Diplom

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Diplom (from Greek Δίπλωμα diploma) is an academic degree in some European countries, including Germany, Austria, The Netherlands, Switzerland, Croatia and Serbia. It is comparable to a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in one.

As the Bologna process agenda is implemented, the Diplom is increasingly being replaced by Master's degrees, awarded for studies following the respective Bachelor's degrees.

[edit] Germany

The Diplom may be obtained either at a Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences) - in this case, the degree is described as Diplom (FH) - taking three to four and a half years and is equivalent to a bachelor degree (depending on the University and their requirements) or at a Universität (University) - in this case the degree is mentioned as Diplom or alternatively as Diplom (Univ.) - taking in most cases around five years and is equivalent to a bachelor and master degree in one. These years are called "regular study time" (Regelstudienzeit) and may be exceeded (and usually are).

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 educational system. A student typically completes the initial period of study (called the Vordiplom) in two years. This Vordiplom can be compared to an Anglo-American Bachelor's degree, because mostly 13 years of school education are required in order to be admitted to a German higher education institution.

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 at a Fachhochschule (University of Applied Sciences) is, in contrast to a University, more application-oriented.

The Diplom is a prerequisite for preparing a doctorate (Doktorarbeit). A Fachhochschule graduate is admitted to a German doctoral degree course only if he/she graduated with a very good GPA and does some additional studies at the Universität.