Proposals for Joint Bachelor’s and Master’s Programmes

Europe’s Next Joint Academic Offers Start Now. Be One of the Educators Shaping Them.

This category is dedicated to the development of joint, double, or multiple degree programmes – ambitious collaborations that lead to an accredited degree delivered by multiple INGENIUM universities.

Joint Programmes are those that are jointly designed and delivered in accordance with the European Approach for Quality Assurance of Joint Programmes. They require alignment of curricula, administrative processes, and quality assurance across institutions, but yield tremendous benefits in offering truly European degrees to students.

We invite proposals to either establish new joint programmes from the ground up or to expand/upgrade existing collaborations into fully accredited joint degrees. Both undergraduate (Bachelor’s) and postgraduate (Master’s and PhD) levels are in scope.

Important Requirements for Joint Programme Proposals

Minimum of 2 Partners Involved (3+ recommended)

All joint programme proposals must include a minimum of two degree-awarding partner universities (and preferably more; involvement of three or more partners is strongly encouraged whenever possible to enhance the European dimension). We also welcome the involvement of additional partners that might not award the degree but contribute in other ways (for example, an INGENIUM partner providing a specialized course, an industry partner for internships, or a research institute contributing to doctoral training). However, at least two academic degree-granting institutions from the INGENIUM alliance must be at the core of the proposal.

Quality & Mobility Standards

Proposals should demonstrate compatibility with alliance-level quality assurance and mobility goals. This means you should plan for joint governance structures (e.g. a joint programme board with members from each university), a coherent curriculum across institutions, and built-in student mobility windows or exchanges. Ideally, every student in the programme will study at two or more INGENIUM universities as part of their degree and have their achievements recognized seamlessly by all partners.

Also ensure your proposal considers regulatory differences (for example, differences in credit systems or thesis requirements) and propose solutions (INGENIUM can help in this coordination once the project is selected). The alliance is developing common quality standards for joint programmes; selected projects may be asked to align with these, including undergoing an internal review process before final accreditation submission.

Alignment With INGENIUM’s Mission

Finally, we encourage joint programme proposals to articulate how they support the broader INGENIUM mission – for instance, by advancing internationalization, promoting language diversity (e.g. offering multilingual options or language support for students), fostering inclusivity, or piloting new educational methodologies. The transformational potential of the programme for students and institutions will be a key consideration.

All Joint Programme proposals must involve multiple INGENIUM partner universities – at minimum two institutions for a double or joint degree, and preferably three or more for broader cooperation (consortia with 3+ partners are strongly encouraged to reinforce the alliance’s multilateral nature).

Proposals should ensure that the resulting programme will meet the alliance’s quality assurance standards and include meaningful student mobility consistent with INGENIUM’s vision of a single inter-university campus. This typically means students will study at least one semester (or equivalent) at one or more partner campuses, and the curriculum is jointly designed and governed.

The programme should aim to confer either a joint diploma (one degree certificate endorsed by all partners) or multiple diplomas (separate national degrees awarded by each partner for a single integrated programme), in compliance with national regulations. INGENIUM is developing common frameworks to support these processes, and selected proposals will receive guidance to navigate accreditation and recognition procedures in each country.

Two-Track Call System

We recognize that joint degree development can be at different stages across our alliance. Thus, under this call we differentiate between two sub-tracks for Joint Programmes:

Fast-Track: Existing Collaborations Moving Toward Joint Accreditation
New Joint Programme Partnerships – Emerging Initiatives

Read bellow about the features and specifics of each category of proposals.

1. Fast-Track: Existing Collaborations Moving Toward Joint Accreditation

This sub-track for proposals is built on existing inter-university collaborations that are already well underway – for example, an established double-degree arrangement, a long-running exchange curriculum, or a pilot programme that a group of partners has been offering informally. If your consortium has a proven collaboration that you wish to elevate to a fully joint programme (with a joint/multiple degree), this is the fast-track route. These projects will be given priority and expedited support since they can likely be realized on a shorter timeline.

In your proposal for this sub-track, please specify if you are aiming for a first student intake by 2026/27 or another target date, so we can tailor the support timeline, and clearly outline:

the history of the collaboration (what has been done so far, e.g. joint courses, exchanges, co-supervision of theses, etc.),
the current status (e.g. “we have run this as a double degree for 2 years” or “we jointly taught courses and want to create a full programme”),
the steps needed to achieve full joint accreditation.

Key Features of Fast-Track Proposals

Existing foundation

They rely on a foundation that already exists – such as a curriculum that has been jointly designed , or a double-degree MOU in place, or a programme that has run as a pilot within an Erasmus Mundus or similar framework. The goal is to formalize and accredit it under the INGENIUM alliance umbrella quickly.

Committed partners and preliminary structure

Partners should be largely identified and committed, and a preliminary program structure often exists. For example, perhaps two faculties have been graduating students with two separate degrees through a cooperation; the aim now would be to convert this into one coherent joint degree with alliance branding.

Rolling submission / early approval possibility

While the final deadline applies to all, the evaluation committee may consider fast-track proposals on a rolling basis (i.e. reviewing and approving as they come) or may fast-track their evaluation, given the readiness for implementation. We encourage teams in this category to submit an Expression of Interest to alert INGENIUM of your project. It’s possible that exceptionally ready proposals could receive a “green light” soon after the Full Application submission and proceed to implementation without waiting for the call’s final deadline.

Deadline: All Expression of Interest must be submitted by 30th of November 2025.

Support Provided

INGENIUM will prioritize these projects for immediate support. This could include targeted assistance with joint accreditation procedures, legal agreements, alignment of curricula, and any necessary negotiations with accreditation agencies or ministries. Our aim is to help you overcome administrative hurdles quickly so the programme can launch.

Financially, some seed funding may be available for coordination meetings, curriculum development workshops, or student/faculty mobility to finalize the joint setup. Fast-track projects might also be connected with the alliance’s Quality Assurance taskforce to ensure rapid approval through alliance and national channels.

💡Application tips

In your proposal for this sub-track, please clearly outline:

the history of the collaboration (what has been done so far, e.g. joint courses, exchanges, co-supervision of theses, etc.);
the current status (e.g. “we have run this as a double degree for 2 years” or “we jointly taught courses and want to create a full programme”);
the steps needed to achieve full joint accreditation.
if you are aiming for a first student intake by 2026/27 or another target date, so we can tailor the support timeline.

How To Submit

Stage 1

Apply your expression of interest by completing the application form by 30th of November.

Apply Now

Stage 2

Full Applications will be submitted via the INGENIUM website. Detailed submission instructions and exact procedures for Joint Bachelor’s and Master’s Programmes proposals will be available soon.

2. New Joint Programme Partnerships (Emerging Initiatives)

This sub-track is for brand-new collaborations starting from scratch or from an early concept stage. If you have an innovative idea for a joint programme that does not yet exist – for example, creating a new European Master’s programme in a cutting-edge field – then this is the place for you. We welcome ambitious proposals that may require more development time but have high potential to advance the alliance’s educational offerings in the long run.

Key Features of New Partnership Proposals

New initiatives

They are starting largely from a clean slate. The team might have identified a need or opportunity (academic or societal) for a new programme that none of the partners currently offers alone, or that would significantly benefit from a joint approach (e.g. combining complementary expertise from different universities).

Conceptual phase and partner identification

Typically, the idea is in a conceptual phase: you will define the curriculum, mobility structure, and partnership roles as part of the project development. It’s fine if some partners are still being identified at the time of EOI – Stage 1 can help connect you with others interested. By the Full Application, you should have at least a core group of committed partner institutions (again, minimum two, but preferably three or more).

Strategic alignment with INGENIUM priorities

Proposals in this category should align with INGENIUM’s strategic goals and thematic priorities. We especially encourage new joint programmes that address interdisciplinary and future-oriented themes important to our alliance – for example, programmes related to Sustainability, Health and Technology, Artificial Intelligence, Intercultural Competence, European Studies, etc., or other areas identified in the alliance’s mission. While all topics will be considered, those that resonate with our shared priorities or fill a clear gap in our collective academic portfolio will stand out.

Innovation in design

Without the constraints of existing structures, we invite you to be innovative. Think of flexible learning pathways, modular programmes, or unique formats (e.g. a jointly delivered online first semester followed by specialized tracks at different universities). New partnerships have the chance to design with a blank canvas – for example, incorporating a mandatory rotation across three countries, or a project-based joint thesis supervised by faculty from multiple institutions. Use this opportunity to propose a flagship programme that truly leverages the alliance.

Support Provided

All selected new joint programme initiatives will receive guidance and resources to plan the curriculum and navigate accreditation. INGENIUM can:

facilitate workshops for curriculum co-design,
provide expert advice on joint degree agreements,
offer mobility funding for planning meetings between partners.
modest seed funding may be available to kick-start development (for example, to fund staff time for developing course materials or to organize intensive planning sessions).
Additionally, being chosen under this call means your programme concept is recognized as an INGENIUM Flagship-in-development, which can be a valuable label when seeking external funding or internal support at your institutions.

📅 Development Timeline

We anticipate that new joint programmes may need a longer preparation phase, possibly launching in the 2027/2028 academic year or later, depending on complexity. INGENIUM will support a phased development: from concept and consortium-building in 2026, through curriculum development and accreditation in 2026–27, to student recruitment and launch.

How To Submit

Stage 1

Apply your expression of interest by completing the application form by 30th of November.

Apply Now

Stage 2

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Interested in finding out more about the call?

We will also hold a series of online information sessions to disseminate the call and support networking. For the first stage of the call, these sessions will focus on offering the key info.

Proposals for Joint Bachelor’s and Master’s Programmes

Important Requirements for Joint Programme Proposals

Two-Track Call System

1. Fast-Track: Existing Collaborations Moving Toward Joint Accreditation

Key Features of Fast-Track Proposals

Support Provided

💡Application tips

How To Submit

2. New Joint Programme Partnerships (Emerging Initiatives)

Key Features of New Partnership Proposals

Support Provided

📅 Development Timeline

How To Submit

Other Types of Proposals We Are Looking For

Interested in finding out more about the call?

Launch of the Joint Education Call – 1st Info Session

Launch of the Joint Education Call – 2nd Info Session – with break out rooms to answer individual questions

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