Germany

Governmental membership

Germany has been a Governmental Member of EQAR since February 2008.

General information on higher education

The tertiary education sector in Germany includes universities and equivalent institutions of higher education (Technische Hochschulen/Technische Universitäten, Pädagogische Hochschulen, theological colleges) Fachhochschulen (universities of applied sciences) and colleges of art and music.

A number of establishments outside the formal higher education systems are offering equivalent higher education degrees: higher education offered by the Federal Armed Forces; Verwaltungsfachhochschulen offered by Länders and Berufsakademie where professional academies combine academic training with practical professional training.

The legal basis of higher education in Germany is covered by the general Higher Education Act, by the legislation on higher education of the Länders (Hochschulgesetze), as well as the legislation regarding colleges of art and music and the legislation of Fachhochschulen of the Länders.

National external quality assurance requirements

A new legal basis has been established for the accreditation system in Germany, following the resolution of the Federal Constitutional Court on 17.02.2016

System Accreditation
is optional, and enables the institution to self-accredit its study programmes. The accreditation is limited in time for a period of eight years.
Programme Accreditation
applies for Bachelor and Master degree programs of state or state-recognized universities in Germany. The accreditation is obligatory unless the institution has a valid system accreditation.

Cross-border quality assurance

In Germany higher education institutions may choose a suitable EQAR-registered agency.

Eligibility requirements for foreign agencies: Admission by the German Accreditation Council (GAC) is based on 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: Applications for program and system accreditation must be addressed to the German Accreditation Council.

European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes

In Germany the European Approach is available to higher education institutions under certain conditions.

All German higher education institutions can opt for programme accreditation of joint degrees by an EQAR-registered agency using the European Approach, however not for joint programmes leading to double or multiple degrees.

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https://data.deqar.eu/country/64

Further information

Registered agencies operating in Germany