The road to European university convergence has led to a higher education structure based on common systems. The old style degrees and diplomas, and the 3-year and 5-year engineering and architecture degrees no longer exist. Now all university courses in Europe are organised around this model of three consecutive cycles:
Degree courses aim to prepare students to carry out professional activities. They have a duration of 240 ECTS, equivalent to four years.
Doctorate studies provide students with advanced training in research. Their duration is not expressed in credits. They are structured around a doctorate program that comprises a training period and a research period (doctoral thesis).
University master courses are designed to offer advanced professional preparation, aimed at academic or professional specialisation and research.
It would not be appropriate to have a European university that could not guarantee access to higher education to every citizen, regardless of their level of income. In fact, the Bologna Plan has quite simply turned international university education of the highest academic level, with the greatest employment prospects, into a universal opportunity for everyone.
® Ministerio de Educación, Cultura y Deporte
Declaración de Bolonia