Accreditation

On the basis of the Act on Quality Assurance in Higher Education (HS-QSG), AQ Austria is responsible for carrying out accreditation procedures in Austria. Private university colleges, private universities and universities of applied sciences (FH) require accreditation as a prerequisite for state recognition. In accrediting a higher education institution (HEI), AQ Austria certifies that they have met the prerequisites for accreditation.

In addition to the statutory accreditation procedures in Austria, AQ Austria also offers voluntary accreditation of HEIs abroad and degree programmes of HEIs abroad. By granting accreditation, AQ Austria certifies that a HEI meets the criteria for international recognition.

AQ Austria has laid down binding procedural rules and decision criteria for accreditation procedures. All procedures comply with the principles of the Standards and Guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area (ESG).