The Bologna Process requires the adoption of a system based on two cycles, undergraduate and graduate. At the Bologna summit in Berlin in 2003, Ministers proposed to include doctoral level qualifications as a third cycle in the Process. The first cycle should last a minimum of three years while no length is specified for the second cycle (Master's) qualification.

Unlike many Bologna countries at the signing of the Bologna Declaration in 1999, the UK already had a two-cycle system in place. The three-year Bachelor degree followed by the one year Master's ('3 + 1') results in a minimum of four years study. In Scotland, the four-year Bachelors degree with Honours is followed by the one-year Master's. In many European countries, a comprehensive restructuring of higher education systems has been necessary. Many continental countries with ‘3 + 4’ or ‘1 + 2’ structures have reorganised their systems to meet Bologna requirements.

Master's degrees

Second cycle programmes in many other European countries last two years. There is concern elsewhere in Europe that the UK’s one-year Master's programme is ‘lightweight’ in terms of hours studied and is therefore incompatible with Bologna requirements. The UK approach, however, focuses on the outcomes of study programmes, rather than workload. The one-year Master's supports the Bologna objective of promoting non-traditional and flexible learning paths in an era of lifelong learning. The one-year Master's has also been successful among European and international students and employers alike. Most taught Master's degrees in the UK achieve between 75 and 90 ECTS credits (with 90 for full calendar year Master's).

Integrated Master's degrees

The compatibility of four-year integrated Master's degrees in England and Wales (for example, MEng, MPharm) with the Bologna Process has also been questioned. Integrated Master's degrees are popular with students and employers. They meet the second cycle (Master's level) qualification descriptor in the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area adopted at the 2005 ministerial meeting in Bergen. The UK HE Europe Unit is working with Universities UK, the Quality Assurance Agency and professional, regulatory and statutory bodies to promote integrated Master's degrees. There is a need to ensure that such programmes have appropriate credit allocation at the second cycle (Master's level) in line with the typical credit range in the Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area (90-120 ECTS, with a minimum of 60 credits at the level of the second cycle).

Shorter higher education

The Framework for Qualifications of the European Higher Education Area adopted at the 2005 Bergen ministerial summit includes a short cycle (within or linked to the first cycle) which accommodates shorter higher education, such as the Foundation degree in England, Wales and Northern Ireland, HNDs and HNCs. The Bergen Communiqué stated that there is the possibility of intermediate qualifications 'within national contexts'. The UK HE Europe Unit has promoted intermediate qualifications and their continued recognition in the European Higher Education Area.

Doctoral level qualifications

As doctoral level qualifications are incorporated into the Bologna Process as a third cycle, it is important that the range of doctoral level qualifications in Europe, which vary in purpose, duration and delivery, is accommodated. The UK welcomes the statement in the Bergen and London Communiqués that overregulation of doctoral programmes must be avoided.