Find out
who we are

The European Union of Private Higher Education (EUPHE) is the European Network of non-state higher education institutions. We represent about 700 non-state higher education institutions with around 1,4 million students which are:

  • constituted as private legal entities,
  • financed by more than 50% from private sources,
  • accredited by national quality assurance institutions,
  • approved by the government as higher education institutions and
  • award bachelor’s, master and doctoral degrees equivalent to those
    awarded by state universities.

    • The establishment and operation of non-state higher education institutions is an indicator of the willingness of civil society and the business community to commit to the adequate education of future generations

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    The story of what we do

    The aim of EUPHE is to create a favourable framework for non-state (independent) higher education institutions in the European Union

    The statutory purposes of EUPHE are:

  • the exchange of experience and standards of good science in non-state higher education
  • to develop common positions of non-state higher education institutions in Europe
  • to advocate their interests on the European and international level
  • to monitor higher education policies in the European Union and its initiatives in this area

    • Members

    Spain

    Asociacion Española de Escuelas de Negocios (AEEN)

    AEEN is the national Spanish association of private business schools, established in 2008 by 11 schools with the aim of contributing in a collegial manner to the process of management development through professional Master`s programs that enable their students to obtain highly effective business results. Currently, it has 62 member schools with around 63.000 students in 1300 programs and 603.000 alumni

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    Portugal

    Associação Portuguesa do Ensino Superior Privado (APESP)

    APESP is the national Portuguese association of non-state higher education institutions recognized as being of public interest under the terms of the Legal Regime of Higher Education Institutions Currently it has about 60 members with about 74.000 students in.... programs

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    Austria

    Österreichische Privatuniversitäten Konferenz (ÖPUK)

    ÖPUK is the national Austrian conference of private universities. Currently, it has 16 members with around 220 study courses and more than 18.000 students

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    Slovenia

    Skupnost Samostoijnih Visokošolskih Zavodov (SSVZ)

    SSVZ is the national Slovenian association of non-state higher education institutions and is officially recognized by the government as its representative. It currently has 35 members with about ....students in ....programs

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    Poland

    University of Social Sciences and Humanities (SWPS)

    SWPS is one of the leading Polish non-state universities, established in 1996 with currently 5 campuses in major cities of Poland with more than 17.000 students in 35 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral programs.

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    Ireland

    The Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA)

    HECA is the national Irish association of respected independent, private providers of quality higher-level education. It was established in 1991 and currently has 12 member colleges with 27.000 students in 379 QQI validated programs and around 127.000 alumni

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    France

    Union Des Grandes Écoles Indépendantes
    (UGEI)

    UGEI is one of the national French associations of non-state higher education institutions, established in 1993, with 37 member schools, among them 14 business schools, 22 engineering schools and 1 design school with about 81.000 students in ....programs

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    France

    Union Des Nouvelles Facultés Libres
    (UNFL)

    UNFL is one of the national French associations of non-state higher education institutions, established in 2004. It currently has 5 members which offer 58 including licences, masters and double degrees.

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    Germany

    Verband Privater Hochschulen e.V.
    (VPH)

    VPH is the national German association of non-state higher education institutions, established in 2004. It currently has around 82 members with about 263.000 students in more than 1200 programs.

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    Asociacion Española de Escuelas de Negocios (AEEN)

    Spain

    Associação Portuguesa do Ensino Superior Privado (APESP)

    Portugal

    Österreichische Privatuniversitäten Konferenz (ÖPUK)

    Austria

    Skupnost Samostoijnih Visokošolskih Zavodov (SSVZ)

    Slovenia

    University of Social Sciences and Humanities (SWPS)

    Poland

    The Higher Education Colleges Association (HECA)

    Ireland

    Union Des Grandes Écoles Indépendantes
    (UGEI)

    France

    Union Des Nouvelles Facultés Libres
    (UNFL)

    France

    Verband Privater Hochschulen e.V.
    (VPH)

    Germany
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