master's degrees (EQF level 7)
• Joint Doctoral degrees (EQF level 8)

The label was established by the Council Recommendation on a European quality assurance and recognition system in higher education (12 May 2025).

Purpose

The label aims to: 

• increase the visibility of high-quality joint programmes across Europe
• promote common European quality standards
• make joint programmes easier to understand and recognise
• support deeper cooperation between higher education institutions

The label is the first phase towards a possible future Joint European Degree that could be automatically recognised across the European Union.

Awarding bodies

Following a compliance assessment, the label is awarded at national level by

• quality assurance agencies, or
• self-accrediting higher education institutions

Eligibility

Higher education institutions can apply for the Joint European Degree Label for their programmes.

To be eligible, the programme must

• be offered by a consortium that includes at least two degree-awarding higher education institutions from at least two EU Member States
• lead to a joint degree awarded
• correspond to a nationally recognised degree type at EQF levels 6, 7 or 8 (Bachelor, Master, Doctorate)

Assessment criteria

To obtain the European Joint Degree Label, the programme must comply with a common set of European criteria.

The assessment covers two dimensions:

• “Dimension A – Programme organisation” covers the structural and quality assurance features that define a genuinely joint programme: the institutions involved, joint delivery and joint degree award, joint governance arrangements, etc.
• “Dimension B – European dimension” covers features such as: interdisciplinarity and research-based learning, employability and learning beyond academia, digitalisation, European values, multilingualism, inclusiveness and environmental sustainability

How to apply

Higher education institutions wishing to receive the joint European Degree label for their joint programmes should contact quality assurance agencies registered in the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) to learn about the conditions to apply.

When can institutions apply?

The Joint European Degree Label is being rolled out as of mid-2026.

Applications can be submitted at any stage of the degree programme’s lifecycle, either integrated with a regular quality assurance evaluation or as a standalone assessment.

How does the Commission support EU countries and the higher education sector?

The European Commission works with national and regional authorities on

• mapping persisting barriers for joint programmes and possible solutions
• exploring a possible joint European degree as a type of qualification

Policy lab

A policy lab developed a detailed methodology to roll out the joint European degree label and help evaluate its impact and added value. The policy lab brings together national experts and representatives of higher education institutions, quality assurance/accreditation agencies, students, and economic and social partners.

European Degree Forum

The annual event takes stock of progress and provides input, gathering representatives from EU countries, key organisations in quality assurance and recognition, and economic and social partners.

Revisit the 2025 edition of the European Degree Forum

Erasmus support

Erasmus+ support for

• European degree pathway projects enabling EU countries, together with their accreditation and quality assurance agencies, universities, students, economic and social partners, to implement a joint European degree label and explore the possibility of a joint European degree in their national context
• European degree exploratory actions to enable higher education institutions to adapt existing joint programmes or to create new ones leading to a joint European degree label and support their students