NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

The individual advanced studies subjects cover the following number of aggregate hours of weekly attendance obligations
over the period of advanced studies: general business studies 8 (of lectures) and 6 (of exercise courses/advanced seminars);
political economy 7/5; first special business studies subject 7-9/4-6; second special business studies subject 7-9/4-6;
compulsory option 7-9/4-6.
The Diplom examination which concludes the advanced studies consists of two parts. The first involves writing a dissertation
(Diplomarbeit), and the second involves written and oral examinations in the individual examination subjects. The dissertation
is designed to show that the student is capable of applying scientific methods to a problem from the chosen speciality. As a
rule the student has 12 weeks to work on the dissertation; the chair of the examination committee may stipulate a period of up
to twenty weeks. The topic must be taken from one of the following examination subjects: general business studies, special
business studies, political economy or statistics. The second section of the Diplom examination — the written and oral
examinations — may be completed in one or two blocks.
The overall grade for the Diplom examination is evaluated as follows: average grade 1.20 or above = excellent; 1.21 to 1.50 =
very good; 1.51 to 2.50 = good; 2.51 to 3.50 = satisfactory; 3.51 to 4.00 = sufficient.
A certificate (Zeugnis) is awarded upon successful completion of the Diplom examination, detailing the dissertation topic and
mark, the individual marks for the subjects examined and the overall grade attained in the Diplom degree examination.
Alongside the certificate, the successful candidate is also awarded a diploma (Diplom) detailing the overall grade attained in
the Diplom examination and certifying the award of the academic degree. Once examination candidates have been given the
diploma, they are auth-orised to bear the degree title.
Example: business studies (Fachhochschule)
Example of the study and examination regulations at a Fachhochschule in the business studies degree programme (study
regulations for the Fachhochschule degree programme in business studies at the Fachhochschule, Coburg, of 18 January 1982
with later amendments, and the examination regulations of the Fachhochschule, Coburg, of 2 October 1981 with later
amendments, each understood in connection with the corresponding framework study regulations/framework examination
regulations of the Land of Bavaria).
The general framework regulations for the intermediate and final Diplom examinations at Fachhochschulen in Bavaria of 7
November 1980, together with later amendments, contain general <strong>guide</strong>lines for the Fachhochschulen in Bavaria. They
stipulate that the standard period of study is eight semesters, incorporating six semesters of theory and two practical
semesters.
A special regulation of the Bavarian State Ministry of Teaching, Cultural Affairs, Science and Art Rahmenstudienordnung für
den Fachhochschulstudiengang Betriebswirtschaft (framework study regulation governing the Fachhochschule degree
programme in business studies) of 20 June 1994 provides special <strong>guide</strong>lines for the Fachhochschule degree programme in
business studies. These state that the objective of the study programme is to train students to become business management
graduates capable of applying the tools, developed on the basis of scientific knowledge in all economic and administrative
areas, to the solution of practical problems. This objective is also served by the two practical study semesters which are
integrated into the study course, when the place of learning is transferred from the higher education institution to companies
and other organisations in the professional sphere. Both the basic studies and advanced studies phase involve three semesters
of theoretical study and one practical semester. The practical semesters constitute the third and sixth semester of study. From
the seventh semester, the study regulations offer students the choice of the following specialisations: banking, finance and
investment, marketing, organisation and business computer science, accountancy and controlling, personnel management,
corporate taxation. The study regulations can also provide for further specialisations.