Bologna Process Guide: How European Degrees Are Evaluated in the U.S.

The Bologna Process is the reason a bachelor's degree from Madrid, a master's from Warsaw and a doctorate from Vienna now follow the same basic structure. If you earned a European degree and need it recognized in the United States, for a U.S. university, an employer, a licensing board or a USCIS petition such as an H-1B or EB-2, this guide explains what a Bologna degree is and how U.S. evaluators compare it to American degrees. It is written for the graduate who holds the diploma and for the immigration attorney preparing the file. MotaWord evaluates European degrees for $65 with delivery in 72 hours.

What Is the Bologna Process?

The Bologna Process is an agreement between European governments to make their higher education systems compatible. It started in June 1999, when education ministers from 29 European countries signed the Bologna Declaration in the Italian city of Bologna. In 2010 the participating countries launched the European Higher Education Area (EHEA), and close to 50 countries now take part, including many that are not members of the European Union.

People search for it under several names: the Bologna Accord, the Bologna Agreement, the Bologna system or simply a "Bologna degree". They all describe the same framework. A Bologna degree, or a Bologna compliant degree, is a degree that follows the shared cycle structure and measures study in ECTS credits.

The Purpose of the Bologna Process Reform

Before the reform, degree structures varied a great deal between countries. A German Diplom, an Italian Laurea of the old system and a French Maîtrise had different lengths and no common unit of study, which made it hard for students to move between countries and for employers to judge a qualification from abroad.

The reform set three goals that still shape every degree issued under it: comparable degree cycles, a common credit system, and documents that explain a qualification to readers in other countries. For a U.S. evaluator, this means a European degree is easier to read than it used to be, but it does not mean every European degree is automatically equal to its U.S. namesake.

Key Features of Bologna Process Education

Three-Cycle Degree Structure

European higher education uses three main cycles, plus a short cycle in some countries:

• First Cycle (Bachelor's): Usually 3 to 4 years and 180 to 240 ECTS credits.
• Second Cycle (Master's): Usually 1 to 2 years and 60 to 120 ECTS credits.
• Third Cycle (Doctorate): Original research, often 3 years or more.
• Short Cycle: Around 120 ECTS, often vocational.

Some programs, mostly medicine, dentistry, pharmacy, law in certain countries and architecture, are taught as one long integrated program of 5 to 6 years that leads directly to a master's level degree.

European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System

The European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System (ECTS) measures student workload rather than classroom hours. One academic year equals 60 ECTS credits, and one credit usually represents 25 to 30 hours of total work, including lectures, labs, independent study and exams. So the "180 ECTS" you see on a diploma means three full years of study, and "240 credits" means four.

U.S. credits are counted differently, by contact hours per semester. Evaluators often treat 2 ECTS credits as roughly 1 U.S. semester credit, so 60 ECTS is often shown as about 30 U.S. semester credits. The ratio is a starting point, not a rule.

Student Mobility and the Diploma Supplement

A shared credit and degree system helps students spend a semester abroad, transfer between universities and work in another country. The Bologna Process also introduced the Diploma Supplement, a standard document that describes the level of your degree, its length, the admission requirements, the courses and the national grading scale. For a U.S. evaluator it is one of the most useful pages in your file. See how we translate diplomas. Keep a copy of your Diploma Supplement with your diploma when you order an evaluation.

Participating Nations and Regions

Dozens of countries follow the Bologna framework. You can check whether a specific country takes part on the official Bologna Process countries list. Participants include:

• Austria, Belgium, and the Czech Republic
• Denmark, Estonia, and Finland
• France, Germany, and Greece
• Hungary, Iceland, and Ireland
• Italy, the Netherlands, and Norway
• Poland, Portugal, and Romania
• Slovakia, Slovenia, and Spain
• Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, and Ukraine

Each country applies the framework through its own laws, so degree names and grading scales still differ. The Czech Republic, for example, follows the same structure of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees. Read how Czech transcripts are translated for U.S. university transfers.

The Netherlands is another example, with separate tracks for research universities and universities of applied sciences. Read what U.S. credential evaluators require from Dutch translations.

How a Bologna Degree Is Evaluated in the U.S.

A U.S. credential evaluation states what your European credential is comparable to in the U.S. education system. The evaluator looks at the level of the program, its length in years and ECTS, the entry requirements, the recognition status of the institution and your results. Here is how each level is typically treated. The evaluation report decides the final result.

Secondary School Diplomas

The Bologna Process covers higher education only, but your secondary school leaving certificate often matters too, for U.S. college admissions or for military enlistment. Certificates such as the German Abitur, the French baccalauréat, the Italian Diploma di Esame di Stato or the Spanish Bachillerato are usually evaluated as comparable to a U.S. high school diploma.

Bachelor's Degrees

A four-year, 240 ECTS bachelor's degree is usually found comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree. A three-year, 180 ECTS bachelor's degree is where most questions come from, and the next section covers it.

Master's Degrees and Long Integrated Programs

A second-cycle master's degree that follows a recognized bachelor's degree is often found comparable to a U.S. master's degree. Long integrated programs in medicine, dentistry or pharmacy are usually evaluated as first professional degrees or master's level degrees, depending on the field and the country. Professional licensing in the U.S. (medicine, law, nursing, engineering) has extra steps beyond the evaluation, set by each board.

Doctorates

A third-cycle doctorate earned after a recognized master's degree is usually found comparable to a U.S. doctoral degree.

Common Challenges in Degree Evaluation

Even with shared standards, comparing European degrees to U.S. credentials takes care. Evaluators have to look past the degree title to the program behind it. Find out how a diploma evaluation compares European degrees to U.S. credentials.

Bachelor's Degree Length

In many European countries, a bachelor's degree takes three years. U.S. universities usually expect four. Evaluators often weigh the whole education path: in some countries secondary school lasts 13 years, and the three-year degree is more specialized from the first semester, with fewer general education courses than a U.S. program.

For this reason, many evaluators find a 180 ECTS Bologna bachelor's degree comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree, while some U.S. graduate schools still apply their own rules and ask for a master's degree as well. For USCIS purposes, a three-year degree can also be combined with further study or work experience in some cases. The answer depends on the country, the program and the purpose of the evaluation.

Official Recognition of ECTS Credits

Some programs use ECTS credits but are not official state degrees. Spanish universities, for example, offer Títulos Propios, which can look like master's programs but are not official degrees recognized by the Ministry of Education. In Italy, a "Master universitario" is a separate certificate and is not the same as a Laurea Magistrale. A program with 60 ECTS credits may not support a U.S. master's equivalency if it lacks official status, so evaluators check the national status of every program. Read our answers to commonly asked questions about academic evaluations.

Transcripts, Grades and GPA

Every Bologna country keeps its own grading scale. France and Belgium grade out of 20, Germany from 1.0 (best) to 5.0, Italy out of 30 for exams and 110 for the final degree, and the Netherlands from 1 to 10. Some transcripts also show an ECTS grade from A to F.

There are two main types of U.S. evaluation:

• General (Document-by-Document) Evaluation: States the U.S. equivalent of each credential. It is usually enough for USCIS petitions and most employers.
• Course-by-Course Evaluation: Lists every course with U.S. semester credits and a grade, and calculates a U.S. GPA. U.S. universities, credit transfer offices and many licensing boards ask for this one.

See how a course-by-course evaluation converts European grades into a U.S. GPA.

Documents You Need for a European Degree Evaluation

Prepare clear scans or photos of:

• Your diploma or degree certificate, front and back, with every stamp
• Your full transcript of records with all courses, credits and grades
• Your Diploma Supplement, when your university issued one
• Your secondary school certificate, if you need a high school evaluation
• A certified English translation of any document that is not in English

Many universities issue the Diploma Supplement in English, which helps. If your diploma or transcript is only in the national language, certified translation can be added to your evaluation order at the quote stage, where our system detects non-English documents. Certified translations cost $24.50 per page, with delivery in as little as 12 hours and free digital notarization.

How MotaWord Evaluates European Degrees

Our evaluators read European transcripts and Diploma Supplements every day. Each report is written to the standard the USCIS Policy Manual describes for evaluations: credible, logical and well documented. The officer or admissions office makes the final decision, and a clear report makes that decision easier.

1. Upload: Upload your diploma, transcript and Diploma Supplement and get an instant quote with price and delivery time.
2. Document Check: We confirm that your file is complete and readable, and add certified translation if your documents need it.
3. Evaluation: Our evaluators review the cycle, ECTS totals, program length, institution status and grades, and state the U.S. equivalent.
4. Download: Your report is ready in your MotaWord client dashboard, where you can also download invoices and follow your order.

A general evaluation costs $65 with delivery in 72 hours, or $115 for same-day delivery when you order before 3 PM ET on a weekday. A course-by-course evaluation costs $120, or $200 same day. MotaWord is SOC 2 Type II certified, and live chat is available 24/7 for support.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Bologna Process?

It is an agreement between European countries, started with the Bologna Declaration in 1999, that gives their universities a common structure of bachelor's, master's and doctoral degrees and a shared credit system (ECTS). It created the European Higher Education Area in 2010.

Is the Bologna Accord the same as the Bologna Process?

Yes. "Bologna Accord" and "Bologna Agreement" are informal names for the Bologna Declaration and the process that followed it. They refer to the same framework.

Is a three-year Bologna degree equal to a U.S. bachelor's degree?

Often, but not always. Many evaluators find a 180 ECTS first-cycle degree comparable to a U.S. bachelor's degree, while some graduate schools set their own rules. The program, the country and the purpose of the evaluation all matter.

Are European master's degrees recognized in the U.S.?

A master's degree from a recognized European university that follows a recognized bachelor's degree is usually found comparable to a U.S. master's degree. Non-official programs, such as Spanish Títulos Propios, may not be.

What does 180 ECTS mean?

It means three years of full-time study, since one academic year equals 60 ECTS credits. A 240 ECTS degree equals four years.

Do I need a Diploma Supplement for a U.S. evaluation?

It is not always required, but it helps. It explains the level, length and grading of your degree in a standard format, which makes the evaluation faster and clearer.

Which evaluation do I need for an H-1B petition?

A general evaluation that states the U.S. equivalent of your degree is usually enough for USCIS. See how our education evaluation supports H-1B petitions.

Get Your European Degree Evaluated

Your Bologna degree already follows a structure that U.S. evaluators know well, so a clear report is a few clicks away. Order an academic evaluation of your European degree with MotaWord and talk to our team on live chat 24/7 if you have any questions.