Bachelor’s degree, master’s degree, state examination, or Diplom?

JGU offers its subjects in a variety of degree programs. Each program ends with a specific degree and differs in duration, structure, sequence, and admission requirements. Each program’s degree description contains information on these aspects. You can find further information on our webpages on starting your studies.

In general:

Bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are the most common degree programs in Germany. A bachelor’s degree program concludes in a primary degree qualifying you for entry into a profession. It provides basic knowledge of the subject in question and often allows you to set a first thematic focus toward the end of the degree. Transitioning to a profession with a bachelor’s degree is possible in principle but the level of difficulty may vary depending on the field.

A consecutive master’s degree program represents further specialization of the previous bachelor’s degree program and generally consists of a single subject of study. In a master’s degree program, you also often concentrate on a single subject area or a few sub-areas of the respective subject.

In most cases, master’s degree programs require a bachelor’s degree in the same or a related subject. Often, a certain extent of topic-specific knowledge is required (in the form of credits).

Bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are modular, i.e., they consist of individual modules. Modules combine several courses on one topic or with related content, coordinating them in terms of content or timing. For example, a lecture, a seminar, and a tutorial on the foundations of one subject form a module.

Each of these units concludes with a module examination, consisting of either one examination or several interim examinations. The results of these examinations, which are carried out during the course of studies, are already part of the final examination: The results are included in the final grade of the bachelor’s or master’s degree – weighted according to the scope of the respective module. Your studies conclude with a bachelor’s or master’s degree examination, such as a longer written (research) paper as well as an oral examination or practical examinations in the arts degree programs.

The scope and workload of both the preparation and follow-up for each module is specified in credit points. One credit point is roughly equivalent to 30 hours of student work time. Students usually take courses amounting to approximately 30 credit points per semester.

Bachelor’s and master’s degree programs are often characterized by a high degree of flexibility: While we recommend a specific degree plan for completing the degree within the standard period of study, you are usually not bound by it. Each semester, you decide which courses and exams to take.

Single-subject bachelor’s degree programs

JGU offers some of its subjects as single-subject bachelor’s degree programs, especially in the natural sciences and economics. In this context, you focus on a single subject and acquire in-depth knowledge in it, specializing in particular areas. In some subjects you will also take an additional minor or specialist subject as part of your studies. 

JGU offers the following single-subject bachelor’s degrees programs:

  • Bachelor of Science (B.Sc.)
  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)
  • Bachelor of Music (B.Mus.)
  • Bachelor of Laws (LL.B.)

These degree programs have a standard period of study of six semesters and a scope of 180 credits – with the exception of the Bachelor of Music and the Bachelor of Laws. For these, you usually study for 8 semesters and acquire at least 240 credits. Often, the examination regulations also specify a period within which you must have completed your studies or registered for the bachelor’s degree examination.

Two-subject bachelor’s degree programs

JGU offers some of its degrees as two-subject bachelor’s degree programs, especially (but not exclusively) in the humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences. In these programs, you always study a combination of two subjects, which together make up your degree program.

JGU offers the following two-subject bachelor’s degree program:

  • Bachelor of Arts (B.A.)

This program has a standard period of study of 6 semesters amounting to 180 credit points upon completion. However, you will not divide these points between your two chosen subjects equally, but rather you will choose

  • one major subject (120 credit points = 2/3 of the program)
  • and one minor subject (60 credit points = 1/3 of the program).

You are only required to pass a final examination (written bachelor’s thesis and oral examination) for your major subject. Often, the examination regulations also specify a period within which you must have completed your studies or registered for the final bachelor’s degree examination. In the minor subject, you will generally complete only some of the modules and classes taught to students taking the subject as a major.

Both of your subjects can be chosen from the wide range of humanities, cultural studies, and social sciences subjects offered at JGU, but also from other subject areas like economics or law. You decide which subject will be your major subject. However, a few subjects can only be chosen as a minor.

For every bachelor’s degree program, JGU offers a corresponding master’s degree program; in many cases even more than one in order to allow specializations in different areas. Students studying for two-subject bachelor’s degrees will be able to enter master’s degree programs corresponding to their major subjects, in some cases also programs corresponding to their minor subjects. JGU also offers master’s degree programs that can be studied in combination with various bachelor’s degrees or for which the bachelor’s degree subject is irrelevant.

The admission requirements for each master’s degree program can be found in the corresponding degree description.

JGU offers the following master’s degrees:

  • Master of Science (M.Sc.)
  • Master of Arts (M.A.)
  • Master of Music (M.Mus.)
  • Master of Laws (LL.M.)

These programs have a standard period of study of four semesters and require 120 credits (with the exception of the Master of Laws). Often, the examination regulations also specify a period within which you must have completed your studies or registered for the master’s degree examination.

Master’s programs with a selectable focus area

In some master’s degree programs at JGU, you have the option to select one of three different focus areas to supplement the core degree program. The focus area enables you to design your studies more flexibly. The following options are available to you:

  1. Consolidate subject-specific content and specialize your knowledge with a research-oriented focus (focus area 1)
  2. Select a supplementary subject to give your studies an interdisciplinary touch (focus area 2)
  3. Acquire additional qualifications to prepare for a professional career or boost your interests (focus area 3)

You are free to choose one of these three focus areas (focus area 1 – master’s subject specialization or focus area 2 – supplementary subject or focus area 3 – additional qualifications). Regardless of which focus area you choose, the 120 credit points required to earn your master’s degree will be split between the master’s subject (90 credit points) and a focus area (30 credit points).

Please visit the website about master’s programs with a selectable focus area (in German) to find out in which master’s degree programs you have this option and to learn more about how they are structured.

In Rhineland-Palatinate, teacher education consists of a Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.) followed by the Master of Education (M.Ed.). The master’s degree is recognized as the first state examination and is the prerequisite for the 18-month teacher traineeship in Rhineland-Palatinate (Referendariat) that follows the studies. The Referendariat concludes with the examinations for the second state examination and earning the qualification to teach.

The Bachelor of Education in Rhineland-Palatinate is “polyvalent”, i.e., the first four semesters are not focused on a specific type of school. It is not until the fifth semester that your studies will focus on a particular type of school. At JGU, from this point on, you can only study to teach at a Gymnasium. The master’s degree program is also only offered for teacher education for Gymnasium.

The general information on bachelor’s/master’s degree programs also applies to teacher education.

Further information:

In addition to subject-specific knowledge, the Bachelor of Education also provides the basic pedagogical, psychological, sociological, and subject-didactic knowledge necessary for teaching. You will take two subjects (school subjects) of your choice as well as the third compulsory subject, Education Studies. You will complete your bachelor’s thesis in one of these three subjects. The two teaching subjects can be freely combined from among the teaching courses offered at JGU – with the exception of Art and Music, which cannot be combined. In addition, you will familiarize yourself with the professional environment through several school internships.

Your studies will usually last for six semesters and comprise 180 credits, of which the two disciplines take up about 2/3 in equal parts.

School internships

  • Orientation internship 1:
    15 teaching days, after the first semester of the bachelor’s program
  • Orientation internship 2:
    15 teaching days, usually before selection of the teaching degree-specific focus
  • In-depth internship for bachelor’s degree program:
    15 teaching days, usually during the lecture-free period after orientation internship 2

One of the orientation internships may be replaced by an internship at an out-of-school learning or training location.

The school internships (to be carried out at different types of schools) fulfill three different purposes:

  • You will gain knowledge of professional practice while studying.
  • You can verify your personal inclination toward and aptitude for the teaching profession.
  • You will get to know different types of schools and can decide which one you would like to teach at
    (Please note! You can only study teacher education for Gymnasium at JGU).

After completing the Bachelor of Education (B.Ed.), you will continue your studies with the Master of Education (M.Ed.) in your previously chosen subjects. It consolidates the content of the bachelor’s degree program and concludes with the master’s degree. This is also the qualification for the teacher traineeship (Referendariat) following your studies.

Your studies will usually last for four semesters and comprise 120 credits, of which the two disciplines take up about 2/3 in equal parts. Artistic subjects are an exception. If you are studying Art or Music, the artistic subject takes up more credits than the non-artistic subject. In both subjects, you will still receive the full teaching qualification in Rhineland-Palatinate. You will write your master’s thesis in one of the two subjects, but not in the subject in which you wrote your bachelor’s thesis.

You can add a third subject starting in the 5th academic semester of your bachelor’s degree program. The teaching certificate program consists of some of the modules (approx. six) of a regular B.Ed. and M.Ed. program and concludes with the examination in the third teaching subject. It entitles the holder to later teach three school subjects – in Rhineland-Palatinate, this includes full teaching qualifications for all school grades.

For the application and enrollment in the first academic semester for examination in a third teaching subject (B.Ed/M.Ed.), the same conditions as for an application for the regular B.Ed. program of study apply.

It is still possible to study the additional subject during and after the master’s degree studies. When you apply after completing the Bachelor of Education, the conditions for a second degree generally apply – however, no tuition fees are charged for the additional subject. Further information and regulations are included in the “Regulations for the examination in the teaching certificate course of study (examination in a third teaching subject).”

The integrated Mainz-Dijon teaching bachelor’s degree program in cooperation with the Université de Bourgogne, Dijon, gives you the opportunity to spend some of your studies in France and to obtain a double degree (Bachelor of Education & Licence of the Université de Bourgogne). In principle, this allows you to work as a teacher in France or in Germany.

You can also acquire an additional qualification for bilingual teaching in Germany during your studies in the following specialized academic subjects:

  • History (English or French)
  • Geography (English or French)
  • Social Studies (English)

In order to obtain the qualification, it is usually necessary to attend special courses for two semesters and take the corresponding examinations or complete the required coursework.

Certain academic professions require uniform quality standards in education throughout Germany (e.g., in the medical or legal fields). The relevant courses of study are therefore regulated by the state and conclude with a state examination. Typically, the initial examination sections are followed by longer practical phases, which in turn conclude with further state examinations. After this, you are licensed by the state to practice your profession. 

State examination programs consist of a single field of study and convey in-depth knowledge in different areas. Over the course of your studies, you can also choose to focus on different sub-areas of the subject.

The degree programs are usually between eight and twelve semesters long, depending on the subject.

All undergraduate degrees at JGU concluding with a state examination:

In some German federal states, teaching degree programs also conclude with a state examination. In Rhineland-Palatinate, however, prospective teachers complete a bachelor’s/master’s degree program. In this case, the Master of Education is recognized as equivalent to the first state examination.

A doctorate is a work of independent academic research through which the title of doctor is earned. It is usually (but not exclusively) offered at universities and in most cases can only be taken up after completing a master’s degree, Diplom, Magister, or state examination program.

A doctorate usually consists of two parts:

  1. A written dissertation about the research question (extensive academic paper, also called doctoral thesis)
  2. Oral examination, which mainly focuses on the dissertation as well as other selected topics.

Depending on the subject and the regulations and procedures governing the doctorate, the doctoral thesis may also be substituted with several scientific publications (cumulative dissertation).

JGU offers a variety of doctoral opportunities:

  • Individual doctorate, exclusively supervised by one professor (doctoral supervisor)
  • Structured doctorate, with additional integration into a training program

The duration of a doctoral program can vary depending on the type and field of study, but often takes three to four years. The prerequisites and conditions are defined in the regulations and procedures governing the doctorate particular to each subject.

In principle, a doctorate is possible in any field of study at JGU, as long as the requirements are met. In addition, there are also international doctorates completed in equal parts at JGU and a university abroad.

Doctoral students must register at JGU and may additionally be enrolled as students if they wish.

The Gutenberg Council for Young Researchers (GYR) offers more information as well as support for doctoral students.

Continuing education programs allow working professionals to gain further qualifications within a field, opening up new career opportunities, for example. In addition to a certified university degree, the programs usually also require relevant practical work experience. The duration, content, structure, and admission requirements vary widely, depending on the course of studies.