Degrees

Bachelor degree programs provide the first professional qualification and university degree. Bachelor of Arts (B.A.) characterizes degrees in the humanities and social sciences. Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.) characterizes degrees in natural sciences, economics and technical fields as well as mathematics and psychology.
B.A. degree programs consist of a major and minor field in addition to a practice-oriented seminars and courses that hone professional skills (BOK [de]). A B.Sc. degree program consists of a major or a major and minor along with a focus on building professional skills.

The so-called polyvalent two-field bachelor’s degree program offers you a choice between two alternatives:

• High school teaching degree (Option 1): To transition to a Master’s of Education, you select courses from four areas in the education program: – specialty field, educational science, teaching methodology and practice phase (three-week orientation internship).
• Individually tailored degree program (Option 2): In this program you delve into one or two specialty fields and select so-called career-related skills (BOK) for a specialized master’s degree that you will pursue thereafter. (M.A./M.Sc.).

All bachelor degree programs consist of various modules. A module can be, for instance, a lecture and a seminar after which you customarily complete by taking an exam (study-related exam system). The student receives ECTS points for every module he or she completes successfully. A bachelor degree program requires 180 ECTS points, spanning over six semesters.

Upon successful completion of a foundational program, typically in the form of a bachelor’s degree program, you have the opportunity to take on a master’s degree program in order to start an academic career or to achieve a level of professional specialization. The master’s program is also customarily a prerequisition for a doctorate. The Master of Education is a prerequisite to be allowed to enter the teaching practice program (Referendariat) as a teacher as well as the subsequent state examination. The Master of Arts (M.A.) characterizes a degree in the humanities and social sciences.  The Master of Science (M.Sc.) is a degree in the natural sciences, business administration and technical fields. A master’s degree program typically spans across four semesters with 120 ECTS points of required coursework.

The state examination is taken by graduates in those fields whose studies enable them to have a career as a public servant for the Federal Republic of Germany (teacher, judge) or state regulated professions (doctor, lawyer, pharmacist). Each Federal State has its own exam regulations. In most cases the state examination is divided into two parts over time (first and second state exams); in between the two exams, students partake in a practice-oriented training phase.

Note: For teacher trainees, they can only take their state examination after they have completed their teaching practice program (Referendariat). The prequesite to become a teacher is the successful completion of a Master of Education that comes after the polycalent two-field degree program with a teacher training option at the University of Freiburg.

In principle, it is also possible for international students to take the State Examination. However, graduates who are not citizens of an EU member country are only seldom granted permission by state authorities to work as a civil servant or in a state-regulated profession in Germany.

You can get a doctoral degree on all 11 faculties at the University of Freiburg. Along with the “classic“ individual doctoral degress, a series of doctoral programs in the most diverse areas are offered. If you wish to pursue a doctoral degree at the University of Freiburg, ask the appropriate point of contact in the faculty you are interested in getting your degree.

You can also find an overview of various doctoral opportunities, tips and information on the Graduate Centre (GraCe) website.

• Information on doctoral degrees for international students
  You will find current doctoral degree exam regulations [de] on the departmental pages for legal affairs, studies and instruction.