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Study reform – New structures based on graded study courses
Bologna statement:
"Implementation of a study system primarily based on two main cycles: One cycle until the first degree (undergraduate) and one cycle after the first degree (graduate). Standard prerequisite to get accepted for the second cycle is a successful completion of the first study cycle which takes at least three years. The degree obtained after the first cycle certifies a qualification level relevant for the European job market. The second cycle should be finalized with the master or doctorate degree."
Bergen Communique:
"Considering the necessity of encouraging a close connection between European Higher Education Area and European Research Area in a Europe linked by bonds of knowledge as well as the importance of research as significant component of university education all over Europe, the ministers see it as essential to overcome the current limit of two main cycles of university education and to integrate the doctorate education as third cycle into the Bologna process."
Graded study courses create interfaces that consider the requirements of lifelong learning and allow new combinations of individual study and professional careers. Subsequent to the bachelor as early, job-qualifying degree, graduates may either enter an early career or continue their university education with a master study course that allows consolidating the selected subject, its interdisciplinary extensions, scientific vocational preparation or professional reorientation. As master study courses are open to experienced professionals, the decision for an early job entry is no irrevocable abandonment of scientific further education.
Study reform - Bachelor/Master study courses
Bologna statement:
"Implementation of a system of easily comprehensible and comparable degrees complemented by a diploma supplement aiming to enhance job market relevant qualifications of European citizens and the international compatibility of the European university system.“
Bachelor and master degrees are independent, job-qualifying academic degrees.
The bachelor degree as the first job-qualifying degree is the standard degree of university studies. The standard period of study for bachelor degrees amounts to three years minimum and four year maximum.
Bachelor study courses shall create a solid basis for subsequent further academic qualification or, alternatively, enable to work outside university and research. They are supposed to be problem-oriented and method-oriented and focus on professional and interdisciplinary core competences. For all subjects, the students' learning aptitude shall be established on such a high level that a solid foundation for lifelong learning is created.
The master is a second job-qualifying university degree which requires a first university degree. There is a standard period of study of one year minimum and two years maximum for master study courses. Master study courses have to be differentiated according to their profiles into "more application-oriented" and "more research-oriented".
One has to distinguish between consecutive, non-consecutive and further-educating master study courses.
The consecutive master study course continues and intensifies the professional dimension of the bachelor study course or extends it interdisciplinary. The total standard period of study amounts to five years maximum for consecutive study courses that result into a bachelor degree and, based on this, a master degree.
Non-consecutive master study courses are those not based on a preceding bachelor study course. Their requirements correspond with those of consecutive master study courses and enable the same level of qualification and authorisations.
Further-education master study courses require a qualified university degree and, in addition, qualified professional experience of at least one year. The content of further-education master study courses shall consider professional experiences and link up to them. The requirements correspond with those of consecutive master study courses and enable the same level of qualification and authorisations.
Study reform – University degree denominations
As limited a number of degree denominations as possible shall enable their acceptance on the job market and an optimum international cooperation. The following denominations apply for bachelor and consecutive master study courses:
| Groups of subjects | Diploma denominations |
|---|---|
Linguistics and cultural studies |
Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Master of Arts (M.A.) |
Mathematics Natural sciences Medicine (1) Agricultural, forestry and nutrition sciences (1) |
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Master of Science (M.Sc.) |
Engineering sciences |
Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Master of Engineering (M.Sc.) or Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.) Master of Engineering (M.Eng) |
Business sciences |
According to the thematic orientation of the course of study: Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) Master of Arts (M.A.) or Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) Master of Science (M.Sc.) |
Law (1) |
Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.) Master of Laws (LL.M.) |
(1) Not applicable for government-regulated courses of study.
For interdisciplinary study courses, the diploma denomination is related to the special field that is the most relevant for this study course; for engineering and business sciences it is related to the thematic orientation of the study course.
Subject related additions to the diploma denominations are excluded.
Master degrees deviating from the abovementioned denominations may be used for further-education study courses and non-consecutive master study courses. German version of these diploma denominations can be used (e.g. Bakkalaureus der Wissenschaften). Mixed-language denominations (e.g. Bachelor der Wissenschaften) are excluded.
Details on the course of study the degree is based on are displayed in the relevant diploma supplement.
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