Studying at the University of Freiburg

Semesters and Semester Break

The winter semester runs from October 1st to March 31st, the summer semester from April 1st to September 30th. However, the period in which courses are actually held is shorter, namely from mid-October to mid-February in the winter semester and from mid-April to mid-July in the summer semester. Courses generally do not take place in the months between these teaching periods (semester break). This time may be used for internships and excursions, preparation for exams, and independent research.

Degrees

The University of Freiburg offers undergraduate degree programs leading to a bachelor of arts, a bachelor of science, a state examination, or an ecclesiastical examination. After the completion of one of these degrees it is possible to work towards a master or arts or a master of science. Holders of a master degree, a state examination, or the ecclesiastical examination are eligible to earn a doctorate (Dr.). It is also possible to earn special degrees in postgraduate study programs.

State Examination:

The state examination (Staatsexamen) is a degree which qualifies German graduates to work as civil servants of the Federal Republic of Germany (teacher, judge) or in professions which are monitored by the state (doctors, lawyers, pharmacists). Examination regulations for the state examination are determined individually by each state. The examination is usually divided into two parts (first and second state examination), separated by a period of practical training. 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 special permission to work in Germany as a civil servant or in a profession monitored by the state.

Bachelor:

Bachelor degree programs lead to initial professional qualification. Students in the humanities and the social sciences work toward a bachelor of arts (B.A.), while those in the natural sciences, economics, and engineering fields as well as in mathematics and psychology earn a bachelor of science (B.Sc.) All bachelor programs feature a modular structure and a system of continuous evaluation rather than a single final examination. B.A. programs impart students with solid foundations in a major and a minor field, complemented by practical training in professional skills. A B.Sc. program consists of studies in a major field or a major and minor field as well as training in professional skills. The standard period of study for a bachelor program at the University of Freiburg is three years, during which students must earn a total of 180 ECTS credits.

Master:

Qualified graduates of an undergraduate degree program may elect to enroll in a master degree program in order to pursue a career in academia or earn a professional specialization. A master degree is generally also the prerequisite for admission to a doctoral program. Master of arts (M.A.) refers to a degree in the humanities or the social sciences, whereas the master of science (M.Sc.) may be earned in the natural sciences, economics, and engineering fields. Master programs at the University of Freiburg have a standard period of study of two years and require a total of 120 ECTS credits.

Doctorate:

It is possible to earn a doctorate in any field offered at the University of Freiburg. The prerequisite for admission to a doctoral program is the completion of a course of study with excellent grades. It is possible to have degrees earned in a foreign country recognized, but in these cases it is often necessary to fulfill additional prerequisites, e.g. to take additional courses, before beginning work on the doctorate.
You must find a dissertation supervisor to supervise your doctoral thesis. No professor is obligated to supervise your dissertation, even if you have fulfilled all other conditions for admission to a doctoral program. You are expected to produce new results in your chosen area of research. Since doctoral candidates are not required to complete any coursework, professors generally offer special colloquia to provide their doctoral candidates a chance to present and discuss their work.
In addition to the written dissertation, you will be required to take an oral examination (rigorosum).

Courses

German universities offer various types of courses. Students are awarded with a certain amount of ECTS credits for successfully completing each course. The requirements and amount of credits for a given course are specified in the course catalog.

One common type of course is the lecture course (Vorlesung). It consists of a series of interrelated lectures on a specific topic given weekly by a lecturer or a professor for the duration of the semester. Students attending a lecture course are expected to work over the material dealt with in the course independently, at home or in the library. In the natural sciences a set of lecture notes summarizing the content of a lecture course is often available. In principle, any student may take part in a lecture course, regardless of whether they are beginning students or examination candidates.

Lecture courses are often accompanied by workshops or tutorials (Tutorien), in which a teaching assistant aids groups of students in consolidating the knowledge acquired in the lecture course.

Exercise courses and seminars test the progress of students. A seminar is a course on a specific topic taught by one or more faculty members in which the participants themselves give and discuss presentations. Seminars for undergraduate students are called introductory seminars or fundamentals courses (Proseminare/Grundkurse), and those for graduate students are known as advanced seminars (Hauptseminare/Oberseminare).

An exercise course (Übung) is a course taught by a lecturer or an academic assistant in which solutions to hypothetical problems are developed and examinations and research papers are practiced, corrected, and discussed. Students earn so-called “Scheine” (certificates) for successful participation in seminars and exercise courses.

A practical course (Praktikum) is for the practical instruction of students in natural science fields (e.g., in the laboratory). In them, students conduct experiments independently, usually under supervision.

For further information and advising on degree programs and possible combinations of fields, please contact the Central Student Advising Office (Zentrale Studienberatung - ZSB). The ZSB also offers more detailed information on fields of study (on the content of the field as well as on the structure and duration of a course of study, examination regulations, etc.).