Within the Bologna Process there has been the call for the establishment of recognised joint degrees to promote the European Dimension in Higher Education and graduate employability. Joint study programmes could provide an instrument for giving students the chance to gain academic and cultural experience abroad and Higher Education Institutions an opportunity to co-operate.

Definitions
ESU understands a joint degree to be one degree given by two or more higher education institutions together, for one study programme jointly developed and implemented by all participating higher education institutions. A double degree on the contrary is two or more degrees given by two or more higher education institutions for the same study programme, in one way or another separately developed by and implemented in every participating higher education institution. A twinning program then leads in general to a joint or a double degree.

ESIB's opinion on the matter
ESU is convinced that the development of joint and double degrees can enhance and enrich the implementation of the European higher education area. It can also create possibilities to stimulate high quality higher education on condition that the following points are taken into consideration while developing them. In the long term it should be envisaged that Institutions from outside Europe also participate.

A major function of joint degrees should be to stimulate student and teacher mobility. Joint Degrees should not be limited to certain subjects or study programme. The studies leading to a Joint Degree should be formed around a well-structured programme, which allows the selection of a number of course units by the student. ESU maintains that both multi-disciplinarity and inter-disciplinarity are one of the underlying characteristics of joint degree programmes. All the courses offered through joint degrees programmes should be accredited and quality must be assured.