From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Diplom (from Greek Δίπλωμα diploma) is an academic degree in some European countries, including Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Croatia and Serbia. It is comparable to a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in one.

As the Bologna process agenda is implemented, the Diplom is increasingly being replaced by Master's degrees, awarded for studies following the respective Bachelor's degrees.

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 is equivalent to a bachelor 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 and is equivalent to a bachelor and master degree in one. These years are called "regular study time" (Regelstudienzeit) and may be exceeded (and usually are).

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. This Vordiplom can be compared to an Anglo-American Bachelor's degree, because mostly 13 years of school education are required in order to be admitted to a German higher education institution.

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.

• Magister