Bologna for you

How will the Bologna Process affect me?

If you belong to the university community, have been a part of it or are hoping to join it, you cannot avoid being affected by the Bologna Process – but in a good way, as you will see.

This section will give you an idea of what a major development the European Higher Education Area is, regardless of whether you are:

A student: You are taking your university studies according to the old system.

A graduate: You have finished your university studies and have graduated with a Degree, University Diploma, or from a 3 or 5 year Architecture or Engineering degree.

A lecturer: You work as teaching staff in a university.

A researcher: You are involved in research at a university centre.

The Doctorate, an instrument of the European Research Area

If your vocation is research, you are in luck. The creation of the European Higher Education Area is directly linked to efforts to promote the European Research Area via the new doctorate studies.
A priority instruction has been issued by European institutions to university authorities, requiring them to "redouble their efforts to integrate doctorate programmes into institutional policies and strategies" and to "develop suitable professional career plans and offer opportunities to their new doctorate students and researchers".

University lecturer: protagonist of the change

If you are a university lecturer, you will already be aware of the scale of the changes. This goes beyond a change in the names of qualifications and timetables. Bologna represents real evolution in higher education in Europe, in which the teaching staff will play a leading role.

From the old plan to the Bologna Plan, with full rights

If you already have a university degree from a pre-Bologna plan, do not worry – it is still absolutely current and valid. Any legislation that the government has approved or may yet approve in order to construct the EHEA will not have any effect whatsoever on how these degrees are viewed, either academically or professionally.
However, you may be interested in undertaking new studies or extending your higher education with the broad range of academic opportunities offered by the Bologna Process. In this case, here is some practical guidance:

Orderly transition to the new Bologna qualifications

Don’t worry if you have already started your university studies within the pre-Bologna system. The change will be well ordered and progressive.
You will be able to continue with your own study plan until 30 September 2015 without any alteration in structure, content or development. If you have still not received your degree by that date, your university must provide you with a way to be able to complete your studies during the two subsequent academic years.