Accreditation system

The German accreditation system provides for three different types of procedures:

  1. the programme accreditation
  2. the system accreditation and
  3. alternative procedures.

The programme and system accreditation procedures are characterised by a two-stage procedure:

The assessment and preparation of an accreditation report with recommendations for resolutions and assessments in accordance with the standards laid down in the Specimen decree is organised by an agency commissioned by the higher education institution. The responsibility for the accreditation decision, however, lies with the Accreditation Council. At the request of the higher education institution, the Accreditation Council decides on the accreditation of a study programme or the internal quality management system of the higher education institution. The decision is made on the basis of the accreditation report, whereby a justified deviation from the expert recommendation is possible.

The legal foundation of the accreditation system is formed by the Interstate study accreditation treaty, the Specimen Decree, the Accreditation Council Act and the scale of fees of the German Accreditation Council.