The aforementioned decentralised procedure only applies within limits in the event of initial organisation and related initial accreditation of degree programmes as students are not yet matriculated and quality round tables cannot be carried out in the planned model. Instead, the initial accredition builds on the process of developing a new degree programme that includes amongst other things a Key Issue Paper on the degree programme concept.

This position paper and drafts of the degree programme-related rules and module directories form the basis for simplified initial accreditation and are sent to three external reviewers for a purely written opinion. In the central procedure the assessment committee creates its report on the basis of the same documents, the written opinions and additional discussions with those responsible for the degree programme.

Two-subject Bachelor degrees are evaluated using both the decentralised procedure including QA concepts from the participating faculties and individual subjects as well as centrally for the general degree programme model. Student and Academic Services conducts a quality round table once in the accreditation cycle for the purpose of assessing the system of the general degree programme model.

In the event that an accreditation deadline elapses before a central procedure is held as planned, the Presidential Board can issue a provisional internal accreditation, provided quality round tables have taken place on that degree programme and not discerned any significant defects.

Where they are not the result of a planned quality round table, significant changes must be considered in an additional quality round table that is not part of the routine schedule.

Depending on the status of partner universities and fulfilment of the requirements in Section 10 of the Lower Saxony study accreditation regulations, degree programmes which are run jointly with partner universities and that lead to double, multiple or joint degrees may also be accredited according to differing provisions than normally apply to internal accreditation:

• applying the ‘European Approach’, provided the national authorities of the partner university within the European Higher Education Area accept this procedure:
  • as an internal accreditation process involving members of the partner university in quality round tables and on the assessment committee,
  • as degree programme accreditation by an agency listed with EQAR,
• by the Presidential Board recognising internal accreditations or similar QA reviews by the partner university, if and insofar as the requirements in Sections 10, 16, 33 of the Lower Saxony study accreditation regulations are met, on the basis of a review by Student and Academic Services, which where necessary will also record any criteria omitted with regard to the German accreditation process,
• as an internal accreditation process in accordance with German accreditation criteria; this will in particular take into account the basic conditions for student mobility and the implementation of the Lisbon Convention,

• in justified exceptions by external programme accreditation.

The university has agreed with the Lower Saxony Ministry of Education and the Arts and the Protestant State Church in Hannover on their involvement in internal accreditation procedures regarding degree programmes for trainee teachers and/or theological degree programmes.