Degree

The standard period of study for a diploma course at a university is 8 to 10 semesters, depending on the course. In addition to a shorter standard study period of mostly 8 semesters, diploma courses at universities of applied sciences have a different basic concept, which is intended to convey more practical relevance. The legal regulations for these and all other examinations at universities are regulated in the respective study and examination regulations.

In Germany, there is also the Magister course, exclusively at universities and for subjects in the humanities and social sciences. This is also divided into a basic course with a final intermediate examination and a main course.The course, which is designed much more freely than the diploma course, usually consists of a main subject and 2 minor subjects or 2 main subjects. After accepting the so-called master\'s thesis and passing the final examination in the respective subjects, the academic degree of a Magister Artium is achieved.

In the course of the Bologna Process, the single-stage diploma course and the single-stage Magister course will be phased out in Germany, possibly also the state examination in the foreseeable future. These will be replaced by the two-stage study system with the degrees Master and Bachelor, from 2011 these degrees should be standard. At the moment it is still being discussed whether this should apply to all subjects or whether other degrees, such as the state examination, should be abolished or possibly be acquired in parallel. Numerous courses are already being offered with these internationally more common qualifications. However, unlike in other countries, certain basic principles must be complied with in Germany. These are regulated in the state higher education laws and are based on resolutions of the Conference of Ministers of Education. The bachelor\'s and master\'s degrees are divided into a few subject groups and do not receive any additional subjects like diploma degrees. The designation is supplemented by \"of\" and the addition of the subject group such as Arts, Science, Laws, Fine Arts, Engineering, Music and Education, e.g. the Bachelor of Arts is awarded in the subject group of the humanities. Different designations can also be awarded in master\'s programs that do not build on a bachelor\'s degree (which, apart from the Master of Business, is rare). In Bavaria, for example, universities are allowed to award academic degrees using their Latin names (bachelor or master). However, the graduate may only use the academic degree in accordance with the award certificate. The titles Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Arts cannot be used interchangeably.

In the Federal Republic of Germany, there are state final examinations at the end of the course in the subjects of food chemistry, pharmacy, dentistry, law, medicine and veterinary medicine and in the teacher training courses. These are the first state examination or several sections of medical examinations. The examinations are not carried out on your own responsibility but by state agencies (examination offices at the ministries of justice, health and education). At smaller (particularly ecclesiastical) German universities, mostly in the humanities, there is a baccalaureate degree and a licentiate degree.

Theology courses in Germany usually end with the first church examination (synonym: first theological examination) or church service examination. This corresponds to the academic degree of the diploma and can also be credited in part, after which the vicariate can follow in the Protestant church. This ends with the second church examination and with the ordination to the profession of pastor. In the Catholic Church, a pastoral training follows, as well as work as a deacon from the 3rd semester in the seminary, after completing the seminary the vicariate follows.

Academic degrees (often in the form of diploma degrees) and artistic university degrees are acquired at art colleges, and the First State Examination is the degree for teacher training courses. The university entrance qualification (usually the Abitur) is decisive for admission to an artistic or artistic-scientific university degree. The decisive admission criterion is still a special aptitude test, where corresponding musical or acting skills have to be proven.