22.03 What is reviewed during the accreditation of study programmes with a distinctive profile?

The explanatory notes to Section 12(6) of the MRVO state that, if a higher education institution “advertises or identifies” a study programme “with specific characteristics,” these characteristics are “part of the study programme profile and are therefore also subject to evaluation.” It further states: “In such cases, the criteria listed in paragraphs 1 through 5 are to be applied in light of the specific profile and from the respective specific perspective, and are to be measured against the specific requirements to be defined by the respective higher education institutions.”

It follows that higher education institutions have considerable conceptual and definitional freedom when establishing specific profile requirements. As a rule, the higher education institution itself defines its profile and the associated requirements and goals linked to that profile. In the accreditation process, the institution is evaluated based on these specifications and its achievement of these objectives. As part of the assessment of the academic criteria, the coherence and plausibility of the concept, as well as its implementation, are examined.

Restrictions on these conceptual and definitional freedoms may arise for certain program characteristics due to definitions or requirements established by accreditation bodies and/or higher education law (e.g., dual).