Glossary
A
- Accreditation
- Accreditation is the act of granting credit or recognition (especially with respect to an educational institution that maintains suitable standards).
B
- Bachelor's
- Bachelor’s is the first or lowest degree in the liberal arts, or in some branch of science, at a college or university.
- Binary system
- Binary system is one that has higher education taught in two different types of institution, traditional (academic) universities alongside more vocationally-oriented institutions.
- Bologna Process
- Bologna Process refers to the reforms set in motion by the Bologna declaration of 1999 with an aim to make European Higher Education more compatible and comparable, more competitive and more attractive for Europeans and for students and scholars from other continents. It aims to create a European Higher Education Area (EHEA) by 2010.
C
- Central Europe
- A term generally used to define the region comprising the following countries: Austria, Czech Republic, Germany, Hungary, Liechtenstein, Poland, Slovakia, Slovenia and Switzerland.
- Certificate
- An official document received at the end of specific education or after passing a test. In some European countries it is used to name an actual award: sometimes it relates to a qualification in secondary education, sometimes in higher education. In higher education, the postgraduate certificate is taken after the Bachelor’s degree and is more vocationally-oriented than the Master’s degree.
- Credits (60/120/180)
Based on the Bologna reforms, these credits are intended as criteria for standardising the student's workload during a full-time study programme in Europe. Usually, one academic year is considered equivalent to 60 credits. For more information, visit: Europa Portal/ects
D
- Degree
- Equivalent of a diploma. It is a certificate conferred by institutions of higher education at several levels for successfully-completed courses of study.
- Diploma
- Qualification obtained from a university, or a comparable institution, that testifies to the successful completion of a course of study, conferring an academic degree.
- Diploma Supplement (DS)
- Diploma Supplement (DS) is a document attached to a higher education diploma, which aims to improve international transparency and facilitate academic and professional recognition of qualifications (diplomas, degrees, certificates, etc.).
E
- Eastern Europe
- A geopolitical concept that has had many different definitions over the years. Non-EU countries covered by the current United Nations definition include: Belarus, Moldova, Russia (a transcontinental country) and Ukraine.
- ECTS (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System)
- ECTS is a student-centred system based on the workload required to achieve the objectives of a programme, objectives preferably specified in terms of the learning outcomes and competences to be acquired. For more information, visit: Europa Portal/ects
- European Commission (EC)
A politically independent collegial institution which prepares and then implements the legislative instruments adopted by the Council and the European Parliament in connection with European Community policies. The Commission is also responsible for managing Community programmes and for ensuring that European law is applied. For more information, visit:
The European Commission Portal- European Economic Area (EEA)
- Created in 1994 by an agreement between three Member States of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), the European Community (EC), and all Member States of the European Union (EU). It allows the EFTA states - Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway - to participate in the European Single Market together with the 27 EU Member States without having to join the EU. The EFTA countries participate in all EU education and training programmes.
- European Free Trade Association (EFTA)
- Created in 1960 as an alternative for all the European states that were not allowed, or did not wish, to join the European Community. The EFTA Convention was initially signed by seven countries. Today only Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland remain members of EFTA. These countries, with the exception of Switzerland, signed the EEA Agreement that allows them to participate in the European Single Market. Switzerland is engaged in bilateral agreements with the EU.
- European Union (EU)
- A political and economic entity of twenty-seven independent sovereign countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom. For more information, visit: The European Commission Portal
- Eurydice
An information network for education in Europe. For more information, visit:
The Eurydice Portal
F
- Final qualification
- Final qualification is the qualification obtained on completion of a full course (with or without a final examination), which provides access to the employment market.
H
- Higher education institutions
- Higher education institutions are institutions that provide post-secondary school higher education (be it short courses, diplomas, degree programmes or vocational or professional training). They are usually categorised by their funding: public institutions, government-dependent private institutions, and state-recognised private institutions.
I
- International Standard Classification of Education (ISCED)
- The ISCED offers a set of criteria suitable for compiling statistics on education internationally. ISCED 5 refers to the first stage of tertiary education (Bachelor's and Master's) and ISCED 6 refers to the second stage (advanced research for a doctorate).
J
- Joint degree
- Joint degree is a degree issued jointly by at least two or more higher education institutions, or jointly by one or more higher education institutions and other awarding bodies, on the basis of a study programme developed and/or provided jointly by the higher education institutions concerned.
L
- Lisbon Agenda
- The new EU economic and social strategy set out by the European Council in Lisbon in March 2000. Education and vocational training are considered as one of the most important driving forces leading this process. For more information, visit: Europa Portal/Lisbon Strategy
- LMD (or L-M-D)
- LMD (or L-M-D) is the acronym given to the three-cycle system. The name is derived from the French Licence-Master-Doctorat.
- Long Cycle
- Long Cycle refers to courses that last many years, usually integrating both the first and second levels of higher education qualification (the graduation certificate is equivalent to a Master's).
M
- Master's
- Master's is an academic degree conferred by a college or university upon those who complete at least one year of prescribed study beyond the Bachelor's degree.
N
- Nordic countries
This term covers the countries of Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden in Northern Europe. These Nations are considered to constitute a Region because of their common history and certain cultural traits such as their political systems.
P
- PhD
- PhD (Doctorate) is usually based on at least three years of graduate study and a dissertation; it is the highest degree awarded for graduate study.
- Polytechnic education
- This term refers to specialisation in technology. It refers both to higher education and to vocational education.
Q
- Quality assurance
- Quality assurance is an all-embracing term referring to an ongoing, continuous process of evaluating (assessing, monitoring, guaranteeing, maintaining and improving) the quality of a higher education system, institution or programme.
R
- Residence permit
- Is the required document for legally staying in a foreign state for a long-term period. Special rules apply for citizens of different European countries (EEA/EFTA Member States or EU Member States).
S
- Schengen
Schengen is short for the Schengen Convention, named after the small town in Luxembourg where it was signed. Schengen allows freedom of movement for all citizens of the signatory EU Member States, other EU Member States or specified third countries. Signed on 14 June 1985 by Belgium, France, Germany, Luxembourg and the Netherlands, it has been extended over time to cover: Austria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Ireland and the United Kingdom have maintained their border controls, even if they have partly joined Schengen. For more information, visit:
The Europa Portal/Schengen Agreement
T
- Tertiary education
- Tertiary education is study beyond the level of secondary education.
- Tertiary education
- Tertiary education is study beyond the level of secondary education.
- Three-cycle system
- Three-cycle system refers to the three levels of higher education, Bachelor's, Master's, PhD (see "L-M-D").
V
- Vocational education
- Also known as career and technical education (CTE), this term covers studies linked to careers or non-academic occupations, based more on manual or practical activities. It is usually undertaken at secondary or post-secondary level. In some cases, it can now be recognised as credits for tertiary education.
