There are four main types of higher educational institutions in Europe:
Universities (state and private) – some offering a variety of different courses, some may be specialised (e.g. in medicine, law, business, etc.)
Universities of Applied Sciences (state and private; these institutions usually have more practical courses than the more traditional universities)
Teacher Training Colleges
Academies and colleges specialising in particular fields.
To find out whether the institution is officially recognised, the ministry of education in the country is a good starting point. Enic-Naric, a joint initiative of the European Commission, the Council of Europe and UNESCO providing information on recognising academic and professional qualifications, provides further information and a list of countries – click here.
The European Tertiary Education Register (ETER) is a database of higher education institutions in Europe and can be found here.
The European University Association (EUA) is the representative organisation of universities and national rectors’ conferences in 47 European countries. The EUA plays a crucial role in the Bologna Process and in influencing EU policies on higher education, research and innovation. The association actively supports refugee students and academics.