Accréditations

Higher Education System in Luxembourg

Higher education in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg is primarily gouverned by two laws:

• the amended Law of 27 June 2018 on the organisation of the University of Luxembourg (loi modifiée du 27 juin 2018 ayant pour objet l’organisation de l’Université du Luxembourg)
• the Law of 21 July 2023 on the organisation of higher education (loi du 21 juillet 2023 ayant pour objet l’organisation de l’enseignement supérieur)

The University of Luxembourg was founded by law in 2003 and has ever since been the only public university in Luxembourg. The amended Law of 27 June 2018 has replaced the founding law of 12 August 2003.

The Law of 21 July 2023, which replaced the amended law of 19 June 2009 regarding the organisation of higher education, defines the scope of higher education in Luxembourg. It provides the legal basis for the development and accreditation of short cycle programmes and also lays down the legislative framework for the accreditation of specialised higher education institutions in the Grand Duchy.

The higher education system in Luxembourg is aligned with the structure provided by the Bologna Process and comprises the short cycle (BTS), the first cycle (bachelor), the second cycle (master) and the third cycle (PhD and Specialised Studies Diploma in Medicine).

Short cycle: BTS

This cycle consists of programmes leading to the "brevet de technicien supérieur" (BTS).

The professionally oriented qualification “brevet de technicien supérieur” is awarded upon successful completion of a study programme accredited by the ministry of Research and Higher Eductation and corresponding to a specialisation with a professional purpose. The general access requirement to studies leading to the BTS is a Luxembourgish secondary school leaving qualification. Recognised equivalent foreign qualifications may also be accepted. Admission to a BTS programme may be based on course specific requirements. BTS programmes are offered by Luxembourgish secondary schools (lycées) and include internships. The programmes are organised in modules, each lasting one semester, which correspond to a certain number of ECTS credits. The studies last typically 2 years. The short cycle diploma is awarded to students who have gained all the ECTS credits allocated to the programme (with a minimum of 120 ECTS credits) and have satisfied all curricular requirements.

Elements of BTS training may be recognised for further studies in a Bachelor’s programme within the same or a related field. Decisions regarding the validation of prior learning outcomes are solely determined by the institution offering the relevant Bachelor’s programme.

• The short cycle corresponds to Level 5 of the Luxembourg Qualifications Framework (Level 5 EQF).

First cycle: Bachelor

The first cycle consists of study programmes leading to a Bachelor’s degree.

Bachelor programmes provide students with an adequate command of general scientific methods and contents as well as with specific professional skills. The general access requirement for Bachelor’s studies is a Luxembourgish secondary school leaving qualification. Recognised equivalent foreign qualifications may also be accepted. Admission to a Bachelor’s programme may be based on course specific requirements. The studies last 3 or 4 years, according to the programme.

The Bachelor’s degree is awarded to students who have gained 180 or 240 ECTS credits respectively and have satisfied all curricular requirements, including the production of a final written paper or equivalent final project.

A Bachelor’s degree gives access to Master programmes. 

• The first cycle corresponds to Level 6 of the Luxembourg Qualifications Framework (Level 6 EQF).

Second cycle: Master

The second cycle consists of study programmes leading to a Master’s degree.

Master programmes provide education at an advanced level for the exercise of highly qualified activities in specific areas. Access to studies is by a Bachelor’s degree or another degree corresponding to Level 6 of the Luxembourg Qualifications Framework. Admission to a Master’s programme is based on course specific requirements determined by the higher education institution. The studies last 1 to 3 years, according to the programme.

The Master’s degree is awarded after completing a study programme of at least 60 and maximum 180 ECTS credits at the given education level, provided that the student has gained at least 300 ECTS credits in total, Bachelor’s degree included. The Master’s degree is awarded to students who have satisfied all curricular requirements, including the production and defence of an original dissertation.  

A Master’s degree gives access to the Doctorat (PhD programmes).

• The second cycle corresponds to Level 7 of the Luxembourg Qualifications Framework (Level 7 EQF)

Third cycle: PhD and Specialised Studies Diplomas in Medicine

This cycle consists of the Doctorat (PhD) and the Specialised Studies Diplomas in Medicine (diplôme d'études spécialisées en médecine) leading to the degree of Doctor in Medicine.

The PhD students enrolled in programmes leading to a doctoral degree acquire methodologies for advanced scientific research, are trained in new technologies and work in research laboratories, if appropriate.

Access is by a Master’s degree or another degree corresponding to Level 7 of the Luxembourg Qualification Framework. The doctoral studies at the University of Luxembourg last at least 3 years and include the completion and defense of an original research project and a thesis, as well as the participation in courses that are part of the relevant study programme and focus on acquiring methodological and interdisciplinary skills.

The University of Luxembourg also offers specialised medical studies in the fields of general medicine, medical oncology and neurology, which are compliant with the provisions of articles 24 and 28 of the directive 2005/36/EC and are listed in its annexes 5.1.3. and 5.1.4.. These studies lead to the diplôme d’études spécialisées en médecine and the concurrent awarding of the academic degree of Doctor in Medicine. Access to these specialised studies is reserved for candidates holding a basic medical training compliant with the provisions of article 24 of the directive 2005/36/EC. The duration of these studies ranges from 8 to 10 semesters, depending on the discipline. They include at least two semesters of research activities and the submission of a thesis.

• The third cycle corresponds to Level 8 of the Luxembourg Qualifications Framework (Level 8 EQF).

Protection of designations and titles

Articles 65 to 67 of the law of 21 July 2023 encompass provisions aimed at protecting both designations such as "university", "specialised higher education institution", "university professor/specialised higher education professor", as well as the names of titles and degrees conferred upon completion of programmes leading to officially recognised degrees in Luxembourg’s higher education system. 

External quality assurance

The Grand Duchy of Luxembourg does not have a national quality assurance agency. The ministry of Research and Higher Eductation has recourse to foreign agencies and experts.

According to the amended Law of 27 June 2018, the University of Luxembourg is subject to external evaluation every four years. The Minister of Research and Higher Eductation commissions a foreign agency to perform an evaluation reviewing the institution, its research as well as its learning and teaching activities, whereas the institutional level is an integral part of the evaluation and the other areas are being reviewed alternately.

The study programmes leading to Bachelor’s, Master’s, PhD’s, as well as Doctor of Medicine degrees, offered by the University of Luxembourg, are automatically recognised by law as leading to national higher education diplomas.

The Law of 21 July 2023 on the organisation of higher education provides for external quality assurance and accreditation procedure for short cycle programmes offered by secondary schools leading to the BTS, as well as for specialised higher education institutions and their study programmes leading to Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees.

In order to obtain ministerial accreditation, short cycle study programmes (BTS) as well as specialised higher education institutions and their programmes are evaluated by the Dutch-Flemish accreditation agency NVAO (Nederlands-Vlaamse Accreditatieorganisatie), which is registered with EQAR (the European Quality Assurance Register for Higher Education) and holds affiliate membership with ENQA (European Association for Quality Assurance in Higher Education).

By engaging with this agency, Luxembourg reinforces its commitment to the path of internationalising quality control, as increasingly demanded by the European Higher Education Area (cross-border quality assurance).

Based on the evaluation report, the minister makes one of the following decisions: accreditation, refusal of accreditation or conditional accreditation (only possible in the case of a request for reaccreditation).

In both cases (regarding short cycle programmes as well as specialised higher education institutions and their programmes), if the decision is positive, the accreditation is valid for 5 years.

Accreditation of study programmes leading to the BTS (brevet de technicien supérieur)

The evaluation of study programmes leading to the BTS (brevet de technicien supérieur) was established by the amended law of 19 June 2009. This law has been replaced by the law of 21 July 2023 concerning the organisation of higher education.

This evaluation constitutes a crucial step in the process of ministerial accreditation, granting the diploma associated with the programme the status of national higher education degree.

As mentioned above, the evaluation for the accreditation is carried out by the quality assurance agency NVAO.

It should be noted that the secondary school is responsible for internal quality assurance.

Accreditation procedure

The accreditation procedure consists of two main phases: 

1.  
   • Announcement of a secondary school’s intention to submit a dossier in the accreditation procedure;
   • Admissibility phase:
     This involves the submission of an application and admissibility dossier by the secondary school and results in a ministerial decision (approval or refusal) based on the recommendation of an admissibility committee (commission de recevabilité) appointed by the minister. This committee includes representatives from national public and private stakeholders, as well as an international expert, who can provide the expertise and field knowledge necessary to review the application and verify compliance with admissibility criteria. 
2.  
   • Accreditation phase:
     This involves the submission of an accreditation dossier by the secondary school, followed by an evaluation conducted by NVAO. This assessment is guided by the accreditation criteria outlined in the law. It includes an on-site visit by a panel comprising experts in the relevant fields of the programme undergoing accreditation. NVAO finalises the evaluation by providing an evaluation report, which serves as the groundwork for the ministerial accreditation decision.   
   •  Ministerial decision:
     In the case of an initial accreditation request, the minister makes one of the following decisions:
     • Accreditation of the study programme;
     • Refusal of accreditation of the study programme.
   • In the case of a reaccreditation request, the minister makes one of the following decisions:
     • Accreditation of the study programme;
     • Conditional reaccreditation of the study programme;
     • Refusal of accreditation of the study programme.décision ministérielle:
   • If the decision is positive, the accreditation is valid for a duration of 5 years.
   • Only accredited study programmes are officially recognised as leading to national higher education diplomas.

Accreditation of specialised higher education institutions and their study programmes (Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees)

For a higher education degree issued in the territory of Luxembourg by a higher education provider to be recognised as a Luxembourg higher education degree, the diploma must have been awarded by a specialised higher education institution accredited in the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg, upon completion of an accredited study programme in Luxembourg (joint accreditation).

The law of 21 July 2023 which pertains to the organisation of higher education, outlines the procedure and steps for accreditation, as well as the assessment criteria upon which the accreditation process for specialised higher education institutions and their study programmes leading to Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees is founded.

As mentioned above, the evaluation for the accreditation is carried out by the quality assurance agency NVAO.

NVAO independently conducts the evaluation of the relevant programmes.

It should be noted that the specialised higher education institution is responsible for internal quality assurance. 

Accreditation procedure

The accreditation procedure consists of two main phases: 

1. 
   
   • Announcement of the specialised higher education institution’s intention to submit a dossier for the accreditation procedure; 
   • Admissibility phase: 
     This involves the submission of an application and admissibility dossier by the specialised higher education institution, resulting in a ministerial decision (approval or refusal) based on the recommendations of an admissibility committee (commission de recevabilité) appointed by the minister. This committee includes representatives from both national public and private stakeholders, as well as an international expert, who can provide the expertise and field knowledge necessary to review the application and verify compliance with admissibility criteria. 
2. 
   
   • Accreditation phase: 
     This involves the submission of an accreditation dossier by the specialised higher education institution, followed by an evaluation conducted by NVAO. This assessment is guided by the accreditation criteria outlined in the law. It includes an on-site visit by a panel comprising experts in the relevant fields of the programme undergoing accreditation. NVAO finalises the evaluation by providing an evaluation report, which serves as the groundwork for the ministerial accreditation decision.   
   • Ministerial decision:

     In the case of an initial accreditation request, the minister makes one of the following decisions:

     • Accreditation of the study programme;
     • Refusal of accreditation of the study programme.

     In the case of a reaccreditation request, the minister makes one of the following decisions:

     • Reaccreditation of the study programme;
     • Conditional reaccreditation of the study programme;
     • Refusal of reaccreditation of the study programme.
   • If the decision is positive, the accreditation is valid for a duration of 5 years.
   • Only accredited study programmes are officially recognised as leading to national higher education diplomas.

Rapports d‘accréditation des établissements et des programmes d’enseignement supérieur

Accréditation des programmes de formation menant au brevet de technicien supérieur (BTS)

Accréditation des établissements d’enseignement supérieur spécialisés offrant des programmes d’études