10.5 What do I need to consider in terms of timing and application?

In the accreditation of combined study programmes, the assessment of partial study programmes can extend over several semesters. This can result in planning challenges. In the following, tips are given with regard to program accreditation that can be transferred to the respective internal accreditation processes of system-accredited higher education institutions:

• In principle, the combined study programme should be assessed first in the course of accreditation, as the coherent concept for the entirety of the combinatorial offer is considered (see FAQ 10.2)
• For the concept or initial accreditation of a new combined study programme, applications can be staggered and it is sufficient to first submit the accreditation application for the combined study programme together with a first subject or sub-programme bundle. The accreditation applications for the remaining partial study programs can also be submitted later. Of course, the same accreditation procedures can also be used for reaccreditations, provided that the assessment deadlines for the partial study programmes submitted later are met.
• The possibility of staggering the application for combined and partial study programmes means that higher education institutions that offer a wide range of partial study programmes can thus streamline the implementation of accreditation.
• Due to such a staggered application, the accreditation period of the combined study programme can begin before the assessment period of the partial study programmes, and the assessment periods of partial study programmes can also be staggered if the application is staggered accordingly (see also the previous FAQ 10.4).
• For reaccreditation, the application for the combined study programme must be submitted in good time before the expiry of the accreditation deadline. In the case of partial study programmes, an application is only timely if it is submitted before the end of the respective review period.

Further information on the calculation of deadlines can be found in FAQ 01.2 for initial accreditations and FAQ 01.6 for reaccreditations.

If, for example, partial study programmes with different assessment deadlines are to be reaccredited together in a bundle, the option of deadline extension can be used in the course of preparing a bundle procedure; this option can also be used if there are different accreditation and assessment deadlines for combined and partial study programmes (see FAQ 04 on the necessary requirements).