All types of university degrees in Germany

You can enroll at a German university in several different ways:

• as an undergraduate student (Bachelor)
• as a Master's student
• as an exchange student (see Funding and Scholarships)
• as a doctoral student

Universities and Degrees

There are different types of universities, each with different goals: comprehensive universities and those that specialize in a particular field. In general, universities in Germany are considered comprehensive higher education institutions with a fairly wide range of specializations, from engineering to art history.

Students will attend seminars and lectures focused on theory in their field of specialization. On the other hand, universities of applied sciences, known as «Fachhochschulen» in German, focus on a more practice-oriented approach. During their studies, students will have the opportunity to put their knowledge to the test by solving real-world problems. Students with artistic talent in art, design, music, cinema, or film production, etc., will find what they desire at art, film, and music schools. If you'd like to get more information about German universities after this brief introduction, you can also read this article to better inform yourself on the subject.

You may have heard that in the past only 3 types of degrees existed in Germany: Diplom, Magister, and Staatsexamen, which are all equivalent to a Master's degree. The difference between the Diplom and the Magister is that the Diplom is intended for engineering graduates, while the Magister is equivalent to a Master of Arts degree. However, after participating in the Bologna Process, Germany adopted a higher education system more in line with international standards. There are now four types of degrees in Germany:

• Bachelor
• Master
• State Examination
• Doctorate

So far, almost all German higher education institutions have modified their systems. To help you avoid any confusion, we'll give you an overview of these degrees in the following sections.

Bachelor

The goal of the Bachelor's degree is to provide students with fundamental knowledge in their field of study and/or professional career of choice. The lectures and seminars also aim to help you gain different perspectives to ensure you have a comprehensive view of what it's like to work in this field in the future. The Bachelor's Degree typically lasts 6 to 8 semesters in Germany. After successfully completing your degree, you can choose to start a career or pursue a Master's degree.

Typical Bachelor's programs include:

• Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) in humanities and social sciences
• Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA)
• Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) in technical and scientific studies
• Bachelor of Engineering (B.Eng.)

To apply for a Bachelor's program at German universities, don't forget to check the official website of your university and prepare the required documents at least 6 months before the deadline.

Master

The Master's degree is a degree that follows the Bachelor's at German universities. After obtaining your Bachelor's Degree, you are expected to have the fundamental knowledge in your major subject. A Master's Degree will allow you to deepen, broaden your understanding, or specialize in a specific area of your previous studies. It typically takes 4 to 6 semesters to complete a Master's degree.

Typical Master's programs include:

• Master of Arts (M.A.)
• Master of Science (M.Sc.)
• Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
• Master of Fine Arts (MFA)

As we've already mentioned, the Magister or Diplom are comparable to the Master's degree.

In Germany, if you wish to apply for a Master's program, the program you'd like to apply for should be related to your Bachelor's field of study. Additionally, some universities will also set credits as one of the admission conditions. If you're interested in following a Master's program in English, you could inquire at the international office of your chosen university or search in the DAAD online database.

State Examination

The State Examination, called «Staatsexam» in German, is organized as a final examination and conducted by the federal state rather than by the universities. If you're interested in the following professions and want to study them in Germany, you must take a State Examination:

• Doctor
• Pharmacist
• Dentist
• Lawyer
• Judge
• Teacher
• Veterinarian

In certain specializations like law, dentistry, etc., you'll first follow theoretical studies, then take the first State Examination, followed by a second State Examination for practical training. For example, students who want to become lawyers must complete an internship to finish the State Examination.

Before applying, we'd like to suggest that you first determine the country where you'd like to work after graduation, whether it's Germany or your home country. If you plan to start a career in your home country, you should make sure that these certificates or degrees will be recognized there. The application for these types of programs is called «NC» (Numerus Clausus) in Germany, which means students must be registered at Hochschulstart.de (DoSV). For more information on "applying for university enrollment," you can check this article.

Doctorate

This type of degree is heavily research-focused. In addition to attending seminars, working on the thesis is one of the most important tasks during your doctoral studies. To start your doctorate, you should generally contact a doctoral advisor/professor in advance who might be interested in your thesis topic. If they agree to be your supervisor, they will then send you an admission letter or an invitation to study in German as a doctoral student.