You’re a talented developer from outside the EU, ready to apply for jobs in the EU. You have a “Bachelor of Science in Computer Science” from your home university. Will a recruiter in Berlin or Paris understand what that means?
For years, this was a real problem. A 4-year US degree, a 3-year UK degree, and a 5-year German Diplom were all “degrees,” but impossible to compare.
Then came the Bologna Process.
If you’re looking for a tech job, this is a topic you should understand. It’s the “converter” that makes your degree legible to a recruitment agency get-talent.eu in Europe.
🇪🇺 What is the Bologna Process?
The Bologna Process is not a single EU law. It’s a massive agreement between (now 48) countries to make their university systems compatible. Its goal was to create a “European Higher Education Area” (EHEA).
Think of it as creating a “common language” for university degrees. It ensures that a degree from Warsaw, a degree from Lisbon, and a degree from Berlin can all be easily understood and compared.
The “3-Cycle System”
The most important part of the Bologna Process is the 3-Cycle System. This is the framework that almost all of Europe now runs on:
- First Cycle: Bachelor’s Degree (3-4 years). This is your undergraduate qualification.
- Second Cycle: Master’s Degree (1-2 years). This is the post-graduate specialization.
- Third Cycle: Doctoral Degree (PhD) (3+ years). This is the research cycle.
How This Affects Your Tech Career (The Good News)
So, you have a US/Indian/Brazilian Bachelor’s degree. How does this help you?
- Instant Recognition: Because the US, UK, and most of the world also have a Bachelor/Master/PhD system, your degree is now instantly recognizable. A hiring manager for a job in Germany sees “Bachelor of Science” and immediately understands it’s a “First Cycle” qualification. The Bologna Process made this the global standard.
- It Removes a Barrier: Recruiters don’t have to guess. They can see that your 4-year degree is equivalent to their 3-year Bachelor’s + 1 year of a Master’s, or just directly equivalent. It makes your CV legible.
- It’s Why Your Degree Doesn’t Need “Converting”: In tech, skills matter most. But for a non-EU candidate, the only thing HR looks for is “is this a valid degree?” Thanks to the Bologna Process, the answer is almost always “yes.”
But Does It Really Matter in Tech?
Let’s be honest. For 90% of developer jobs in the EU, your GitHub portfolio, your technical test, and your experience matter infinitely more than your degree.
- A great developer with no degree will get hired over a bad developer with a PhD.
- Your skills in React, Python, or AWS are your ticket in.
Where your degree does matter is for two specific things:
- Immigration: For your Blue Card or skilled worker visa (especially for jobs in Germany), the government requires you to have a university-level qualification. The Bologna Process makes it easy for them to verify your non-EU degree (using databases like Anabin) and approve your visa.
- Your First Job: When you have no experience, your degree is your primary proof of qualification.
A staffing agency get-talent.eu in the EU will confirm this: your degree gets you the visa and the first interview. Your skills get you the job.
Conclusion
Don’t stress about “converting” your degree. Thanks to the Bologna Process, the work has already been done for you. The world’s university systems now speak the same 3-cycle language.
Focus on what matters: building your portfolio, mastering your tech stack, and preparing for the technical interview.
References
- University of Bologna (Unibo): Bologna Process
- Swiss government (admin.ch): Bologna Process
- European Commission: European Higher Education Area and the Bologna Process