A master's degree is generally considered to be the next level of academic achievement after a bachelor's degree. Typically it has a greater focus than a bachelor's degree, with a highly specialized program of study. In Europe, the master's degree goes by several other names, including magister's degree and Laureau Magistrale, with titles varying by country. While American master's degrees are normally separate programs, there are many places in Europe where they are either combined with the bachelor's, or are granted without consideration to the bachelor's.
The Bologna Accords, established in Italy in 1999, was an agreement reached between most European nations regarding the standardization of degree requirements, including what in America would be bachelor's, master's, and doctorate degrees. The agreement used the European Credit and Transfer System as the standard way to judge credits, and agreed that 90 to 120 of such credits would be sufficient for a person to attain a master's degree.
Several countries did not agree to the agreement, most notably France, Germany, and Russia. Other countries which maintained independent structures were Poland, Austria, Spain, and Turkey. All other countries agreed. The process of attaining a master's degree in each of these dissenting countries is different. However, several of the countries which have not officially implemented the agreements from Bologna are gradually transitioning to a comparable three-step method of degree granting.
Most European institutions welcome overseas applicants to master's programs, from within and without the European Union. The application process is entirely different from that of national applicants, and should be carefully investigated in each different circumstance. Most master's programs accept what amounts to a bachelor's degree in the United States as sufficient education for admission, though there are exceptions depending on the program. In addition, some European countries, particularly Sweden and Germany, offer master's degrees free of tuition, which is a significant departure from the American way.