Study and research in Germany

Overview on academic degrees

You have made up your mind: You want to study in Germany. Only the "What?" still remains, because there is a huge variety of courses and majors. In recent years the academic programmes at German universities have undergone major reform as mandated by the Bologna Process. "Bachelor" and "Master" have replaced the former degrees "Diplom" and "Magister Artium" almost completely.

Degrees conferred by German universities:

Bachelor’s degree (B.A., B.Sc., Bachelor of Engineering, etc.): This is the first-level of academic degree recognised on the international job market. Bachelor’s degree programmes teach students the fundamentals of their subject of study in six to eight semesters. Once you have received your bachelor’s, you can enter professional life or continue studying for the second-level academic qualification – the master’s degree.

Master’s degree (M.A., M.Sc., Master of Engineering, etc.): This is the second-level of academic qualification you can receive from a German university. If you wish to enter a master’s degree programme, you are required to have a bachelor’s degree (or equivalent academic qualification). Master’s degree programmes last two to four semesters and allow you to deepen and expand your knowledge in a certain subject. After you receive your master’s degree, you can enter professional life or continue studying for the next academic qualification – the doctoral degree.

Doctoral degree : A doctoral programme, which involves the completion of a research paper (dissertation), concludes with the conferral of a doctoral degree. The duration of doctoral programmes depends on the candidate’s particular area of research. However, most programmes generally take two to five years to complete. More information on PhD-Programmes in Germany.

State examination : The state examination is not an academic degree, but rather a state qualification. This means that the examination regulations are stipulated by the German states, not by the university. Another difference is that the examinations are administered by state invigilators. Those who wish to work as a doctor, lawyer, pharmacist or teacher in Germany have to pass a state examination. Students are permitted to take the first state examination after successfully completing their studies in Medicine, Law, Pharmaceutics or Teacher Education. Afterwards, they can begin a professionally oriented, practical training phase to prepare themselves for the second state examination and/or enter a doctoral programme. Passing the state examination, however, does not guarantee the candidate a job. If you wish to attain this qualification, you should enquire whether the German state examination is recognised in your home country.

Knowing what fits best

It is not easy to keep an overview on all the courses available. Those who have problems making a decision should take some of the tests, offered on the internet:.

To find out wether you can meet the demands of at German universities, take the Test AS 
For technical courses: "SelfAssessment international" by TU9

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