Editing Associate degree (section)

==Europe==
Qualifications on the short cycle of the [[Bologna Process]]/level 5 on the [[European Qualifications Framework]] sit between secondary education and bachelor's degree level and are thus approximately equivalent to an associate degree. Such qualifications include the [[Foundation degree]] (FdA, FdSc, FdEng), [[Certificate of Higher Education]] (CertHE) and  [[Diploma of Higher Education]] (DipHE) in the United Kingdom,<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Documents/FHEQ08.pdf|title=The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA)|publisher=Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education|access-date=December 16, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111216062531/http://www.qaa.ac.uk/Publications/InformationAndGuidance/Documents/FHEQ08.pdf|archive-date=16 December 2011|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}</ref> the [[Higher Certificate]] in the [[Republic of Ireland]],<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.qualificationsrecognition.ie/usa-highedu1.html |title=Recognition Ireland Statement on US associate degree |publisher=Qualificationsrecognition.ie |access-date=2014-02-12 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130527014710/http://www.qualificationsrecognition.ie/usa-highedu1.html |archive-date=May 27, 2013 }}</ref> and the French ''Diplôme universitaire de Technologie'' (DUT) and  ''Brevet de Technicien supérieur'' (BTS).<ref name="VoilaNY-DUT">{{cite web | url=http://www.voilanewyork.com/004_001_005.html | title=EQUIVALENCE DE DIPLOME (Degree equivalence) | publisher=voilanewyork.com | access-date=2014-03-29}}</ref>

===Czech Republic===
In Czech Republic one achieves the title ''DiS.'' "Diplomovaný specialista" (Certificated Specialist).

===Denmark===
A 2–2.5 year education on BA-level is called "Erhvervsakademiuddannelse". This is called an AP-Degree (Academy Professional Degree) in English.

===France===
For many decades, a diploma comparable to an associate degree was considered a very adequate degree for those willing to work as qualified technicians. Yet as the general population spends an increasing amount of time studying, they are no longer as attractive to students who wish to distinguish themselves.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.insee.fr/fr/statistiques/4238409?sommaire=4238781|title = Niveau d'éducation de la population − France, portrait social &#124; Insee}}</ref> In 2021, the ''Diplôme Universitaire de Technologie'' (DUT) was reframed as an intermediate degree part of a three-year curriculum now referred to as BUT.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.onisep.fr/Choisir-mes-etudes/Apres-le-bac/Organisation-des-etudes-superieures/Les-BUT-bachelors-universitaires-de-technologie|title = Les BUT (Bachelors universitaires de technologie)| newspaper=www.onisep.fr }}</ref> Prior to the reform of 2006, universities awarded a two-year diploma called DEUG, the purpose of which was also to help the student pursue studies in a field that differed from what was initially intended. The degree was considered a 'stepping stone' ahead of the completion of a bachelor's degree. Aside from the ''Brevet de Technicien Supérieur'' (BTS) which remains relevant in many fields for which long academic studies are not deemed crucial<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.onisep.fr/Choisir-mes-etudes/Apres-le-bac/Organisation-des-etudes-superieures/Les-BTS/Que-faire-apres-un-BTS|title=Que faire après un BTS ?|newspaper=www.onisep.fr }}</ref> and for which young professionals are in demand, degrees comparable to an associate degree are gradually being phased out, although their legitimacy remains in theory (but not always in practice<ref>{{Cite journal|url=https://publication.enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr/eesr/7/EESR7_ES_22-le_debut_de_carriere_des_jeunes_sortant_de_l_enseignement_superieur.php|title=Le début de carrière des jeunes sortant de l'enseignement supérieur|journal=L'État de l'Enseignement Supérieur et de la Recherche en France |date=April 2014|issue=7|pages=54–55|last1=Calmand|first1=Julien}}</ref>) unchanged for those who were awarded one in the past.

===Greece===
See: [[IEK]]

===Netherlands===
In the Netherlands, there were four pilots between 2005 and 2011 to assess the added value of the associate degree.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/hoger-onderwijs/studeren-in-het-hoger-onderwijs/associate-degree|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120305005644/http://www.rijksoverheid.nl/onderwerpen/hoger-onderwijs/studeren-in-het-hoger-onderwijs/associate-degree|archive-date=March 5, 2012 |url-status=dead|title=Associate degree|website=Rijksoverheid|language=nl|access-date=24 November 2020}}</ref> In 2007 the associate degree was added to the Dutch system of higher education within the Higher Professional Education (''HBO'') stream taught at universities of applied sciences (''hogeschool''). Associate degree courses form part of  HBO bachelor's degree courses, and advising requirements are the same for the two-year associate degree and the related four-year bachelor's degree. Those gaining the associate degree may proceed to an HBO bachelor's degree in only two years, but it does not articulate to bachelor's degrees in the research-oriented (''WO'') stream.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.epnuffic.nl/en/publications/find-a-publication/education-system-the-netherlands.pdf|title=The Dutch Education System described|publisher=EP-Nuffic|date=January 2015|access-date=19 January 2017}}</ref>

===Norway===
A two-year education on BA-level is called ''Høgskolekandidat'', translated "university college graduate".<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.nokut.no/en/facts-and-statistics/the-norwegian-educational-system/the-norwegian-qualifications-framework/the-norwegian-table-of-qualifications/ |title=The Norwegian table of qualifications - NOKUT |access-date=13 July 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714124936/http://www.nokut.no/en/Facts-and-statistics/The-Norwegian-Educational-System/The-Norwegian-qualifications-framework/The-Norwegian-table-of-qualifications/ |archive-date=14 July 2017 |url-status=dead |df=dmy-all }}</ref> Only a few professions require 120 [[European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System|ECTS]], e.g. [[Piano tuning|piano tuner]], [[driving instructor]].

===Sweden===
A 2–2.5 year education on BA-level is called an AP-Degree (Academy Professional Degree). See also: List of [[universities]] and [[colleges]] in [[Sweden]].
Business academies offer two-year academy profession programmes; some business academies also offer professional bachelor programmes, further adult education and diploma programmes.

===United Kingdom===
The title of ''Associate in Physical Science'' (''Associate in Science'' (ASc) from 1879) was introduced in 1865 by the [[University of Durham]] [[Edward Fenwick Boyd#College of Physical Science|College of Physical Sciences]] (now [[Newcastle University]]) and awarded from 1873.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=F-YEAAAAQAAJ&pg=RA1-PA128|title=The Chemical News and Journal of Physical Science|volume=XXXVI|page=128|date=1877|author=William Crookes}}</ref><ref name=Eells1963>{{cite book|url=https://babel.hathitrust.org/cgi/pt?id=mdp.39015070539849&view=1up&seq=108|pages=94–95|title=Degrees in Higher Education|author= Walter Crosby Eells|series=Library of education, a project of the Center for Applied Research in Education| publisher=Center for Applied Research in Education|year=1963}}</ref>
It required (in 1884) passes in three of mathematics, physics, chemistry and geology, and allowed students to go on to take the examination for the Bachelor of Science.<ref>{{cite book|year=1884|title=The Durham College of Science Calendar: Session 1884–1885|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=j-INAAAAQAAJ&pg=PA13|pages=13, 24|last1=Univ|first1=Newcastle-Upon-Tyne}}</ref> As a university-level qualification lying below the bachelor's degree, this is considered to be the world's first associate degree in the modern sense, having been first awarded 25 years prior to the introduction of associate degrees into the US by the [[University of Chicago]].<ref name=Eells1963/><ref>{{cite book|author=Arthur Levine|year=1978|title=Handbook on undergraduate curriculum|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=udueAAAAMAAJ&q=%22associate+degree%22+durham+1870s|publisher=Jossey-Bass Publishers|isbn=978-0-87589-376-1|page=158|quote=The world's first associate's degree, the associate in science, was awarded by England's University of Durham in 1873. The University of Chicago awarded the first American associate's degree in 1898. It offered associate in arts, associate in literature, and associate in science degrees.}}</ref> The ASc was withdrawn in 1904.<ref>{{cite book|url=http://reed.dur.ac.uk/xtf/view?&docId=bookreader%2FDU_Calendars%2F1919-20%2Fducal1920METS.xml&hit.rank=1#page/555/mode/1up|title=Durham University Calendar 1919–1920|page=555}}</ref> Durham also introduced an ''Associate in Theology'' (ATh) in 1901, which was only offered in 1901 and 1902.<ref>{{cite book|page=262|title= The University of Durham 1832–1932|year=1932|author=C.E. Whiting|publisher=Sheldon Press}}</ref> Yorkshire College (now the [[University of Leeds]]) offered ''Associate in Engineering'' and ''Associate in Coal Mining'' degrees from 1877 and there were thirteen different types of associate degrees offered in British universities in 1927.<ref name=Eells1963/>

The title of ''Associate in Arts'', introduced by the [[University of Oxford]] in 1857 and sometimes referred to as the degree of Associate in Arts, predates the Durham degree. However, it was an examination for "those who are not members of the university" and who were under the age of 18; as such it was at the level of a high school qualification rather than a modern associate degree. Examinations were held in English, languages, mathematics, science, drawing and music, with the title being conferred on those students who passed any two (as long as the two were not drawing and music).<ref>{{cite book
|author=Thomas Acland|author-link=Sir Thomas Dyke Acland, 11th Baronet|year=1858
|title=Some Account of the Origin and Objects of the New Oxford Examinations for the Title of Associate in Arts, and Certificates for the Year 1858|url=https://archive.org/details/someaccountofori00acla
|publisher=J. Ridgway}}</ref>

British equivalents to associate degrees vary depending on the national system which issued them. Based on assessment by the UK [[NARIC]], American and Canadian associate degrees are considered equivalent to one year higher education courses such as the [[Higher National Certificate]] at level 4 of the British [[National qualifications frameworks in the United Kingdom#Higher education qualifications|Framework for Higher Education Qualifications]]. Australian associate degrees, however, are considered equivalent to two-year higher education courses such as the [[Higher National Diploma]] at level 5 on the framework.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thedesignecademy.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/NARIC-SummaryGuideToHNCHNDQualifications.pdf| title=Summary guide to HNC and HND qualifications|access-date=22 January 2016}}</ref>