As we have mentioned above, length of schooling (Regelstudienzeit) in German colleges and universities are different according to the differences in university category and major. However, the study term is generally from 4 to 6 academic years (Studienjahr) and each academic year is divided into two semesters (Semester), namely the winter semester (Wintersemester) and the summer semester (Sommersemester). That is to say, in a comprehensive university the student must study for 8 to 12 full time major semesters (Fachsemester). However, because there are a lot of required courses and elective courses and the requirements on the graduation paper is rather strict, a student usually needs to take 1 to 2 extra years to finish all the school work. The teaching schedules in universities of applied sciences are very intense and a student must study for 8 to 9 major semesters to finish the school work, including the intern work. The students are not allowed to extend the study period without good reasons. A few colleges and universities have such “Bachelor Programs” with study periods of 3 years (6 semesters). In colleges and universities of arts a student usually needs to study for 7 to 10 major semesters.

How are the educational courses arranged?

The education program in colleges and universities is divided into two phases, that is:
I. The Basic Study Phase (Grundstudium): usually lasts for 4 semesters for the study of basic courses
II. The Major Study Phase (Hauptstudium): usually lasts for 4 to 8 semesters or more according to different majors for the study of the major courses for the Master’s Degree, the graduation design and the graduation paper

After a student has finished the educational courses of the basic study phase and accumulated enough academic credits(Scheine), he or she has to pass the intermediate examination (Zwischenprüfung, Vordiplomprüfung, Diplomvorprüfung) before continuing to the next study phase.

After finishing the major courses, passing the graduation examination and completing the graduation paper, the student can obtain the corresponding academic degree. The graduation examination can be divided into the university examination, the national examination and the church examination according to different majors. A Diploma (Diplom) is granted to a graduate major in sciences, engineering, economy and some majors of sociology, a degree of Magister/Magistra Artium (M.A.) is granted to a graduate major in languages, culture, laws and some subject of economy and sociology, a “National Examination Certificate” (Staatsexamen) is granted to a graduate major in teacher, lawyer, doctor, pharmacist, etc., a Diplom (FH) is granted to a graduate from a university of applied sciences and a degree of Magister or the corresponding certificate is granted to a graduate from colleges and universities of arts and music. All the diplomas above have the “Certified Professional Qualification” of the same level. 

Different degree can be granted to a graduate from the newly provided “International Degree Programmes” (Internationale Studiengänge) according to the length of the study period. A Bachelor’s Degree (Bachelor) can be granted after a student has finished 5 to 6 semesters of study and has passed the examination and a Master’s Degree (Master/Diplom/Magister) can be granted for another 3 to 4 semesters of study.

After a graduate has been granted the Master’s Degree, he or she can continue to study for the Doctor’s Degree with the recommendation from a professor (Doctor Supervisor, Doktorvater) if he or she is with excellent academic scores.

China and Germany have signed an agreement in mutually recognizing diplomas. The agreement specifies that the Bachelor’s Degrees and Master’s Degrees granted by Germany are also recognized as Bachelor’s Degrees or Master’s Degrees in China. The Magister and Diplom granted by a comprehensive university (Universität) of Germany are recognized as equivalent to the Master’s Degree and the Diplom and Bachelor granted by a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule ) are recognized as Bachelor’s Degrees in China.