Branches of Study

For a detailed discussion of the branches of study offered at institutions of the tertiary sector, the information provided in the section on Bachelor’s courses of study applies.

The standard period of study for Master’s study courses can be two, three or four semesters.

Admission Requirements

The admission requirement for a Master’s study course is, as a rule, a higher education degree qualifying for entry into a profession. Under Land higher education laws, in clearly defined exceptional cases for Master’s study courses providing further education and for artistic Master’s study courses, an entrance examination may take the place of the requirement for a higher education degree qualifying for a profession. For quality assurance purposes or on grounds of capacity, additional admission requirements may be laid down for Master’s study courses. Admission requirements are subject to accreditation. The Länder may reserve the right to approve admission requirements.

For admission to artistic Master’s study courses, the special artistic aptitude required for this must be demonstrated in addition to the Bachelor’s qualification. This can also be done by a special aptitude examination.

For admission to Master’s study courses providing further education, also evidence of qualified employment is required for a period of not less than one year as a rule.

Curriculum

The 'Common structural guidelines of the Länder for the accreditation of Bachelor’s and Master’s study courses" ('Ländergemeinsame Strukturvorgaben für die Akkreditierung von Bachelor- und Masterstudiengängen') distinguish between research-oriented Master’s study courses and practice-oriented ones as well as consecutive Master’s study courses and Master’s study courses providing further education. Master’s study courses providing further education should take professional experience into account and build on it.

Master’s degree courses at colleges of art and music should have a special artistic profile which must be laid down in the accreditation and set out in the Diploma Supplement. More detailed information on the Diploma Supplement is provided in the section on Bachelor’s courses of study.

Teaching methods

For a discussion of teaching methods at institutions of the tertiary sector, see the section on Bachelor’s courses of study.

Progression of students

For a discussion of the progression of students at institutions of the tertiary sector, see the section on Bachelor’s courses of study.

Employability

For a detailed discussion of measures to facilitate the transition from institutions of the tertiary sector to working life, see the section on Bachelor’s courses of study.

Student assessment

A Master’s degree requires 300 ECTS points, including the preceding course of study for the first qualification for entry into a profession. This requirement can be waived in special cases where students can demonstrate that they are suitably qualified.

The scope of the work for the Master’s dissertation should range from 15–30 ECTS credits.

For consecutive Bachelor’s and Master’s study courses with a total standard study period of six years in one of the core arts subjects a Master’s degree requires 360 ECTS points in principle including the previous course of study.

Credit points and grades must be shown separately. Alongside the grade based on the German grading scale from 1 to 5, in the final grade a relative grade is also to be shown.

Certification

In designating consecutive Master’s degrees, no distinction is made between the profile types “practice-oriented” and “research-oriented”. The Master’s degree provides the same rights as Diplom and Magister qualifications of universities and equivalent higher education institutions.

The following designations are used for Master’s degrees in consecutive Master's study courses at universities and equivalent institutions of higher education:

• Master of Arts (M.A.)
• Master of Science (M.Sc.)
• Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
• Master of Laws (LL.M.)
• Master of Education (M.Ed.)

The following designations are used for Master’s degrees in consecutive Master's study courses at colleges of art and music:

• Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.)
• Master of Arts (M.A.)
• Master of Music (M.Mus.)

In the courses of study at art and music colleges, which provide the educational prerequisites for a teaching position, a Master of Education (M.Ed.) in music or fine arts is awarded.

The following designations are used for Master’s degrees in consecutive Master's study courses at Fachhochschulen:

• Master of Arts (M.A.)
• Master of Science (M.Sc.)
• Master of Engineering (M.Eng.)
• Master of Laws (LL.M.)

Bachelor's degrees generally confer the same rights as Diplom degrees at Fachhochschulen, Master's degrees confer the same rights as Diplom and Magister degrees at universities and equivalent institutions of higher education.