What kind of degrees do German universities offer?

German universities now offer a wide variety of different subjects and courses for bachelor’s, master’s and doctoral degrees, including over 800 English-language degrees. Here’s an overview:

Original content kindly provided by DAAD (Deutscher Akademischer Austausch Dienst)

Edited by Stephanie Small

Published July 22, 2010

In recent years, German universities have undergone major changes as part of the Bologna Process. This initiative replaced Germany’s traditional Diplom and Magister degree with internationally recognized degree program, meaning easier credit transfer to or from your home country.

Bachelor’s degree (B.A., B.Sc., Bachelor of Engineering, etc.): Bachelor’s degree programs in Germany last six to eight semesters. DAAD’s admissions database can tell you whether your high school diploma is recognized for university admission, or if you’ll need to take some preparatory classes.

Master’s degree (M.A., M.Sc., Master of Engineering, etc.): To start a master’s degree program you’ll need to have a bachelor’s degree. Master’s degree programs last two to four semesters.

Doctoral degree: The duration of a PhD program, which involves the completion of a dissertation, depends on the candidate’s particular area of research. Most programs generally take two to five years to complete.

State examination: Planning on working in Germany as a doctor, lawyer, pharmacist or teacher? You’ll need to pass a state examination. If you’d like to study one of these areas in Germany, but plan on moving later, make sure the German state examination is recognized in the country/state in which you want to eventually work. For additional information, contact the university you’re applying to.

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Stephanie Small is a Boulder-based psychotherapist, holistic nutritionist, and writer with a BA in English from Yale University and an MSW from the Smith College School for Social Work.

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What kind of degrees do German universities offer?

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