The accreditation of study programs (program accreditation) is intended to contribute to the further development of study programs and is used to check compliance with the common structural guidelines are used.

In 2017, far-reaching changes to the existing accreditation procedure in Germany were introduced and enshrined in law. The federal states have adopted regulations on this (State Treaty on the Organization of a Joint Accreditation System for Quality Assurance in Teaching and Learning at German Universities (State Treaty on the Accreditation of Studies)). The Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) also adopts a model ordinance (Model Ordinance pursuant to Article 4 (1 - 4) of the Interstate Treaty on Study Accreditation). This model ordinance was transposed into state law in May 2018 (Study Accreditation Ordinance).

As a result of these legal changes, the Accreditation Council Foundation decides on accreditation (previously, accreditation agencies, which in turn were certified by the Accreditation Council, decided).

The aim of accreditation is to ensure the quality of teaching and studies, improve the international comparability of study programs and, as a result, increase student mobility.

In addition, various interest groups, students, employers and the public should receive reliable orientation with regard to the expected quality standards of the study programs.

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