Joint European Degree Label: A Certificate of Quality for Joint Study Programmes and a Pathway Towards a European Degree?

The last EduCafé of 2026 focused on implementing the Joint European Degree Label and the potential future development.

On Tuesday, 6 October, we hosted our traditional informal discussion evening, EduCafé. This time, the discussion focused on the Joint European Degree Label. We organised the event with the Brussels office of the Norwegian Directorate for Higher Education and Skills (HK-dir), part of NorCore. The event has been recorded, and you can watch the recording on our YouTube channel.

The speakers were Yann-Maël Bideau, representing the European Commission’s Directorate-General for Education, Youth, Sport and Culture (DG EAC); Aleksandar Šušnjar, Director of the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR); and Radka Kubalová from Silesian University in Opava, where she is also involved in the Curriculum Lab within the European University Alliance STARS EU.

What is the current state of the Joint European Degree Label and the vision for its future?

At the beginning of the discussion, Yann-Maël Bideau recalled that in 2025 the Council of the European Union approved the establishment of the Joint European Degree Label and set the implementation period for 2026–2028. During this period, its added value and impact will be evaluated so that, in 2029, the Council can decide whether to enable the introduction of a Joint European Degree itself, which would also entail the award of a joint academic qualification (academic title). This summer, the European Commission published the Operational guide to the Joint European Degree Label, which provides a more detailed description of how to meet the common criteria required for a study programme to be awarded the label. In July, the first two joint study programmes received the Joint European Degree Label, and national accreditation agencies are gradually adapting their processes so that they can award it.

The European Commission is therefore currently supporting national authorities in implementing the label, for example by providing staff training. At the same time, it is offering financial support to higher education institutions interested in obtaining the label. Bideau emphasised that more than 120 joint study programmes would emerge from the 2025 call and apply for the label. He also stressed that any joint study programme meeting the criteria can apply, regardless of whether it is funded through the Erasmus+ programme.

Bideau further explained that the European Commission’s vision is to continue moving towards a fully fledged European Degree, and therefore a joint academic qualification, which would constitute a new category of higher education qualification within the national legal frameworks of EU Member States or European Economic Area (EEA) countries, existing alongside national qualifications.

What is the level of interest in the label in the field of quality assurance, and what role does EQAR play?

Aleksandar Šušnjar recalled that the role of the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education (EQAR) is to monitor quality assurance agencies and ensure that they comply with the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance. EQAR therefore provides a second level of oversight. It is still too early to provide specific figures and data on agencies’ interest in the label, as the guide was published only in June. However, in terms of emerging trends, EQAR has observed interest in the label among agencies listed in its register. Šušnjar pointed out that assessing compliance with the label’s criteria and awarding it represents additional work for agencies beyond their usual responsibilities, such as accreditation and reaccreditation. Agencies must also adapt their procedures in line with the guide, making implementation a gradual process.

In the near future, EQAR will publish two important lists on its website to support the successful implementation of the label: a list of quality assurance agencies offering assessments for the award of the label, and a list of study programmes that have received the Joint European Degree Label. Šušnjar noted that consortia will not be required to apply to a quality assurance agency based in one of the countries represented by their partners. They will also be able to approach agencies in other eligible countries within the EU or EEA.

Why are higher education institutions interested in the label, and how can it be better promoted to students and employers?

Drawing on the example of Silesian University in Opava, Radka Kubalová outlined the potential added value of the Joint European Degree Label for higher education institutions, particularly smaller regional institutions. This value is linked both to the very nature of joint study programmes and to the label as a guarantee of high quality. Kubalová emphasised that one of the main motivations for higher education institutions to develop joint study programmes is that, in certain disciplines or fields, they cannot rely solely on the expertise and capacity available within their own institution. Teaching within a consortium is therefore built on the complementarity of the participating institutions and their specialised expertise. The label can enhance an institution’s visibility and confirm that the study programme it has developed is of high quality. It can also bring a stronger international perspective and attract more international students both to the institution and to the wider region.

Bideau and Kubalová agreed that students are primarily interested in the opportunities a programme offers, whereas employers focus on its outcomes. It is therefore important to explain to students that the programme’s greatest strength lies in its uniqueness: it is delivered by different higher education institutions, each contributing its own expertise. They stressed the need for greater promotion and dissemination among students and employers. Students should be encouraged to explore the curriculum offered by these programmes, while employers should understand the competencies and skills graduates have acquired, including the projects they have worked on in international teams.

Is a Joint European Degree and a joint academic qualification a realistic goal?

Since the European Commission’s role in the field of education is primarily supportive, exercised through non-binding recommendations, competence remains entirely with the Member States. The discussion therefore also raised the question of whether introducing a fully fledged European Degree, including a joint academic qualification, is achievable under these conditions, given that it would require legislative changes in individual countries.

Bideau and Šušnjar shared an optimistic view and cited several examples from the past in which countries had successfully introduced more complex processes or initiatives, particularly within the Bologna Process, such as the introduction of the European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) and the European Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance (ESG). They also referred to the creation of the Erasmus+ programme, which initially faced reservations from some Member States.

They agreed that a bottom-up approach and the motivation of individual national stakeholders would be crucial to the successful introduction of a Joint European Degree. These stakeholders would be the driving force behind stronger cooperation. Without their involvement, the initiative would not be implemented, as the European Commission can issue recommendations but cannot impose regulation in this area. Bideau also emphasised that even if the Member States approved a Joint European Degree in the Council of the EU, countries that were not interested in it would not be obliged to implement it, since documents adopted by the Council in the field of education are not legally binding.

Current and future European Commission support for joint study programmes through Erasmus+

At the end of the discussion, Bideau summarised the opportunities for financial support that the European Commission currently provides or plans to provide for joint study programmes and the implementation of the Joint European Degree Label. This year, the Commission will launch another call for higher education institutions wishing to develop new joint study programmes or adapt existing ones and apply for the Joint European Degree Label. The grant can also be used to support students, for example through scholarships or reduced tuition fees. The Commission expects to launch the call in November, with a budget of EUR 14 million. The same type of call is planned for the following year.

In the next Erasmus+ programming period, starting in 2028, the European Commission plans to introduce a new type of project: Joint Study Programmes. These projects will provide financial support for joint study programmes at bachelor’s and master’s levels. The Commission does not plan to introduce any specific projects dedicated to the Joint European Degree Label, partly because it must respect the Council of the EU’s decision concerning the possible introduction of a Joint European Degree in 2029. Erasmus Mundus scholarships are expected to be limited to master’s students. This is because attracting talented students from around the world already at the beginning of their undergraduate studies is more challenging, particularly in the context of the available budget. Finally, during the discussion with the audience, Bideau mentioned that the European Commission’s new Skills Portability Initiative could also be relevant for consortia seeking to award a joint degree.

If you are interested in the Joint European Degree and its label, watch the recording of the event on our YouTube channel.