Council of Europe Treaty Series

The governments signatory hereto, being members of the Council of Europe,

Having regard to the European Cultural Convention, signed in Paris on 19th December 1954;

Having regard to the European Convention on the Equivalence of Diplomas leading to admission to Universities, signed in Paris on 11th December 1953;

Having regard to the European Convention on the Equivalence of Periods of University Study, signed in Paris on 15th December 1956;

Considering the desirability of supplementing those Conventions by providing for the academic recognition of university qualifications obtained abroad,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

For the purpose of the present Convention:

1. the term "universities" shall denote
1. universities, and
2. institutions regarded as being of university level by the Contracting Party in whose territory they are situated and having the right to confer qualifications of university level;
2. the term "university qualification" shall denote any degree, diploma or certificate awarded by a university situated in the territory of a Contracting Party and marking the completion of a period of university study;
3. degrees, diplomas and certificates awarded on the results of a part-examination shall not be regarded as university qualifica-tions within the meaning of sub-paragraph b of the present article.

Article 2

1. For the purpose of the present Convention, Contracting Parties shall be divided into categories according to whether the authority competent in their territory to deal with matters pertaining to the equivalence of university qualifications is:
1. the State;
2. the university;
3. the State or the university, as the case may be.
2. Each Contracting Party shall, within one year of the coming into force of the present Convention in respect of itself, inform the Secretary General of the Council of Europe which is the authority competent in its territory to deal with matters pertaining to the equivalence of university qualifications.

Article 3

1. Contracting Parties falling within category a in paragraph 1 of Article 2 of the present Convention shall grant academic recognition to university qualifications conferred by a university situated in the territory of another Contracting Party.
2. Such academic recognition of a foreign university qualification shall entitle the holder:
1. to pursue further university studies and sit for academic examination on completion of such studies with a view to proceeding to a further degree, including that of a doctorate, on the same conditions as those applicable to nationals of the Contracting Party, where admission to such studies and examinations depends upon the possession of a similar national university qualification;
2. to use an academic title conferred by a foreign university, accompanied by an indication of its origin.

Article 4

In respect of sub-paragraph 2.a of Article 3 of the present Convention, each Contracting Party may:

1. in cases where the examination requirements for a foreign university qualification do not include certain subjects prescribed for the similar national qualification, withhold recognition until a supplementary examination has been passed in the subjects in question;
2. require of holders of a foreign university qualification to pass a test in its official language, or one of its official languages, in the event of their studies having been pursued in another language.

Article 5

Contracting Parties falling within category b in paragraph 1 of Article 2 of the present Convention shall transmit the text of the Convention to the authorities competent in their territory to deal with matters pertaining to the equivalence of university qualifications and shall encourage the favourable consideration and application by them of the principles set out in Articles 3 and 4 thereof.

Article 6

Contracting Parties falling within category c in paragraph 2 of the present Convention shall apply the provisions of Articles 3 and 4 thereof where the State is the authority competent to deal with the equivalence of university qualifications and shall apply the provisions of Article 5 thereof where the State is not the competent authority in these matters.

Article 7

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe may from time to time request Contracting Parties to furnish a written statement on the measures and decisions taken with a view to implementing the provisions of the present Convention.

Article 8

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall communicate to the other Contracting Parties the information received from each of them in accordance with Articles 2 and 7 of the present Convention and shall keep the Committee of Ministers informed of the progress made in the implementation of the present Convention.

Article 9

Nothing in this Convention shall be deemed:

1. to affect any more favourable provisions concerning the recognition of foreign university qualifications contained in an existing convention to which a Contracting Party may be signatory or to render less desirable the conclusion of any further such convention by any of the Contracting Parties, or
2. to prejudice the obligation of any person to comply with the laws and regulations in force in the territory of any Contracting Party concerning the entry, residence and departure of foreigners.

Article 10

1. The present Convention shall be open to the signature of the members of the Council of Europe. It shall be ratified. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
2. The Convention shall enter into force one month after the date of deposit of the third instrument of ratification.
3. In respect of any signatory ratifying subsequently, the Convention shall enter into force one month after the date of deposit of its instrument of ratification.
4. After the entry into force of the present Convention, the Committee of Ministers may invite any State which is not a member of the Council to accede thereto. Any State so invited may accede by depositing its instrument of accession with the Secretary General of the Council. As regards an acceding State, the present Convention shall enter into force one month after the date of deposit of its instrument of accession.
5. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify all members of the Council and any acceding State of the deposit of all instruments of ratification and accession.

Article 11

Any Contracting Party may, at the time of deposit of its instrument of ratification or accession, or at any time thereafter, declare by notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe that the present Convention shall apply to some or all of the territories for the international relations of which it is responsible.

Article 12

1. Any Contracting Party may denounce the present Convention at any time after it has been in force for a period of five years by means of a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe, who shall so inform the other Contracting Parties.
2. Such denunciation shall take effect in respect of the Contracting Party concerned six months after the date on which it is received by the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

In witness whereof the undersigned, duly authorised thereto by their respective governments, have signed the present Convention.

Done at Paris, this 14th day of December 1959, in the English and French languages, both texts being equally authoritative, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatory and acceding governments.