The Masters degree programme is a course of study lasting at least two years (120 ECTS). It serves to deepen and supplement the pre-career academic/scientific education and to provide qualifications for professional work. It builds on a relevant Bachelor level course or on other higher education studies that are at least equivalent.

Branches of study

The University of Liechtenstein offers Master level programmes in Economics and Architecture. The Private University in the Principality of Liechtenstein offer no programmes at Master level.

Admission requirements

Admission to a Masters programme presupposes the successful conclusion of a relevant Bachelor qualification or of another higher education qualification that is of at least equivalent status. The subject preconditions and any eventual specific admission requirements are determined by the aims of the individual Masters programme. The setting of the conditions for admission for other subjects and for Bachelor degrees acquired in other countries lies within the competences of the individual higher education institutions.

Curriculum

The structure and content of the courses are independently determined by the individual higher education institution and set out in study guides and rules as well as in study plans and module handbooks. There are no national standards. The study guides state which modules (including ECTS points) have to be completed in order to be awarded a final degree. They indicate the subjects that are either compulsory, compulsory optional or fully optional. The study guides and module handbooks serve on the one hand to orient the students and on the other to provide the basis for planning the syllabus for each subject area. Study guides and/or specific examination guides set out the preconditions for examinations, the examination procedure and the examination subjects.

Teaching methods

The types of teaching method and activities used (lectures, proseminars, seminars, drills, colloquia, tutorials, E-Learning etc.) are very varied and are selected independently by the universities themselves. Some courses require obligatory or recommended internships/work experience of varying lengths. Depending on the subject, case studies, project work and the like may form a part of the course. Self study (reading, composing written assignments, preparing seminar papers etc.) is a part of all courses.

Progression of students

The higher education institutions’ and/or faculties’ study rules and doctoral degree regulations govern the admission, organisation and evaluation of performance checks (examinations, written work etc.), the option to repeat courses if necessary in the event of indequate performance, and the maximum allowable length of study. The study rules of the University of Liechtenstein place an upper limit of 8 semesters for the Masters level.

The Higher Education Law governs the application of the European Transfer Credit System (ECTS) for all courses and defines a credit point as follows: 1 ECTS = 30 hours of work (lessons + individual student learning time). The university study plans and module descriptions state the number of ECTS credits for each module.

In addition to providing for a description of the study courses and their modules, the law also refers to the learning outcomes. The National Qualification Framework orients itself on the Dublin Descriptors for describing learning outcomes.

The performances achieved are set out in the Diploma Supplement.

Employability

The Masters programme leads to an academic degree which qualifies a student for a professional career in either a specific working environment or an open one. Depending on the individual higher education institution and its orientation, programmes can be applied or more strongly research-oriented. The Masters degree qualifies its holder for an academic career and is the precondition for admission to a Doctoral programme.

Student assessment

Performance assessment is based on the study and examination rules of the individual higher education institutions and is therefore the responsibility of the institutions themselves within the framework of the requirements of the Higher Education Law. At the University of Liechtenstein, students’ performance is assessed using the numerical marking system used in Switzerland and Liechtenstein (1 (lowest mark) to 6 (highest mark)) and/or with ECTS grades. The Higher Education Law governs the application of the European Transfer Credit System (ECTS) for all courses and defines a credit point as follows: 1 ECTS = 30 hours of work (lessons + individual student learning time). The higher education institutions’ study plans and module descriptions state the number of ECTS credits for each module. In addition to providing for a description of the study courses and their modules, the law also refers to the learning outcomes. The National Qualification Framework orients itself on the Dublin Descriptors for describing learning outcomes.

The performances achieved are set out in the Diploma Supplement.

Certification

The awarding of higher education qualifications and degrees is the responsibility of the higher education institutions. The Higher Education Law sets out the following awards at the Masters level.

• Master of Arts in (+ subject), MA, 120 ECTS (min. 2 years)
• Master of Science in (+ subject), MSc, 120 ECTS (min. 2 years)

The Higher Education Law obliges all higher education institutions to provide free Diploma Supplements (in German and English).