Accreditation of study programmes

The HdM's internal accreditation system permanently and sustainably reviews the implementation of the formal and subject-related criteria of the Study Accreditation Ordinance by the degree programmes (cf. § 17 para. 1 sentence 3 StAkkrVO).

• The formal criteria according to §§ 3-6 StAkkrVO are reviewed and adopted with the basic resolutions on the introduction of new degree programmes. The degree programmes are explained in Part A of their information sheets.
• The study and examination regulations of the degree programmes are reviewed as part of the preliminary examination for the audits in the case of new degree programmes to be established and as part of the internal university procedures for amending the study and examination regulations of the degree programmes in the case of current degree programmes. They provide information on the implementation of the criteria for modularisation and the credit point system (§§ 7-8 StAkkrVO).
• As part of the main audit review, the expert team reviews the following on the basis of the study programme concepts and the on-site discussions
  • the implementation of the subject-related content criteria for degree programmes (§§ 11-15 StAkkrVO)
    • Qualification objectivesand degree level (§ 11 StAkkrVO)
    • Coherent study programme concept and adequate implementation (§ 12 StAkkrVO)
    • Subject-specific and content-related design of the degree programmes (§ 13 StAkkrVO)
    • Academic success (§ 14 StAkkrVO)
    • Gender equality (§ 15 StAkkrVO)
  • Implementation of the university-specific criteria
    • Goals and positioning of the degree programme
    • Research, development, media production, business start-up
    • International orientation

The seal of the Accreditation Council is awarded after successful completion of the audits. The process involves the following steps:

• New degree programmes to be established are reviewed on the basis of audits and accredited for the first time before the committees make their decisions on establishment. Existing degree programmes are also regularly reviewed and reaccredited every eight years on the basis of audits. In the event of significant changes in content or structure, existing degree programmes are re-audited or re-accredited before the accreditation period expires.
• The audit commissions are made up of members of the Rectorate and the relevant Dean's Office, lecturers from other faculties, external academic and business representatives, internal and external students and the Equal Opportunities Officer. The quality management system thus ensures the participation of all status groups in the regular assessment of the degree programmes (cf. Section 18 para. 1 sentence 1 StAkkrVO).
• Upon completion of the audit, the committee members draw up a final report containing an assessment of the degree programme, statements on compliance with the StAkkrVO and internal university criteria for degree programmes, conditions and binding work assignments and/or recommendations and advice for further development.
• On the basis of a quality assessment by the commission - documented in the final report on the audit - the Senate confirms compliance with the criteria of the StAkkrVO for degree programmes and recommends internal accreditation. Once the resolution has been passed, the Rector, as Chair of the Senate, awards accreditation to the degree programme for a period of eight years. In the case of conditions, provisional internal accreditation is granted until the end of the deadline for fulfilment of the conditions.
• The degree programmes are obliged to fulfil the measures listed in the final reports to rectify deficits and to deal with any impulses given (cf. requirements in accordance with § 18 para. 1 sentence 2 StAkkrVO). The quality management staff review the implementation of the measures and submit the information to the Senate for a decision.

The data in the following lists have been submitted for provision on the central database of accredited study programmes of the Accreditation Council. Quality reports(until winter semester 2020/21 still referred to as accreditation reports) are only provided for procedures from the entry into force of the current legal ordinance (1 January 2018).

According to a letter from the MWK dated 8 November 2022, the degree programmes will be approved for an unlimited period of time if accreditation is complete.