Joint programme terminology definitions
The following definitions are reproduced from the Guidelines for Good Practice for Awarding Joint Degrees The Joint programme terminology-page offers a more extensive explanation of how the definitions are substantiated.
- Any degree, diploma or other certificate issued by a competent authority attesting the successful completion of a higher education programme.
- An integrated curriculum coordinated and offered jointly by different higher education institutions and leading to a (double/multiple or joint) degree.
- A single document awarded by higher education institutions offering the joint programme and nationally acknowledged as the recognised award of the joint programme.
- Separate degrees awarded by higher education institutions offering the joint programme attesting the successful completion of this programme.
- Two degrees awarded by higher education institutions offering the joint programme attesting the successful completion of this programme.
- → A double degree is a specific type of multiple degree
- Two degrees awarded individually, attesting the successful completion of two separate curricula, with potential overlap and efficiencies in course-taking, and, if more than one institution is involved, each institution is primarily responsible for its own degree.
- → A dual degree is not awarded for a joint programme
- A higher education institution issuing qualifications, i.e. degrees, diplomas or other certificates. In the case of joint degrees, an awarding institution is one of the two or more institutions involved in conferring the joint degree thus formally recognising the achievements of a student enrolled in the joint programme.
(Joint programme) consortium
- A group of two or more higher education institutions and potentially other contributors (e.g. research centres) with the objective of integrating teaching and learning activities for providing a joint programme; although not all participants necessarily award a (joint) degree.
The concept joint degree programme is misleading. Is a joint degree programme a degree programme offered jointly or a (joint) programme which awards a joint degree? In all its official publications, the Bologna Process now consistently refers to joint programmes and not to joint degree programmes.
- Aerden, A., Reczulska, H., 2013. Guidelines for Good Practice for Awarding Joint Degrees. ECA Occasional Paper. The Hague.