Foreign students choosing a particular course should bear in mind that this decision is closely related to their future occupations. It is therefore necessary to find out before starting the course about the prospects in this occupation after studies have been concluded.
That is why it is important to read up on the vocational perspectives after the completion of the course of studies. It is also important to check whether the knowledge gained in Federal Republic of German can be used in one's home country and whether German examinations are recognized there.
The possible subjects of the University of Bielefeld can be found here:
More short information on subjects at Bielefeld University (in German)
From the start of the winter semester 2002, the University of Bielefeld implemented the most comprehensive reform in its history. All courses of study that lead to teaching qualifications, all magister courses and some diploma courses were, within the scope of the Bologna process, converted to bachelor and master courses. The new "consecutive model of studies" aims at an improved education which is more responsive to the interests and needs of the students.
Overview "Bielefelder Modell" (in German)
Under the consecutive model of studies students at Bielefeld University first take the "Bachelor" degree. It is then possible to go on to the "Master", either the Master of Arts (M.A.) or the Master of Science (M.Sc.). There is comprehensive information under this website.
Scientific, technical and social or economic studies end with the diploma examination. The course of studies consists of basic and main studies, whereby the basic part ends with an examination called the Diplom-Vorprüfung (preliminary). For the final diploma examinations a thesis must be prepared, which normally takes one or two semesters.
The Magister/Magistra Artium (M.A.) is in the abandonment stage. It is an academic qualification in the arts and humanities and generally requires at least eight semesters of study. A matriculation is only possible into a higher semester after consultation of the faculty of studies.
The M.A. which can be gained in the Federal Republic of Germany is not entirely comparable with the M.A. granted in Anglo-Saxon countries and the United States, where this qualification is gained after a one-or two-year course of postgraduate studies.
The First State Examination as completion of a teacher's course of study is the job entry exam for prospective teachers. The First State Examination is a prerequisite for the period of in-school training (Referendariat).
The First State Examination ("Erste juristische Staatsprüfung") in the law course is a job entry exam, like the First State Examination for teachers. It is a prerequisite for the preparatory professional training and the admission to the legal clerkship (Referendariat). The Second State Examination, after the legal clerkship, opens the way to judgeship and higher administrative posts.
The University of Bielefeld intends to introduce more structured courses of doctoral studies. For this reason there are, parallel to individual research doctorates, opportunities in some subjects to work for a doctor's degree at one of the Graduate Schools or one of the Research Training Groups (Graduiertenkollegs) (in German) of the University. As a rule doctoral studies are expected to last three years.
Prerequisite for doctoral studies is an above-average scholarly/scientific record. For the award of a doctor's degree a written thesis (Dissertation) must be prepared and there is an oral examination (Disputation). The dissertation is prepared under the guidance of a local professor who is willing to take on the academic supervision of the research. Thus it is advisable for foreign students wishing to do a doctor's degree in Bielefeld to find out from the appropriate faculty which professor might be suitable for the task of supervising the doctorate and then to contact him or her. Professors are not obliged to supervise doctoral students.
An important formal requisite for admission to doctoral studies, beside the agreement of a supervising professor, is evidence of graduation from a first course of study in the subject concerned. If this took place at a foreign university, the qualification must be equivalent to a German Diploma, Magister or State Examination (at master level). The decision on whether this equivalence is given is taken by the Doctorates Commission in the appropriate faculty. Admission is according to the regulations on doctoral studies of the appropriate faculty. Occasionally these require further the fulfilment of further conditions, e.g. two semesters of study at the faculty concerned, particular knowledge of a foreign language, study in complementary subjects or examinations on the level of knowledge.
It is possible for the process of admission for doctoral studies to be carried out in co-operation with a foreign partner university or faculty.
Graduate Colleges and Graduate Schools are intended to supplement the traditional system of the individual support of Ph.D. students at German universities. Further information can be obtained at the faculties or the homepage of the University.
The current Graduate Colleges and Graduate Schools at the University of Bielefeld can be found here (German page).
Important: the admission to a Graduate College alone does not afford student status! At any rate, an application of admission must be handed in to the International Office in order for a matriculation to take place.
Studieren ab 50 (in German)
Foreign students are admitted to change their course of studies within the first three semesters. A later change of course of studies is only possible if at least three semesters of the present course of studies is creditable against the new course of studies.
Deutsch
Subjects and Degrees