11 - Germany - Curriculum

Curriculum at universities

Coordination of the organisation of study courses and examinations through framework regulations until 2002

The structure and contents of the courses of studies are specified in the Studienordnungen (study regulations) and Prüfungsordnungen (examination regulations). They list the individual classes – including the number of hours – required for successful completion of a course of studies in each stage of higher education (basic and advanced studies, i.e. Grundstudiumand Hauptstudium), and show which subjects are compulsory, elective and optional. The study regulations also indicate which form of certificates are to be earned in which specific classes. Study regulations furnish guidance to the students, on the one hand, while serving as the basis for the planning of the curriculum in each department, on the other.

The Prüfungsordnungen(examination regulations), on the other hand, specify the Regelstudienzeit (standard period of study), requirements for entry to examinations, crediting of specific courses and examinations taken, time allowed for completion of a dissertation, examination standards, procedures and examination subjects.

To ensure that the various institutions of higher education throughout the country provide a comparable standard of scientific and academic training and degrees, the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder ( Kultusministerkonferenz) and the German Rectors’ Conference ( Hochschulrektorenkonferenz) set up a Joint Commission for the Coordination of Study and Examination Regulations, which has drawn up a framework regulation, covering all subjects, on examinations for the Diplomdegree ( Muster-Rahmenordnung für Diplomprüfungsordnungen) and general provisions concerning regulations on examinations for the Magisterdegree ( Allgemeine Bestimmungen für Magisterprüfungsordnungen), which contain fundamental regulations for examinations in courses of study leading to Diplomand Magisterdegrees. On the basis of these, until the end of 2002 the framework regulations for examinations in the individual courses of study leading to a Diplomdegree and the subject-specific provisions for courses of study leading to a Magisterdegree were drawn up.

The framework regulations contain the quantitative reference data for courses of study, in particular the Regelstudienzeit(standard period of study), the amount of hours of teaching on compulsory and optional subjects, the number of certificates required for admission to examinations ( Leistungsnachweise), examination details and the length of time allowed to complete the final dissertation. The required number of hours of courses during the semester is laid down in the higher education institutions Studienordnungen(study regulations) in the form of hours of weekly attendance during a whole semester ( Semesterwochenstunden) for the individual subjects. Normally, a university course with a Regelstudienzeitor standard study period of nine semesters will entail a workload of 160 hours of weekly attendance (20 hours of weekly attendance x eight semesters of instruction). This figure may be exceeded in courses involving a high number of practicals. These times, known as attendance periodsare however only one aspect of the time required to complete a course of study. In addition, the student has to spend a considerable amount of time on private study, either preparing for the individual classes, reviewing those classes, or addressing additional topic areas which are not offered in courses. The Higher Education Acts of the Länder are increasingly providing for the possibility of part-time studies, however, this is initially only offered by a few higher education institutions.

Accreditation of study courses

With the introduction of the Bachelor's and Master's study courses from 1998, work has started on the development of an independent accreditation system for these courses. According to the resolution of the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of March 2002, a system of accreditation replaced the system of coordination of study and examination regulations in the future. Accreditation certifies in a formalised and objectively verifiable process that a course of study fulfils minimum standards in terms of structure, subject and content, as well as in terms of its professional relevance. For accreditation of Bachelor’s and Master’s study courses the Standing Conference has set up an independent Accreditation Council ( Akkreditierungsrat) acting on behalf of all Länder. In October 2004, the Standing Conference established key points for the further development of the system consisting of Accreditation Council and agencies that has proven fundamentally effective in Germany. From 2005, the Accreditation Council operates as a foundation under public law. In the long term the system of accreditation is to be extended to all courses of study.

The structural guidelines valid for all Länder adopted by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs in October 2003 (amended in 2005) form the basis for the accreditation. These serve as a framework for the planning and conception of study courses. The structural guidelines of October 2003, most recently amended in 2005, refer, amongst others, to the structure and length of study. They stipulate that Bachelor’s study courses, as study courses which lead to a first degree qualifying for entry into a profession, must provide the academic foundation, methodological skills and qualifications related to the professional field. Furthermore, the structural guidelines distinguish between more research-oriented Master’s study courses and more practice-oriented ones. Bachelor’s and Master’s study courses are provided with a credit point system which is based upon the European Credit Transfer System (ECTS).

Foreign language teaching

To do justice to the importance of foreign language teaching in higher education, the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder in 1991 issued directives on attainment of a technical languagecertificate. Foreign language training is optional; as a rule, this certificate can be obtained after four semesters' training for a total of 12 to 16 hours of attendance per week during a semester (a workload of 170 to 200 hours in total) and after a final examination. German universities traditionally offer a wide range of foreign language courses, both general and technical in orientation. Classes are given in many European and non-European languages.

Institutions:

Hochschulrektorenkonferenz (HRK)
Ahrstr. 39 53175 Bonn
Tel.:0228/887-0
Fax:0228/887-110
Website: http://www.hrk.de

Stiftung zur Akkreditierung von Studiengängen in Deutschland
Adenauerallee 73 53113 Bonn
Tel.:0228/338306-0
Fax:0228/338306-79
Website: http://www.akkreditierungsrat.de

Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (KMK)
Lennéstraße 6 53113 Bonn Berliner Büro: Markgrafenstr. 37 10117 Berlin
Tel.:0228/501-0
Fax:0228/501-777
Website: http://www.kmk.org

Curriculum at colleges of art and music

The observations on regulations governing studies and examinations at universities essentially apply to colleges of art and music as well. In a number of resolutions, the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs of the Länder has given recommendations on the organisation of artistic courses of studies to ensure the comparability of degrees awarded throughout the country. In December 2004, the Standing Conference passed a resolution that study courses at colleges of art and music should also be included in the consecutive structure of study courses leading to Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees. The structural requirements that are binding for all Länder and that were passed by the Standing Conference in October 2003 for the accreditation of Bachelor’s and Master’s study courses were supplemented accordingly in 2005.

Institutions:
Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (KMK)
Lennéstraße 6 53113 Bonn Berliner Büro: Markgrafenstr. 37 10117 Berlin
Tel.:0228/501-0
Fax:0228/501-777
Website: http://www.kmk.org

Curriculum at Fachhochschulen

Coordination of the organisation of study courses and examinations through framework regulations until 2002

The observations on the organisation of studies and examinations at universities essentially apply to Fachhochschulen as well. In order to ensure comparable standards of scientific and academic training and degrees, the Joint Commission for the Coordination of Study and Examination Regulationsdecided on a framework regulation on examinations for the Diplomdegree ( Muster-Rahmenordnung für Diplomprüfungsordnungen) at Fachhochschulen, on the basis of which, until 2002 framework regulations were drawn up for the individual subject areas.

Accreditation of study courses

From now on, a system of quality assurance through accreditation will replace the system of coordination of study and examination regulations. The structural guidelines for all Länder passed by the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs apply to both Fachhochschulenand to universities.

Foreign Language Teaching

Against the background of growing internationalisation, the teaching of foreign languages is becoming increasingly important. Numerous courses of studies at Fachhochschuleninclude foreign language classes either as a compulsory subject or an elective within the framework of general education subjects. Furthermore, many Fachhochschulenoffer optional foreign language courses for students in all departments.

Institutions:
Ständige Konferenz der Kultusminister der Länder in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland (KMK)
Lennéstraße 6 53113 Bonn Berliner Büro: Markgrafenstr. 37 10117 Berlin
Tel.:0228/501-0
Fax:0228/501-777
Website: http://www.kmk.org

Curriculum at establishments outside the higher education system – Berufsakademien, Fachschulen

Berufsakademien

The students at the Berufsakademien complete parallel training with a company in trade and industry, with comparable establishments in other sectors – particularly in the case of the liberal professions – or at institutions maintained by social services. During the training, periods of study at the study institution ( Studienakademie) alternate with periods of on-the-job training in the training establishments. Training is given on the basis of two kinds of study and training plans. Firstly, these are drawn up by the Berufsakademientogether with participating companies and social services, and adopted by the ministries responsible in the form of ordinances. Secondly, these are also according to Ausbildungsordnungen (training regulations) and Prüfungsordnungen (examination regulations) of the Berufsakademienin accordance with general regulations of the responsible ministries.

In October 2004, the Standing Conference passed the resolution that Bachelor’s training courses at Berufsakademienshould be accredited. With the fulfilment of certain requirements, Bachelor’s degrees obtained at Berufsakademienare thus equivalent to Bachelor’s degrees obtained at institutions of higher education and thus provide access to Master’s study courses. The requirements for the Berufsakademienapply in particular to teaching staff and to the scope of both theoretical and practical training components.

Fachschulen

The requirements for admission to continuing vocational courses at Fachschulen are appropriate vocational training in conjunction with the relevant vocational experience. The compulsory component in the two-year Fachschulen comprises the multi-disciplinary and subject-specific areas in the five subject areas, as well as a practical in youth and community work or in healthcare support for the social services area. Instruction in the multi-disciplinary area serves primarily the acquisition of extended general knowledge, skills and competences. Instruction in the subject-specific areas serves the acquisition of extended vocational knowledge, skills and competences in one of the five subject areas.

Eurydice - the information network on education in Europe