Degree Validation is the EAHEA service that lets graduates confirm that a diploma, its credits and the awarding institution are genuine and meet EAHEA’s quality standards. It is open to graduates of EAHEA-accredited institutions, if the program was completed while the accreditation was valid, and to graduates of institutions with an equivalent accreditation that EAHEA approves after an application. The certificate also states total local credits with USC, CATS and ECTS equivalents.
Graduates often need to show a qualification to an employer, a university or an authority in another country, where the awarding institution is unknown. A third-party document that confirms the diploma and the institution’s quality can help, although the decision stays with the party that receives it. This guide explains the service as published by the European Association for Higher Education Advancement (EAHEA): who qualifies, what is checked, the process and the limits.
What It Is
A Degree Validation Certificate is a document issued by EAHEA that confirms a graduate’s diploma and specialization, the credits earned and the quality of the awarding institution, and presents the credit total in comparable systems. It is intended as third-party evidence for institutions, employers and credential evaluators. It does not award a degree: the degree belongs to the institution that awarded it.
Who May Apply
- Graduates of EAHEA-accredited institutions, if the program was completed while the institution’s accreditation was valid. The institution should appear in the Accredited Institutions directory. If a school is not listed, the graduate may recommend that it seek accreditation.
- Graduates of institutions with an equivalent accreditation approved by EAHEA. EAHEA decides on equivalency after the graduate submits an application.
No other route is described.
What Is Checked and Certified
- The diploma and specialization.
- The total credits for the diploma and specialization.
- The composition of credits in hours of study.
- USC, CATS and ECTS equivalents.
- That the awarding institution meets EAHEA’s quality standards.
- Reference to the external quality review of the degree, institution and program.
What the Certificate Contains
The graduate’s full name, the diploma and specialization, the total credits, the credit composition in hours, the three credit equivalents and the quality assurance statement. The equivalents are comparison figures derived from workload. See credit systems compared.
Process and Payment
- Complete the online application form.
- Upload the proof files, such as the diploma, the transcript and identification.
- Pay online by card or bank transfer.
- EAHEA reviews the application.
- Receive the certificate and files.
Fees follow the World Bank income classification of the graduate’s country of residence, 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. The exact amount is shown when applying. See the Service Fees page.
What the Graduate Receives
- The Degree Validation Certificate.
- The Academic Credits Certificate and the Academic Qualification Equivalency Statement, as listed in the service.
- Signed and sealed copies of the diploma and transcript, if requested.
- News alerts, the newsletter and discounts on EAHEA sponsored events.
See the Academic Credits Certificate and the Academic Qualification Equivalency Statement.
Using It
Attach the certificate to applications for jobs, study or recognition, and give the receiving party the way to confirm it with EAHEA. Explain what it is: a validation of the diploma and a statement of credits, not a degree and not a recognition decision. It works best together with the original diploma, the transcript and, where required, the formal recognition procedure of the country concerned. See why graduates need a Degree Validation certificate and degree validation vs. credential evaluation services.
Limits
- Accreditation is voluntary and non-governmental, and no accreditation guarantees automatic acceptance of credits or graduates.
- Employers and institutions decide whether to accept the certificate or the credits, and EAHEA does not guarantee any outcome.
- The service is for graduates of accredited or equivalent institutions. It cannot validate a degree from an institution that is not covered.
- It is not a visa document, a work authorization or a state recognition of a degree. EAHEA does not guarantee any visa, permit or job.
Services This Guide Covers
Frequently Asked Questions
Graduates of EAHEA-accredited institutions, if the accreditation was valid when the program was completed, and graduates of institutions with an equivalent accreditation approved by EAHEA.
The graduate’s name, diploma and specialization, total credits, credit composition in hours, USC, CATS and ECTS equivalents and a quality assurance statement.
No. It validates an existing diploma. The degree belongs to the awarding institution.
No. They decide whether to accept it. EAHEA does not guarantee any outcome.
The online form asks to upload proof files, such as the diploma, the transcript and identification. The form states what is needed.
The service is not available for it, but you may recommend that the institution seek EAHEA accreditation.