Diplom 1978155 220208288 2008-06-18T19:48:24Z Andrija.b 990656 /* See also */ '''Diplom''' (from [[Greek language|Greek]] Δίπλωμα ''[[diploma]]'') is an [[academic degree]] in some European countries including [[Germany]], [[Austria]], [[Switzerland]], [[Estonia]], [[Croatia]], [[Serbia]], [[Education in Ukraine|Ukraine]], [[Belarus]] and [[Greece]]. It can be compared to [[Bachelor's]] and [[master's degree|Master's]] degrees in other countries. [[Image:University Diploma Ukraine-01.jpg|right|thumb|176px|''Diploma from Ukrainian University, 2005'']] The German [[Magister (degree)|Magister]] was originally a graduate degree, in [[1899]] a second first degree, the [[Diplom]], was introduced when the ''[[Technische Hochschule]]n'' received university status. With the implementation of the [[Bologna process]], the ''Diplom'' and ''Magister'' are increasingly being replaced by a system that awards Bachelor's and Master's degrees. Bachelor's degrees, rarely called ''Bakkalaureus'', exist in Germany and are ranked as kind of "small Diplom". Master's degrees are awarded in most cases after five years of study. Master's degrees are rarely called ''Magister'', like the former German graduate degree, but they differ in structure. == Germany / Austria == The Diplom may be obtained by either of the two types of German [[University|universities]]. At a University of Applied Sciences ([[Fachhochschule]]), the diploma degree is described as ''Diplom (FH)'' and takes mostly four years. At a ''Universität'' the degree is mentioned as ''Diplom'' or rarely as ''Diplom (Univ.)'' and takes in most cases around four to five years. These years are called "regular study time" (''Regelstudienzeit'') and may be exceeded (which is usually the case). ''Dipl.'' is short for ''Diplom'' and is, combined with an abbreviation of the study field, often used with names. The ''Diplom'' is the first academic degree many post-secondary students receive, since there has traditionally been no actual equivalent to the Bachelor's degree in the German and Austrian educational systems. A student typically completes the initial period of study (called the ''Vordiplom'') in two years. To complete the requirements for a Diplom, one must pass the examinations for the ''Hauptstudium'' (main study period) that follow the ''Vordiplom'', complete one or sometimes more than one ''Studienarbeit'' (study research project), and write a ''Diplomarbeit'' (diploma thesis). The [[curriculum]] of diploma studies at a University of Applied Sciences ([[Fachhochschule]]) is, in contrast to a Universität, more application-oriented. The ''Diplom'' is a prerequisite for preparing a [[doctorate]] (''Doktorarbeit''). It is usually accepted as admission into doctorate programs in other countries having an educational agreement with Germany. The following chart illustrates a comparison when the old degree ('''Diplom''') and the new European degrees ([[Bachelor's degree|Bachelor]]/[[Master's degree|Master]]) are obtained with some sample durations of studies. It should also be noted for comparison purposes that at the time of the Bologna process, schools in most [[States of Germany|German states]] started changing from 13 school years to 12 or 13 years depending on the school. An exception are the states of [[Saxony]] and [[Thuringia]], where [[Gymnasium (school)|Gymnasium]] lasts for 12 school years since [[German Reunification]]. Most of the students going for a Diplom therefore spent 13 years in school before starting their Diploma, while the younger Bachelor students nowadays may start one year earlier. However, in some states, such as [[Rhineland-Palatinate]] or [[Schleswig-Holstein]], the first class which completes school after 12 years will graduate as late as 2016. {| class="wikitable" ! style="width: 81px; background: #aaa;" | 1<sup>st</sup> year ! style="width: 81px; background: #aaa;" | 2<sup>nd</sup> year ! style="width: 81px; background: #aaa;" | 3<sup>rd</sup> year ! style="width: 81px; background: #aaa;" | 4<sup>th</sup> year ! style="width: 81px; background: #aaa;" | 5<sup>th</sup> year ! style="width: 81px; background: #aaa;" | 6<sup>th</sup> year ! style="width: 81px; background: #aaa;" | 7<sup>th</sup> year ! style="width: 81px; background: #aaa;" | 8<sup>th</sup> year ! style="width: 81px; background: #aaa;" | 9<sup>th</sup> year |- | style="background: #ddd" colspan="1" | Vordiplom | style="background: #ddd" colspan="3" | Diplom (FH) with excellent grades | style="background: #ddd" colspan="2" | additional coursework | style="background: #ddd" colspan="3" | Doctorate |- | style="background: #ddd" colspan="1" | Vordiplom | style="background: #ddd" colspan="3" | Diplom (FH) | style="background: #ddd" colspan="2" | Masters | style="background: #ddd" colspan="3" | Doctorate |- | style="background: #ddd" colspan="2" | Vordiplom | style="background: #ddd" colspan="3" | Diplom (Universität) | style="background: #ddd" colspan="3" | Doctorate | style="background: #fff" colspan="1" | |- | style="background: #ddd" colspan="3" | Bachelors (Bologna only)<ref>{{cite web |url= http://ec.europa.eu./education/policies/educ/bologna/bologna.pdf|title= Bologna Declaration |work= [[European Commission]] |date= [[2007]] |accessdate= 2007-05-10}}</ref> | style="background: #ddd" colspan="2" | Masters | style="background: #ddd" colspan="3" | Doctorate | style="background: #fff" colspan="1" | |} Note: For the Diplom (FH) a student has to spend one to two obligatory semesters during his studies in a company where he/she does not study. These semesters are included in the table. The study time is therefore one to two semesters shorter. Bachelor studies have them included in the table too. For the Diplom (Universität) those semesters are sometimes not included in the table. Also note: A Diplom (Universität) student can enter a doctoral program directly (if the student meets the admission requirements). A Diplom (FH) student has to have excellent grades to directly enter a doctorate program <ref>{{cite web |url= http://www.uni-bielefeld.de/gleichstellungsbeauftragte/promovieren/fhdiplom.html|title=Promovieren mit FH-Diplom|accessdate= 2008-02-12}}</ref>, while the usual way is to finish an additional Masters course. A few German graduate schools, such as the [[Max Planck Institute for Computer Science|International Max Planck Research School for Computer Science]] in [[Saarbrücken]] or the [[Berlin Mathematical School]] also admit students with a Bachelor's degree and excellent grades to their doctorate programms. ==Greece== In Greece, a ''Diploma'' is a 5-year (10-semester) degree, formatted similarly to the German Diplom, awarded to students of the Greek Polytechnic schools, such as the [[National Technical University of Athens]]. While every institution has its own individual approaches, the curriculum usually consists of general knowledge and essential background subjects in the first five semesters. After the end of the fifth semester the student selects his academic area of interest and pursues a set of specialised courses for the next four semesters. The last semester is devoted to the preparation of a thesis on the student's chosen area of interest, which will be presented in a three-member panel. Diplomas are considered equivalent to Masters and allow the holder to sit in the [[Technical Chamber of Greece]] exams without any prerequisite. It also allows the engineer to be considered for Doctorate studies, without any additional classes being taken. Grades range between 0 and 10, 5 being the passing mark. However, since grading practice differs amongst awarding institutions, a descriptive mark is used, which is more or less universal throughout Greece. For example, in the National Technical University of Athens, a grade in the diploma between 5 and 6.99 is "Good" (''Καλώς''), a grade between 7.00 and 8.99 is "Very Good" (''Λίαν Καλώς'') and a grade of 9 and over is "Excellent" (''Άριστα'') [http://www.mech.ntua.gr/en/ugrads/studyguide/study_programme]. In the University of Patras [http://www.ece.upatras.gr/en/ekpaidefsi_en/propt_kanonismos.php] the ranges are from 5 to 6.49 (Good), from 6.5 to 8.49 (Very Good) and from 8.5 to 10 (Excellent). == See also == * [[Diploma]] * [[Magister (degree)|Magister]] * [[DEA (former French degree)]] {{Academic degrees}} ==References== <div class="references-small"> <references /> </div> == External links == {{Wiktionary}} * [http://www.daad.de/en/index.html Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (German Academic Exchange Service)] * [http://www.ece.ntua.gr/3-special.html National Technical University of Athens, School of Electrical and Computer Engineers] * [http://fti.its.ac.id] [[Category:Academic degrees]] [[Category:Education in Germany]] [[Category:Education in Austria]] [[Category:Education in Switzerland]] [[Category:Education in Greece]] [[de:Diplom]] [[fr:Diplom]]