Every year, thousands of international postgraduates make the decision to study a Masters in Europe – and it’s not hard to see why.
Studying abroad in Europe will allow you to benefit from the centuries of academic prestige and expertise accumulated at the world’s oldest universities. As you do, you’ll have the chance to learn other languages, get work experience abroad and prove to future employers that you have the skills and experience necessary to succeed in an increasingly globalized world.
he Bologna Process and the European Higher Education Area (EHEA)
If you’re reading about Masters’s study in Europe, it may not be long before you come across references to the Bologna Process and something called the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
These may not sound particularly exciting, but they’re actually two of the main reasons for studying in Europe is so convenient and attractive. Together they help maintain a common format for higher education and enhance student mobility throughout much of Europe.
What is the Bologna Process?
The Bologna Process is ongoing, but it began in 1999 with an agreement signed – unsurprisingly – at the University of Bologna in Italy (the oldest European university in continuous operation).
Education Ministers representing 29 countries took part in this initial ‘Bologna Declaration’ and formed the European Higher Education Area together. New conferences are held in European countries every two to three years and additional countries have also been admitted as signatories to the Bologna agreements and members of the European Higher Education Area.
What is the EHEA?
The European Higher Education Area (EHEA) is made up of the countries that have signed the Bologna Declaration and agreed to adopt a common format for their university qualifications (including Masters degrees).
As of 2018 a total of 48 countries (including the Vatican City) are included in the EHEA and participate in the Bologna Process alongside the European Commission (the executive branch of the European Union), UNESCO, the Council of Europe and a range of organizations representing university institutions, staff, and students across Europe.
Countries within the EHEA:
The following countries have become signatories to the Bologna Declaration and form the European Higher Education Area together:
Albania, Andorra, Armenia, Austria, Azerbaijan, Belgium, Bosnia, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Moldova, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine and the United Kingdom.