Degrees
Bachelors' degrees
Bachelors' programmes (professional orientation)
These programmes are in the first place geared towards the professional practice and aim at bringing the students to a level of general and specific knowledge and of competences necessary for the independent exercise of a profession. The programme is therefore practice-oriented and includes periods of apprenticeships. Professional bachelors' programmes are only offered by the universities of applied sciences/university colleges. These bachelors' programmes consist of at least 180 ECTS credits and take on average three academic years.
Bachelors' programmes (academic orientation)
These programmes are in the first place geared towards theoretic knowledge and further studies at a masters' level. These bachelors' programmes consist of at least 180 ECTS credits and take on average three academic years.
Advanced bachelors' programmes
Advanced bachelors' programmes are actually further studies and aim at deepening the knowledge and/or competences acquired in a professional bachelors' programme. A student must therefore already hold a bachelors' degree to enrol. These programmes consist of at least 60 ECTS credits and take on average one academic year.
Masters' degrees
Masters' programmes
Masters' programmes consist of at least 60 ECTS credits and take on average one academic year. Depending on the field of study programmes last longer. Masters' programmes have an academic orientation but can in addition include a more professional orientation. These programmes aim at bringing the student to an advanced level of knowledge and competences in a specific field of study. Masters' programmes are concluded with a master's dissertation. This takes a minimum of 15 ECTS credits and a maximum of 30 ECTS credits.
Advanced masters' programmes
Advanced masters' programmes are actually further studies and aim at deepening the knowledge and/or competences in a certain field of study. A student must already hold a master's degree to enrol. These programmes consist of at least 60 ECTS credits and take on average one academic year.
PhD degree
The degree of "doctor" is awarded by a university jury after a public presentation of a doctoral thesis which confirms the capability of the creation of new scientific knowledge based upon independent scientific research. The doctoral thesis should have the potential to lead to publications in scientific journals.
