Higher education

German higher education is very similar to Dutch higher education. It is also divided into 2 types of education:

• research-oriented higher education
• higher professional education

Also, there are separate educational institutions for research-oriented higher education and higher professional education, just like in the Netherlands. Students follow research-oriented higher education at an Universität (university) or another research-oriented institution. Higher professional education is offered by Fachhochschulen. For more information, see Higher education | educational institutions.

An important difference with Dutch higher education: instead of bachelor’s and master’s degrees, students can obtain diplomas that originate from a time when bachelor’s and master’s degrees did not yet exist. The Magister and Diplom are examples of these ‘traditional’ diplomas. Below, we describe bachelor’s degrees, master’s degrees and the traditional diplomas per type of education.

Universities (Universitäten) and other research-oriented institutions offer research-oriented bachelor's programmes. For an overview of research-oriented institutions, please check Higher education | educational institutions.

• Duration i : 3 years.
• Study load i : 180 ECTS.
• Content: research-oriented subjects, often including a thesis.
• Admission requirements: students need to have 1 of the following diplomas:
  • Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife
  • Zeugnis der fachgebundenen Hochschulreife if the subject cluster is related to the field of study of the bachelor.
• Function of the diploma: access to master’s programmes.
• Diploma: a bachelor’s degree, such as:
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Engineering
  • Bachelor of Laws
  • Bachelor of Science
    Sometimes you see the Latin diploma name, such as Baccalaureus Artium instead of Bachelor of Arts.

Fachhochschulen (universities of applied sciences) offer profession-oriented bachelor's programmes.

• Duration: usually 3 or 3½ years.
• Study load: 180 or 210 ECTS.
• Content: profession-oriented subjects and often a thesis or a project as well.
• Admission requirements: students need to have 1 of the following diplomas:
  • Fachhochschulreife
  • Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife
  • Zeugnis der fachgebundenen Hochschulreife
• In some federal states, the Schulischen Teil der Fachhochschulreife also grants access.
• Function of the diploma: access to master’s programmes from Fachhochschulen and often to master’s programmes from research-oriented institutions as well.
• Diploma: a bachelor’s degree, such as:
  • Bachelor of Arts
  • Bachelor of Business Administration
  • Bachelor of Engineering
  • Bachelor of Science

In some cases, students get a Diplom of Diplom FH after completing a bachelor's programme from a Fachhochschule. This diploma has the same level als a bachelor's degree from a Fachhochschule. These diplomas originate from a time when bachelor’s and master’s degrees did not yet exist. Some educational institutions still offer study programmes for these old (traditional) diplomas, in addition to study programmes for bachelor's degrees.

• Duration: 3½ to 4 years.
• Content: usually 1½ to 2 years of general studies (Grundstudium) and 1½ to 2 years of in-depth studies (Hauptstudium). Often, students finish the study programme with an exam and a thesis.
• Admission requirements: students need to have 1 of the following diplomas:
  • Fachhochschulreife
  • Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife
  • Zeugnis der fachgebundenen Hochschulreife
• Function of the diploma: work or access to master’s programmes from a Fachhochschule.
• Diploma: Diplom or Diplom FH. ‘FH’ stands for Fachhochschule. Please note: if ‘FH’ is not mentioned on the diploma, it can be a Diplom from a Fachhochschule or a Diplom from a research-oriented institution.

When students have completed the first 1½ to 2 years of a Diplom programme from a Fachhochschule, they receive an intermediate diploma: the Diplom-Vorprüfungszeugnis.

Universities (Universitäten) and other research-oriented institutions offer research-oriented master's programmes. For an overview of research-oriented institutions, please check Higher education | educational institutions.

• Duration: 1, 1½ or 2 years.
• Study load: 60, 90 or 120 ECTS.
• Content: research-oriented subjects and a thesis.
• Admission requirements: a bachelor’s degree from a research-oriented institution. Usually a bachelor’s degree from a Fachhochschule grants access as well.
• Function of the diploma: access to a PhD programme or work.
• Diploma: a master’s degree, such as:
  • Master of Arts
  • Master of Engineering
  • Master of Laws
  • Master of Science
    Sometimes you see the Latin diploma name, such as Magister Artium instead of Master of Arts.

Fachhochschulen (universities of applied sciences) offer profession-oriented master's programmes.

• Duration: 1, 1½ or 2 years.
• Study load: 60, 90 or 120 ECTS.
• Content: profession-oriented subjects and often a thesis or a project as well.
• Admission requirements: a bachelor’s degree.
• Function of the diploma: work.
• Diploma: a master’s degree, such as:
  • Master of Arts
  • Master of Architecture
  • Master of Business Administration
  • Master of Engineering
  • Master of Science

Instead of bachelor’s and master’s degrees, students can also obtain a Magister or a Diplom. These diplomas originate from a time when bachelor’s and master’s degrees did not yet exist. Most study programmes now have a bachelor's or master's structure. However, some educational institutions still offer study programmes for these old (traditional) diplomas.

• Duration: usually 4 ½ years.
• Inhoud: usually 2 years of general studies (Grundstudium), 2 years of in-depth studies (Hauptstudium) and a half-year internship and/or preparation for the final exam.
  • Usually, a Magister programme is in the field of humanities (such as history or a language) or social sciences (sociology or psychology, for example). There is usually 1 major and 2 minors or 2 majors.
  • A Diplom programme is often taken in the field of natural sciences (such as chemistry of physics) or technology (computer technology or civil engineering). Students take subjects for 1 major.
• Admission requirements: students need to have 1 of the following diplomas:
  • Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife
  • Zeugnis der fachgebundenen Hochschulreife if the subject cluster is related to the field of study of the Magister or Diplom programme.
• Function of the diploma: access to a PhD programme or work.
• Diploma: Magister or Diplom.

When students have completed the first 2 years of a Magister or Diplom programmme from a research-institution, they receive an intermediate diploma: the Zwischenprüfungszeugnis.

Just like the Magister and Diplom, the Staatsprüfung is a diploma from the time when bachelor’s and master’s degrees did not yet exist. It is also a diploma that students can still obtain at research-oriented institutions. It is called Staatsprüfung because students take exams (Prüfungen) from the federal state (Staat), not from the Universität or Hochschule itself.

• Duration: varies per study programme.
• Content: Staatsprüfung programmes exist for dentistry, food technology, law, medicine, pharmacy, veterinary medicine and teacher training programmes. Often, the study programme has 2 or 3 components:
  • 1 or 2 theoretical components with subjects in the chosen field of study; and
  • 1 practical component.
• Admission requirements: students need to have 1 of the following diplomas:
  • Zeugnis der allgemeinen Hochschulreife;
  • Zeugnis der fachgebundenen Hochschulreife if the subject cluster is related to the field of study of the Magister or Diplom programme.
• Function of the diploma: work or access to a PhD programme. For access to the profession of the field of study, students need to have completed all components of the study programme.
• Diploma: Staatsprüfung. It is often awarded in 3 grades: 'Erste', 'Zweite' or 'Dritte'.

Studenten get the diploma Doktor when they complete a PhD programme. In Germany, this is called: Promotion.

• Duration: this differs per PhD programme.
• Content: independent academic research and a thesis.
• Admission requirements: students need to have 1 of the following diplomas:
  • master’s degree from a research-oriented institution;
  • Magister/Diplom from a research-oriented institution;
  • Erste Staatsprüfung.
• Function of the diploma: starting a track to become a professor. This track is called: Habilitation.
• Diploma: Doktor.