Course Accreditation is the EAHEA service that reviews an individual course with a curriculum of fewer than 300 clock hours. It is offered to educational institutes, vocational institutions and online course providers, needs no other EAHEA service, is paid in full at application and is valid for one year. It is the usual first step for providers who want independent evidence of the quality of one course without a review of the whole organization.
EAHEA lists many examples of courses that qualify: online, vocational and avocational courses, ESL and foreign language programs, seminars and workshops, corporate in-house training and preparation for tests, certification or licensing. This guide gives the service in outline and links to deeper guides. The full wording is on the Course Accreditation page of the European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA).
Scope and Eligibility
The course must have a curriculum under 300 clock hours, and the applicant must be an eligible institution or provider offering that specific course. The EAHEA Secretariat reviews the application and confirms the eligible options. Course Accreditation does not cover whole-institution review. For a degree program of more than 300 clock hours, the service is Program Accreditation. An institution can hold institutional and course accreditation together.
What Is Reviewed
EAHEA describes an external, voluntary peer review of whether the course meets its standards for educational quality and effectiveness, with a self-assessment guided by those standards covering curriculum, teaching and assessment. Prepare a syllabus with outcomes and workload, instructor details, assessment criteria and samples, learner support and complaint handling, and the certificate wording. See what a reviewer expects in a course syllabus and quality standards for online course design and delivery.
Process
- Complete the online form.
- Upload the proof files.
- Pay online by card or bank transfer.
- EAHEA reviews the application.
- Receive the certificate and files.
Payment
The whole price, application fee plus accreditation fee, is paid at once when applying. Fees follow the World Bank Country Income Classification and are in euro, with possible further discounts. Card payments add 3 percent, and VAT of 24 percent applies to applicants in Estonia and EU applicants without a valid VAT number. Fees are non-refundable except amounts paid twice or by mistake. See the Service Fees page and how fees work for international accreditation.
Validity and Renewal
Valid for one year and renewed annually. Renewal is automatic and free if the institution holds valid Full Accreditation, Online Accreditation or Associate Membership on the renewal date, and otherwise carries the renewal fee. An accreditation that is not renewed ends.
Changes
Major changes affect the curriculum or syllabus, duration, name or title, level or delivery mode. They must be reported before implementation, are reviewed again and incur a change fee, and the changed course is not covered until the review is complete. Minor changes need only notice. Contact changes must be reported within 30 days.
What Is Received
- Course Accreditation Certificate and Audit Report.
- Accredited Course Seal and Badges.
- Listing in the Institutional Members Directory.
- News alerts, newsletter and event discounts.
The provider may announce the status, use EAHEA marks as the Logo and Emblem Usage Guidelines permit and be listed with a link to its website.
Credits and Credit Certification
Courses are measured in Modular Units of Competency (MUC), at 10 to 15 hours of total nominal workload per credit. Credit Certification is available to institutions that hold Course Accreditation and states the EAHEA credits of the course together with ECTS, CATS and USC equivalents. See Credit Certification: stating course credits in EAHEA credits, ECTS, CATS and USC.
Limits
Course Accreditation is a voluntary, non-governmental review. It applies to the course as evaluated, does not make the provider accredited, is not a license to practice a profession and does not replace legal authorization. Academic mobility and credit transfer remain subject to the receiving country’s or institution’s policy. EAHEA may check compliance with or without notice, examine third-party complaints and suspend or revoke accreditation, with status published for five years. Apply online or contact the Secretariat.
Services This Guide Covers
Frequently Asked Questions
Courses with a curriculum of fewer than 300 clock hours, such as online, vocational and avocational courses, language programs, seminars, workshops, corporate in-house training and test preparation.
No. It covers the named course only.
The whole price is paid at once. It renews annually, free for holders of valid Full or Online Accreditation or Associate Membership.
A separate service for holders of Course Accreditation that states the EAHEA credits of the course with ECTS, CATS and USC equivalents.
Changes to curriculum or syllabus, duration, name or title, level or delivery mode, reported before implementation with a change fee.
No. Credit transfer remains subject to the receiving institution’s policy.