Register of qualifications and accreditation
The procedure for obtaining formal recognition of a higher education diploma acquired in another country is:
- either by listing in the higher education section of the register of qualifications, or
- the normal procedure for obtaining academic and/or professional recognition of a foreign educational qualification, although this does not confer any entitlement to practise,
- prerequisite for publicly holding a higher education qualification (three or more years of higher education)
- prerequisite for taking up certain professions (chartered accountant, economic consultant, architect, consultant engineer, fundamental school teacher, teacher with civil servant status, assistant teacher, etc.).
- or by accreditation
- required for access to the regulated profession of lawyer and for admission to additional classes in Luxembourg law (Cours complémentaires en droit luxembourgeois - CCDL).
The recognition of university or higher education diplomas falls within the remit of the Ministry of Higher Education and Research (Ministère de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche).
Listing in the register of qualifications
A higher education diploma is listed in the higher education section of the register of qualifications if:
- it constitutes the final qualification in a course of higher education studies,
- it is the final diploma awarded at the end of a complete cycle of studies,
- it has been issued in accordance with the legislation and regulations governing State higher education in the country in which the qualification was conferred.
Listing a higher education diploma in the register of training qualifications involves comparing the diploma with the Grand Duchy's framework of qualifications.
National higher education diplomas are automatically listed in the register of training qualifications, without any formalities being required.
The entry into force of the Law of 28 October 2016 on the recognition of professional qualifications results in the automatic listing of diplomas issued by a State with which the Grand Duchy has concluded an agreement.
Consequently:
- associate degrees (brevet d'enseignement supérieur, diploma van gegradueerde, graad van gegradueerde, getuigschrift associate degree);
- bachelor's degrees;
- master's degrees, and
- doctorates issued where a thesis has been upheld in public
issued by recognised higher education establishments in Belgium and the Netherlands on successful completion of recognised higher education courses in Belgium and the Netherlands are automatically listed in the register of training qualifications, with no further formalities being required.
The following may not be listed in the register of qualifications:
- intermediate diplomas (Zwischenprüfung, Vordiplom, 1re and 2e candidature, DEUG, DUT, DEUST, etc.),
- diplomas not recognised by the government authorities of the State where the establishment which conferred the diploma is registered (particularly in the case of private institutions).
Applications for listing in the register of qualifications should be sent to the Ministry of Higher Education and Research.
Accreditation
Since the entry into force of the Law of 28 October 2016 on the recognition of foreign professional qualifications, titles and degrees in medicine, dental medicine, veterinary medicine and pharmacy, and foreign titles and degrees in philosophy and humanities, human sciences, physical sciences and mathematics and natural sciences with a view to acceding to the regulated profession of a teacher of humanities or sciences in post-primary education no longer need to be accredited.
Accreditation is still a prerequisite for access to the regulated profession of lawyer and for admission to additional classes in Luxembourg law.
Application for accreditation
Applications for accreditation in the field of law should be sent to the Minister of Higher Education and Research.
If you are entitled to practise as a lawyer in another country which is a member of the European Union, you may apply directly to the Ministry of Justice for authorisation to practise in the Grand Duchy.
The documents must be in one of the three official languages of the Grand Duchy of Luxembourg (French, German or Luxembourgish), or in English, or translated into one of these languages by a sworn translator.
More information about the procedure.