EU education ministers have agreed to roll out a joint European degree label, an additional certificate to be awarded to students who undertake joint degree programmes meeting certain criteria, as a potential first step towards creating a new type of European degree.
During a meeting on May 12, the Council proposed a roadmap in three phases, beginning with finalising preparations for the joint European degree label to be launched in 2026. The following two years would be spent evaluating the label and exploring the feasibility of a fully-fledged degree. Based on this evidence, member states propose taking a decision in 2029 on whether to introduce the full degree.
The Council also adopted a recommendation setting out the criteria for awarding the joint European degree label, which would be open to programmes delivered by universities from different countries including at least two EU member states.