European International University

[Balchunas]

It sounds like the school offers degrees beyond its recognized scope and is tolerated by French authorities in doing so for foreigners?

Its a diploma mill, EUROPEAN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY is a private company registered in france as a distance learning provider only. They have added an english term “University” in its company registered name. hoax & misleading. They can only issue private certificates in their capacity, they cannot call it as degrees and these certificates issued for any course are  not accepted anywhere. They are offering their Doctorate Certificate including MBA to anyone , it has no value. In france it is only registered as a private distance learning centre and not a university

[PearsonOTHMQualifi7654]

It seems like they've clearly bothered you, and you have shared this with deep concern for others. 
I am also deeply concerned about the accuracy of information. As much as I can understand a person may not choose a school like EIU, I think we need to stay factual instead of being accusatory alone. 

The following is in the spirit of fairness and accurate info from a factual standpoint:

TL: DR 

Despite the degree not being state-sponsored, International Education Evaluations (IEE), a NACES member, evaluated the EIU-Paris BBA as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree, and that qualifies for entry into master's level programs. Additionally, noting in the evaluation report that although it has ASIC UK accreditation, the school is not state-sponsored in France, and that the acceptance by institutions or employers is discretionary. I did not receive equivalency to a "Regionally accredited university." However, when a student has completed the ACBSP accredited programs via EIU's Dubai Campus, IEE is known to provide equivalency to a US Regionally accredited degree. 

NACES Member (IEE) Evaluation: 

1. EIU-Paris degrees are US Equivalent, ASIC UK-accredited but not French state-sponsored. Acceptance is at the discretion of the employer or university. (Attached screenshot of report)

2. EIU Dubai degrees (DBA, MBA, BBA) are US Equivalent from a Regionally Accredited institution.

Full stop. 

The rest is additional info:

They (EIU-Paris) award institutional degrees, which are called DE (diplôme d’établissement) in France. 
Institutional degrees in France are also known as DU (diplôme universitaire), or DIU (diplômes Inter-Universitaires), which are essentially private degrees issued by a university (Like a Titulo Propio in Spain) or by multiple universities (DIU).

A diplôme d’établissement from France is functionally comparable to a Título Propio from Spain: a lawful institutional degree issued outside the national qualifications framework, commonly used for professional, executive, and international academic progression.

Calling such degrees “illegal” may be inaccurate, but I think the shock you experienced was that they offered a path to a degree without coursework!  
 
How is that even possible to earn a degree without coursework? 

VAE (Validation des Acquis de l’Expérience) is a formal French recognition system that allows a student to earn all or part of an academic degree based on documented professional experience and prior learning, rather than completing the entire program through coursework alone. VAE is recognized by all countries that are parties to the Lisbon Convention. It is grounded in French law aimed at working professionals, and is widely used across higher education in France.

The Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC) was adopted in 1997 by the Council of Europe and UNESCO. LRC is the primary international treaty governing the recognition of higher education qualifications across Europe, North America, and beyond. It mandates that foreign degrees be recognized unless "substantial differences" can be proven, facilitating academic mobility and reducing beuaucracy for students.

Functionally, VAE is the French equivalent of RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning). RPL is used in the UK, Australia, and other Commonwealth systems. In both cases, candidates must demonstrate that their prior education, professional experience, and competencies meet the learning outcomes of the target qualification.

This is done through a structured portfolio, evidence submission, and academic evaluation. The biggest difference is that entire degrees are not awarded through RPL.

Through VAE, however, an entire degree can be earned as a recognition of prior learning and experience. Importantly, VAE is not an honorary degree and is not automatic. It requires rigorous documentation, mapping of experience to academic standards, and institutional approval. When awarded, the credits given must be properly documented, and the rationale and basis for the award of credit must be based on a student's portfolio and explained in case of an audit.

The resulting credential is the same degree as one earned through traditional coursework, with no distinction noted on the diploma (per French Law, the VAE degrees are not distinguished from regular degrees).

In summary:

• RPL is the UK system (but not for entire degrees, just part credit)
  
• VAE is the French mechanism (can be applied to entire degrees and if successful, one does not have to take any coursework) 
  
• Both recognize validated prior learning and experience
  
• Both are legally established, academically governed pathways 
  

Neither bypasses standards; they assess them differently. 

The legality of the institution and degrees per French Law: 

EIU–Paris appears to be a lawful private education institution of distance learning authorized under the French Ministry of National Education (Code de l’Éducation, Chapitre IV) to confer diplômes d’établissement, and is officially listed under UAI Code 0756213W with the Ministère de l’Éducation nationale et de la Jeunesse. 

https://www.education.gouv.fr/acce_public/index.php

One can search by entering 0756213W

This ministry oversees national education and youth policy, including parts of higher education governance. It indicates that the institution is lawfully recognized/registered. 

• The Ministry of National Education and Youth is also called Minstry of National Education and oversees the country's public education system and supervises agreements and authorizations for private teaching organizations.  
  
• We can be certain that EIU-Paris is not a state-sponsored university. It appears to be a private distance education institution, registered lawfully in France.
  
• Public universities, on the other hand, are listed on the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche. EIU-Paris is not listed there.
  

While its degrees are not French state-accredited (i.e., not diplômes nationaux or RNCP-registered), they are legally issued under French law as institutional awards.
EIU-Paris is pretty up front about all of this on their website, and full disclosure is on the enrollment agreement.
 
ASIC UK and ACBSP Accreditation 

EIU–Paris holds institutional accreditation from ASIC (UK) and programmatic accreditation for its EIU-Dubai Campus programs: DBA, MBA, and BBA, from ACBSP (CHEA-recognized, U.S.), and is a member of BGA (UK), ATHEA (Europe), and ECBE (Belgium), with programs aligned to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and UNESCO recognition conventions.

The institution operates as a distance-learning private institution which is lawful under French regulations and does not affect the legality of its awards.
Memberships in BGA, ATHEA, and ECBE are not accreditations, and ASIC UK is considered a "light accreditor"; however, all these are steps in a positive direction, I would say.
 
My own experience with EIU-Paris and the IEE Evaluation result:

• I completed a BBA from EIU–Paris (issued as a diplôme d’établissement). 
  
• I did it as a top up (Final year) to my Level 4 & 5 qualifications (UK Years 1, and 2, of 3 for a BSc). 
  
• I completed 8 courses and a capstone project. 
  
• I did not pay for VAE for the entire degree program, as it would have cost more than double the advertised cost of the BBA Top Up (Instead of 2000 EUR, It would have cost 5500 EURs to go the full VAE route).
  

Despite the degree not being state-sponsored, International Education Evaluations (IEE) evaluated it as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree, that it qualifies for entry into master's level programs. Additionally, noting in the evaluation report that although it has ASIC UK accreditation, the school is not state-sponsored in France, and that the acceptance by institutions or employers is discretionary. I did not receive equivalency to a "Regionally accredited university." however when a student has completed the ACBSP accredited programs via EIU's Dubai Campus, IEE is known to provide equivalency to a US Regionally accredited degree. 

Cost of Tuition?

Where did you get 2200 EUR? I didn't see that on the website.

As I understand, EIU-Paris charges a LOT more than 2200 EURs when going the VAE route, try more like 10,000 EUR for the Professional Doctorate. If doing a Practitioner's Doctorate, yes, it can cost 5000 EUR, but if you want the VAE option, it will cost more than what's listed on the website.

The prices are for standard completion, not VAE. EIU Paris does not advertise the price via VAE unless it's the Professional Doctorate, and the tuition is clearly stated to be at 10,000 EUR.

[cacoleman1983]

It seems like they've clearly bothered you, and you have shared this with deep concern for others. 
I am also deeply concerned about the accuracy of information. As much as I can understand a person may not choose a school like EIU, I think we need to stay factual instead of being accusatory alone. 

The following is in the spirit of fairness and accurate info from a factual standpoint:

TL: DR 

Despite the degree not being state-sponsored, International Education Evaluations (IEE), a NACES member, evaluated the EIU-Paris BBA as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree, and that qualifies for entry into master's level programs. Additionally, noting in the evaluation report that although it has ASIC UK accreditation, the school is not state-sponsored in France, and that the acceptance by institutions or employers is discretionary. I did not receive equivalency to a "Regionally accredited university." However, when a student has completed the ACBSP accredited programs via EIU's Dubai Campus, IEE is known to provide equivalency to a US Regionally accredited degree. 

NACES Member (IEE) Evaluation: 

1. EIU-Paris degrees are US Equivalent, ASIC UK-accredited but not French state-sponsored. Acceptance is at the discretion of the employer or university. (Attached screenshot of report)

2. EIU Dubai degrees (DBA, MBA, BBA) are US Equivalent from a Regionally Accredited institution.

Full stop. 

The rest is additional info:

They (EIU-Paris) award institutional degrees, which are called DE (diplôme d’établissement) in France. 
Institutional degrees in France are also known as DU (diplôme universitaire), or DIU (diplômes Inter-Universitaires), which are essentially private degrees issued by a university (Like a Titulo Propio in Spain) or by multiple universities (DIU).

A diplôme d’établissement from France is functionally comparable to a Título Propio from Spain: a lawful institutional degree issued outside the national qualifications framework, commonly used for professional, executive, and international academic progression.

Calling such degrees “illegal” may be inaccurate, but I think the shock you experienced was that they offered a path to a degree without coursework!  
 
How is that even possible to earn a degree without coursework? 

VAE (Validation des Acquis de l’Expérience) is a formal French recognition system that allows a student to earn all or part of an academic degree based on documented professional experience and prior learning, rather than completing the entire program through coursework alone. VAE is recognized by all countries that are parties to the Lisbon Convention. It is grounded in French law aimed at working professionals, and is widely used across higher education in France.

The Lisbon Recognition Convention (LRC) was adopted in 1997 by the Council of Europe and UNESCO. LRC is the primary international treaty governing the recognition of higher education qualifications across Europe, North America, and beyond. It mandates that foreign degrees be recognized unless "substantial differences" can be proven, facilitating academic mobility and reducing beuaucracy for students.

Functionally, VAE is the French equivalent of RPL (Recognition of Prior Learning). RPL is used in the UK, Australia, and other Commonwealth systems. In both cases, candidates must demonstrate that their prior education, professional experience, and competencies meet the learning outcomes of the target qualification.

This is done through a structured portfolio, evidence submission, and academic evaluation. The biggest difference is that entire degrees are not awarded through RPL.

Through VAE, however, an entire degree can be earned as a recognition of prior learning and experience. Importantly, VAE is not an honorary degree and is not automatic. It requires rigorous documentation, mapping of experience to academic standards, and institutional approval. When awarded, the credits given must be properly documented, and the rationale and basis for the award of credit must be based on a student's portfolio and explained in case of an audit.

The resulting credential is the same degree as one earned through traditional coursework, with no distinction noted on the diploma (per French Law, the VAE degrees are not distinguished from regular degrees).

In summary:

• RPL is the UK system (but not for entire degrees, just part credit)
  
• VAE is the French mechanism (can be applied to entire degrees and if successful, one does not have to take any coursework) 
  
• Both recognize validated prior learning and experience
  
• Both are legally established, academically governed pathways 
  

Neither bypasses standards; they assess them differently. 

The legality of the institution and degrees per French Law: 

EIU–Paris appears to be a lawful private education institution of distance learning authorized under the French Ministry of National Education (Code de l’Éducation, Chapitre IV) to confer diplômes d’établissement, and is officially listed under UAI Code 0756213W with the Ministère de l’Éducation nationale et de la Jeunesse. 

https://www.education.gouv.fr/acce_public/index.php

One can search by entering 0756213W

This ministry oversees national education and youth policy, including parts of higher education governance. It indicates that the institution is lawfully recognized/registered. 

• The Ministry of National Education and Youth is also called Minstry of National Education and oversees the country's public education system and supervises agreements and authorizations for private teaching organizations.  
  
• We can be certain that EIU-Paris is not a state-sponsored university. It appears to be a private distance education institution, registered lawfully in France.
  
• Public universities, on the other hand, are listed on the Ministère de l’Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche. EIU-Paris is not listed there.
  

While its degrees are not French state-accredited (i.e., not diplômes nationaux or RNCP-registered), they are legally issued under French law as institutional awards.
EIU-Paris is pretty up front about all of this on their website, and full disclosure is on the enrollment agreement.
 
ASIC UK and ACBSP Accreditation 

EIU–Paris holds institutional accreditation from ASIC (UK) and programmatic accreditation for its EIU-Dubai Campus programs: DBA, MBA, and BBA, from ACBSP (CHEA-recognized, U.S.), and is a member of BGA (UK), ATHEA (Europe), and ECBE (Belgium), with programs aligned to the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and UNESCO recognition conventions.

The institution operates as a distance-learning private institution which is lawful under French regulations and does not affect the legality of its awards.
Memberships in BGA, ATHEA, and ECBE are not accreditations, and ASIC UK is considered a "light accreditor"; however, all these are steps in a positive direction, I would say.
 
My own experience with EIU-Paris and the IEE Evaluation result:

• I completed a BBA from EIU–Paris (issued as a diplôme d’établissement). 
  
• I did it as a top up (Final year) to my Level 4 & 5 qualifications (UK Years 1, and 2, of 3 for a BSc). 
  
• I completed 8 courses and a capstone project. 
  
• I did not pay for VAE for the entire degree program, as it would have cost more than double the advertised cost of the BBA Top Up (Instead of 2000 EUR, It would have cost 5500 EURs to go the full VAE route).
  

Despite the degree not being state-sponsored, International Education Evaluations (IEE) evaluated it as equivalent to a U.S. bachelor’s degree, that it qualifies for entry into master's level programs. Additionally, noting in the evaluation report that although it has ASIC UK accreditation, the school is not state-sponsored in France, and that the acceptance by institutions or employers is discretionary. I did not receive equivalency to a "Regionally accredited university." however when a student has completed the ACBSP accredited programs via EIU's Dubai Campus, IEE is known to provide equivalency to a US Regionally accredited degree. 

Cost of Tuition?

Where did you get 2200 EUR? I didn't see that on the website.

As I understand, EIU-Paris charges a LOT more than 2200 EURs when going the VAE route, try more like 10,000 EUR for the Professional Doctorate. If doing a Practitioner's Doctorate, yes, it can cost 5000 EUR, but if you want the VAE option, it will cost more than what's listed on the website.

The prices are for standard completion, not VAE. EIU Paris does not advertise the price via VAE unless it's the Professional Doctorate, and the tuition is clearly stated to be at 10,000 EUR.

Thanks for sharing your IEE evaluation of EIU-Paris.   I love IEE because they have very nuanced evaluations that give partial recognition when a full recognition evaluation can't be granted.  When you read the details of IEE evaluations, they validate credentials in ways that make them acceptable for continuing education and employment, even when the degree, program, or institution is not fully accredited.

It makes these gray area credentials worthwhile for perpetual students as it proves that while they don't get full recognition, they are not diploma mills either.

[bjcheung77]

Hmm, I thought I read that message post #62, here's my reply post: https://www.degreeforum.net/mybb/Thread-...#pid450084