Diplom facts for kids
The Diplom is a special kind of university degree from some European countries. It's a high-level award you get after studying a lot. You can find Diplom degrees in countries like Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Estonia, Croatia, Serbia, Ukraine, Belarus, and Greece.
Think of the Diplom as being similar to both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree combined, which are common in many other parts of the world.
The Diplom degree first appeared when certain technical schools in Germany, called Technische Hochschulen, became full universities. Over time, many countries are slowly changing from the Diplom system to the Bachelor's and Master's degree system, which is used more widely around the globe. Sometimes, a Bachelor's degree in Germany is even called a Bakkalaureus, and it's seen as a "smaller" version of the Diplom.
What is a Diplom?
In countries like Germany and Austria, the Diplom is a very important university degree. It can be awarded by two main types of universities:
- Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule): Here, the degree is called a Diplom (FH). It usually takes about four years to complete. Students also gain practical work experience during their studies.
- Traditional Universities (Universität): At these universities, the degree is simply called a Diplom or sometimes Diplom (Univ.). This degree usually takes four or five years to finish. Sometimes, students might take a bit longer than the "regular study time" (Regelstudienzeit).
For many students in Germany and Austria, the Diplom was the first main university degree they earned. Before this, there wasn't a separate Bachelor's degree in their education system.
How to Earn a Diplom
To get a Diplom certificate, students need to pass several stages and complete special projects:
- Vordiplom: This is like an intermediate exam you take early in your studies.
- Hauptstudium: This is the main part of your study time, where you focus deeply on your chosen subject. You need to pass tests for this stage.
- Studienarbeit: You'll complete one or more research projects during your studies.
- Diplomarbeit: This is a big final project, similar to a thesis. You have to write a detailed paper on a specific topic.
The way you study for a Diplom depends on the type of university:
- At a University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule), the courses focus on using (or "applying") what you learn in real-world situations.
- At a traditional Universität, the focus is more on deep learning and understanding theories.
Studying for a Doctorate
After earning a Diplom, students are usually qualified to continue their education and study for a PhD (also called a Doctorate). A PhD is the highest academic degree you can get. The Diplom degree is generally accepted in most other countries if you want to study for a doctorate there.
Sometimes, students with a Diplom (FH) might need to do some extra work or study for a Master's degree first before starting a doctorate. This is especially true if their grades weren't the very best. However, if their Diplom work was excellent, they might be able to go straight into a doctorate program.
Related pages
- Magister
- German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD)
