Council of Europe Treaty Series

The member States of the Council of Europe signatory hereto,

Considering the aims of the European Convention on the Equivalence of Diplomas leading to Admission to Universities, signed at Paris on 11th December 1953, hereinafter referred to as "the Convention";

Considering that the benefits of the Convention could usefully be extended to holders of diplomas constituting a requisite qualification for admission to universities when such diplomas are awarded by institutions which another Contracting Party officially sponsors outside its own territory and whose diplomas it assimilates to those awarded within its territory,

Have agreed as follows:

Article 1

1. Each Contracting Party shall recognise for the purpose of admission to the universities situated in its territory, when such admission is subject to State control, the equivalence of diplomas awarded by institutions which a Contracting Party officially sponsors outside its own territory and whose diplomas it assimilates to those awarded within its territory.
2. Admission to any university shall be subject to the availability of places.
3. Each Contracting Party reserves the right not to apply the provisions of paragraph 1 above to its own nationals.
4. Where admission to universities situated in the territory of a Contracting Party is outside the control of the State, that Contracting Party shall transmit the text of this Protocol to the universities concerned and use its best endeavours to obtain the acceptance by the latter of the principles stated in the preceding paragraphs of this article.

Article 2

Each Contracting Party shall provide the Secretary General of the Council of Europe with a list of institutions officially sponsored by it outside its territory which award diplomas constituting a requisite qualification for admission to universities situated in its territory.

Article 3

For the purpose of this Protocol:

1. the term "diploma" shall mean any diploma, certificate or other qualification, in whatever form it may be awarded or recorded, which constitutes a requisite qualification for admission to a university;
2. the term "universities" shall mean:
1. universities;
2. institutions regarded as being similar in character to universities by the Contracting Party in whose territory they are situated;
3. the term "territory of a Contracting Party" shall mean the metropolitan territory of that Party.

Article 4

1. Member States of the Council of Europe who are Contracting Parties to the Convention may become Contracting Parties to this Protocol either by:
1. signature without reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance;
2. signature with reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance, followed by ratification or acceptance.
2. Any State which has acceded to the Convention may accede to this Protocol.
3. Instruments of ratification, acceptance or accession shall be deposited with the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.

Article 5

1. This Protocol shall enter into force one month after the date on which two member States of the Council of Europe shall have signed it without reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance, or shall have ratified or accepted it in accordance with the provisions of Article 4.
2. In the case of any member State of the Council of Europe who shall subsequently sign the Protocol without reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance, or who shall ratify or accept it, the Protocol shall enter into force one month after the date of such signature or after the date of deposit of the instrument of ratification or acceptance.
3. In the case of any acceding State, the Protocol shall enter into force one month after the date of deposit of the instrument of accession. Such accession shall not, however, become effective until the Protocol shall have entered into force.

Article 6

1. This Protocol shall remain in force indefinitely.
2. Any Contracting Party may, in so far as it is concerned, denounce this Protocol by means of a notification addressed to the Secretary General of the Council of Europe.
3. Such denunciation shall take effect six months after the date of receipt by the Secretary General of such notification.

Article 7

The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall notify the member States of the Council and any State which has acceded to this Protocol of:

1. any signature without reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance;
2. any signature with reservation in respect of ratification or acceptance;
3. the deposit of any instrument of ratification, acceptance or accession;
4. any date of entry into force of this Protocol, in accordance with Article 5 thereof;
5. any notification received in pursuance of the provisions of Articles 2 and 6.

In witness whereof the undersigned, being duly authorised thereto, have signed this Protocol.

Done at Strasbourg this 3rd day of June 1964, in English and French, both texts being equally authoritative, in a single copy which shall remain deposited in the archives of the Council of Europe. The Secretary General of the Council of Europe shall transmit certified copies to each of the signatory and acceding States.

Declaration of interpretation

At the time of signature of the Protocol to the European Convention on the Equivalence of Diplomas leading to Admission to Universities, the Committee of Ministers made the following interpretative clause: