Academic Recognition Procedures

Academic recognition is normally done by the higher education institutions when a person wishes to continue or to begin studying or to use an academic title after studies undertaken abroad. It might include prior learning and professional experience and periods of study as well as full degrees.

Academic recognition can also be used by applicants before seeking employment in professions that are not regulated and is to be distinguished from recognition for professional purposes (when a person wishes to work in a regulated profession).

Information provision is a core theme of the Lisbon Recognition Convention and higher education institutions are asked to provide clear and transparent information about their procedures and criteria for the assessment of foreign qualifications and periods of study, to applicants and graduates.

A practical guide for higher education institutions has been developed within the TPG-LRC Erasmus+ project (2018-2021) to promote the implementation of procedures compliant with the Lisbon Recognition Convention. It is addressed to admission and international relations officers and staff in charge of information management at HEIs, in order to provide information in line with the provisions in the LRC.

Provision of information about recognition is also covered by Standards 1.4 and 1.8 of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).

Further information:

European Recognition Manual for HEIs (third edition, February 2020) is a practical tool developed within the AR-Net Erasmus+ project (2018-2020) for how to apply the principles of the Lisbon Recognition Convention in daily recognition work.