- Bachelor
The new Bachelor courses are intended to allow students to complete their undergraduate studies more quickly than previously. They aim to teach academic principles and qualify graduates for a subsequent career. Most universities of applied sciences offer a three and a half year course leading to a Bachelor degree, universities offer three year courses.
- Masters
A Masters course can be taken as a continuation of a preceding Bachelor course, in which case it is known as a "consecutive course". However, it always requires a first degree in a subject corresponding to the Masters course. Courses normally last two years and lead to a "Masters" qualification.
- The Diplom degree course
consists of a single subject of study (and in some cases a supplementary subject) and in the past has been the normal degree for science, engineering and technical courses. However, some courses in politics, sociology and business subjects also end with Diplom examinations.
Successful graduates can use the relevant title ( for example Graduate in Physics, Graduate Engineer, Graduate in Economics, Graduate in Business).
- Magistra/Magister Artium (M.A.), known as Magister, was previously the most common degree in Germany alongside the Diplom. The Magister was the normal first degree in the arts, cultural studies and social sciences courses. A Magister degree normally stipulates specific subject combinations (1 main subject and 2 supplementary subjects or 2 main subjects). Magister courses are now being phased out at most institutions and are being replaced by the new Bachelor and Masters degrees. Nowadays, you can normally only apply for a Magister course if you are joining at a later study semester.
- State examinations
Anyone who studies pharmacy, medicine or law finishes their studies with the state examination. Their training is divided into two sections. Theoretical training at the institution ends with the first state examination, consisting of oral and written examinations in the major subject and various compulsory subjects.
The practical component is known as a traineeship for lawyers and the practical year (PJ) and residence (AIP) for medics. Students can only take the 2nd state examination and obtain the relevant title after this two year placement period.
- Teaching courses also end with a state examination and consist of two to three school subjects and supplementary educational studies subjects. Training in the institution ends with the first state examination. This is followed by a two year placement in a school. The type of school depends on the choice of course and can therefore be completed at a grammar school, secondary school, comprehensive school or primary school. Teacher training ends with the 2nd state examination.
- Doctorate
A doctorate is obtained through further study following the successful completion of a degree. Depending on the institution, a doctorate is obtained by submitting a thesis and passing a disputation (oral defence of the thesis) or viva voce (oral examination in all areas of the subject).
Questions and answers about the new degree types can be found at: www.unicum.de
Descriptions of selected subjects of study can be found at www.studienwahl.de
or http://www.studis-online.de
