The Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications concerning Higher Education in the European Region aims to ensure that holders of a qualification from one European country have that qualification recognised in another. It was formulated by the Council of Europe in Lisbon and is hence usually referred to as the ‘Lisbon Convention’.

The UK ratified the convention in May 2003 and it came into force in the following July. It states that no discrimination should be made against holders of qualifications across European countries. Access to further HE study and use of an academic title should be granted to holders of qualifications on the same grounds as citizens from the country where recognition is sought. The responsibility to demonstrate that an application does not meet the requirements for further higher education study lies with the institution making the assessment.

The convention also encourages HEIs in all signatory countries to issue the Diploma Supplement to their graduating students. The Diploma Supplement aims to aid recognition by describing a qualification in a standard format that is easy to understand and easy to compare. It also explains the content of the qualification and the structure of the higher education system within which it was issued.

Ministers at the London summit called upon those countries in the Bologna Process who have not yet ratified the Convention to do so as a matter of priority.

The Lisbon Recognition Convention Committee also adopted a Recommendation on the Recognition of Joint Degrees in 2005.

The full text of the convention can be found on the Council of Europe website.