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NARIC guide on Higher Education Systems in the European Union

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Degree courses<br />

Bachelor degree: This is generally obta<strong>in</strong>ed after a three- or four-year full-time course, or comparable period of part-time<br />

study. Projects and work experience are comm<strong>on</strong>ly required.<br />

Graduate diploma: This is generally obta<strong>in</strong>ed after a <strong>on</strong>e year postgraduate course or comparable period of part-time study.<br />

Master degree: A Master degree can be obta<strong>in</strong>ed through course work and exam<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong>, through research, or through a<br />

comb<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong> two methods. The normal entry standard for a Master degree should be an H<strong>on</strong>ours Bachelor degree <strong>in</strong> a<br />

field of study directly related to <strong>the</strong> subject matter of <strong>the</strong> Master’s <strong>the</strong>sis proposal.<br />

Doctoral degree: Normally admissi<strong>on</strong> to <strong>the</strong> Doctoral register is c<strong>on</strong>f<strong>in</strong>ed to candidates who have been admitted at least 12<br />

m<strong>on</strong>ths previously to <strong>the</strong> Master’s register and who have been recommended for transfer to <strong>the</strong> Doctoral register. There may<br />

be excepti<strong>on</strong>s to this rule where a candidate with a first class H<strong>on</strong>ours Bachelor’s degree may be recommended for transfer to<br />

<strong>the</strong> Doctoral register without first register<strong>in</strong>g for a Master’s degree.<br />

These awards are made by <strong>the</strong> NCEA; <strong>in</strong> additi<strong>on</strong>, some colleges or <strong>in</strong>stituti<strong>on</strong>s may award certificates and diplomas<br />

<strong>the</strong>mselves.<br />

(For exam<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong>s procedure and results, see I.3.)<br />

II.3.2. F<strong>in</strong>al university qualificati<strong>on</strong>s<br />

Bachelor degree<br />

The first degree at universities is <strong>the</strong> Bachelor or primary degree. This degree provides a basic ground<strong>in</strong>g <strong>in</strong> a particular<br />

subject or field of study. The Bachelor degree seldom amounts to a professi<strong>on</strong>al qualificati<strong>on</strong>.<br />

Durati<strong>on</strong> of primary degree courses varies accord<strong>in</strong>g to faculty or field of study. At <strong>the</strong> c<strong>on</strong>stituent colleges of <strong>the</strong> nati<strong>on</strong>al<br />

university <strong>the</strong>re are<br />

three types of Bachelor degrees: general degree, H<strong>on</strong>ours degree and special degree (<strong>on</strong>e subject taken at general degree level<br />

and <strong>on</strong>e subject taken at H<strong>on</strong>ours degree level).<br />

The Bachelor of Arts (BA) programme requires three or four years’ study, while primary degrees <strong>in</strong> medic<strong>in</strong>e and dentistry<br />

take six years. The Bachelor (H<strong>on</strong>ours) degree at Tr<strong>in</strong>ity College requires four years’ study. Most students complete <strong>the</strong>ir<br />

courses <strong>in</strong> <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>imum time allowed. A small percentage may repeat <strong>on</strong>e year.<br />

A course descripti<strong>on</strong> and sample diploma follow at <strong>the</strong> end of this chapter (see Appendix I).<br />

Master degree<br />

A Master degree can be obta<strong>in</strong>ed through course work and exam<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong>, through research, or through a comb<strong>in</strong>ati<strong>on</strong> of <strong>the</strong><br />

two methods. The normal durati<strong>on</strong> of study is from <strong>on</strong>e to three years follow<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> Bachelor degree. A Master degree is<br />

available <strong>in</strong> most fields of study.<br />

A good Bachelor (H<strong>on</strong>ours) degree is generally required for admissi<strong>on</strong>.<br />

A course descripti<strong>on</strong> and sample diploma follow at <strong>the</strong> end of this chapter (see Appendix I).<br />

Doctoral degrees

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