Diplom
Diplom (from Greek Δίπλωμα diploma) is an academic degree in some European countries including Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Croatia and Serbia. It can be compared to Bachelor's and Master's degrees in other countries.
With the implementation of the Bologna process, the Diplom is increasingly being replaced by a system that awards Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
Germany
The Diplom may be obtained either at a Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences) - in this case, the degree is described as Diplom (FH) - taking three to four and a half years and can be compared to a bachelors degree (depending on the University and their requirements) or at a Universität (University) - in this case the degree is mentioned as Diplom or alternatively as Diplom (Univ.) - taking in most cases around five years. These years are called "regular study time" (Regelstudienzeit) and may be exceeded (which is usually the case).
The Diplom is the first academic degree many post-secondary students receive, since there has traditionally been no actual equivalent to the Bachelor's degree in the German educational system. A student typically completes the initial period of study (called the Vordiplom) in two years.
To complete the requirements for a Diplom, one must pass the examinations for the Hauptstudium (main study period) that follow the Vordiplom, complete one or sometimes more than one Studienarbeit (study research project), and write a Diplomarbeit (diploma thesis). The curriculum at a Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences) is, in contrast to a University, more application-oriented.
The Diplom is a prerequisite for preparing a doctorate (Doktorarbeit). A Fachhochschule graduate is admitted to a German doctoral degree course only if he/she graduated with a very good GPA and does some additional studies at the Universität.
| 1st year | 2nd year | 3rd year | 4th year | 5th year | 6th year | 7th year | 8th year |
|---|
| Vordiplom ⇒ | Diplom (FH) (without semester(s) in companies) ⇒ | Diplom (Univ) (without semester(s) in companies) ⇒ | Doctorate |
|---|
| Bachelors (Bologna)[1] ⇒ | Masters ⇒ | Doctorate |
|---|
| Bachelors (U.S.)[2] ⇒ | Masters ⇒ | Doctorate |
|---|
Please note: the above chart is a rough comparison of different systems of education in terms of the number of years it takes for the attainment of general degrees. By no means should this be interpreted as a reflection on the value of these degrees.[3]
See also
References
- ^ "Bologna Declaration" (PDF). European Commission. 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Toolbox: Bachelors Attainment". U.S. Department of Education. 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-10.
{{cite web}}: Check date values in:|date=(help) - ^ "Evaluating the Bologna Degree in the US". World Education Services. 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-22.
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