As part of the Bologna process the German higher education system will be transformed to fit the Bachelor and Master structure by the year 2010. The Bologna process aims to unify the individual European countries to form an allied and more compatible European higher education system.

The main focus is restructuring the study programs and their contents. Besides the new Bachelor and Master structure, a unified study credit system was also introduced: European Credit Transfer System (ECTS). The goal is to facilitate student mobility and transferability within Europe’s borders before, during and after their study programs.

Bachelor

The Bachelor degree, though well known internationally, is fairly new to Germany; a diploma is granted in as few as six semesters. To obtain a Bachelors degree 180 study points (ECTS) are required. A Bachelors degree forms the basis for the next academic step: a Masters degree.
The following titles, depending on the field of study, can be achieved after 3 years (minimum) of Bachelor study:

•    Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
•    Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
•    Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)
•    Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)
•    Bachelor of Fine Arts (B.F.A.)
•    Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)
•    Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.)

Master

One or two year study program equaling 120 ECTS points. A Bachelors degree is required to apply for a Masters Study program. A Masters degree is valued the same as a German ‘Diplom’ or ‘Magister’ degree.

Master types:

•    Master of Arts (M.A.)
•    Master of Science (M.Sc.)
•    Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
•    Master of Laws (LL.M.)
•    Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
•    Master of Music (M.Mus.)
•    Master of Education (M.Ed.)

Doctorate / PhD

PhD: writing a dissertation (scientific research project started after receiving a Masters degree) and completing an oral exam to attain the Doctorate title (PhD). Students that are working on their dissertation are called Doktoranden.

The old German Degree System

Diplom

The term ‘Diplom’ belongs to the old degree system (before the Bologna reforms), though still represented at a few universities in Germany. The length of the Diplom program is 4 years.

Magister

Also part of the old degree system is the ‘Magister’: the most common degree program for the social sciences.

Staatsexamen (State exam)

A degree for jurists, doctors and teachers, gained after completing the required tasks. Exams are state-organized. Usually two State Exams are needed to receive a degree.