EHEA Website Archive

Qualifications Frameworks / Three-Cycle System 2007-2009

Qualifications Frameworks / Three-Cycle System

Qualifications frameworks describe the qualifications of an education system and how they interlink.
National qualifications frameworks describe what learners should know, understand and be able to do on the basis of a given qualification as well as how learners can move from one qualification to another within a system.

National qualifications frameworks are developed to be compatible with the overarching framework of qualifications of the European Higher Education Area, which was adopted in 2005 and consists of three cycles (e.g. bachelor, master, doctorate). The overarching framework makes recognition of qualifications easier since specific qualifications can be related to a common framework.

The framework of qualifications for the European Higher Education Area - May 2005

For more details read the 2005 background report and visit the section about qualifications frameworks in the European Higher Education Area in 2007-2009. This section contains important information on qualifications frameworks, which have become an essential instrument in developing the European Higher Education Area, and provides updates on relevant events and developments at European, regional or national level.

A Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area 2005

For more information on the third cycle, read our section on doctoral education in 2007-2009.

Qualifications Frameworks in the EHEA

Report on Qualifications Frameworks 2009

Bologna Activites

Coordination Group

A Coordination Group was formed, with the Council of Europe providing Chair and secretariat.

The Council of Europe also encouraged regional cooperation in South East Europe and in New Independent States. In South East Europe a regional network on qualifications frameworks has been established.

The Coordination Group signalled that implementation of national qualifications frameworks demands a lot of efforts at national level and proposes that self-certifications of the national qualifications frameworks against the overarching Qualifications Framework for the European Higher Education Area should be completed or prepared by 2012.

Bologna Seminars

Article
Content for Bologna Expert
17/06/2016
Qualifications Frameworks in the EHEA - 2009

This section has been developed in 2009 by the Council of Europe, the Bologna Secretariat and the Coordination Group on Qualifications Frameworks to provide important...

Article
Content for Bologna Expert
20/10/2016
Overarching framework of qualifications of the EHEA - 2009

The overarching framework of qualifications of the European Higher Education Area (EHEA Framework or QF-EHEA) was adopted by the Ministers of Education of the Bologna...

Article
Content for Bologna Expert
20/10/2016
National Qualifications Frameworks - 2009

All countries of the European Higher Education Area have committed to developing national qualifications frameworks compatible with the overarching framework of the...

Article
Content for Bologna Expert
20/10/2016
Bibliography on Qualifications frameworks - 2009

This section seeks to present an overview of web sites, articles and publications that are relevant to qualifications frameworks (updated in 2009). Where possible,...

Article
Content for Bologna Expert
20/10/2016
CG Qualifications frameworks 2007-2009

The Bologna Coordination Group for Qualifications Frameworks is established under the authority of the Bologna Follow Up Group to assist and advice the Council of...

Article
Content for Bologna Expert
17/06/2016
Glossary on Qualifications frameworks - 2005

This glossary was contained in the report of the Bologna working group on qualifications frameworks submitted to and accepted by the 2005 Bergen Ministerial meeting.