Bachelor
What is the Bachelor?
In Europe the Bachelor, from the Latin baccalaureus, is the first level academic degree which university students can gain on completion of a scientific or artistic course of studies. It has been introduced in Germany within the framework of the Bologna-Process, which aims to standardize European academic qualifications. A Bachelor course of studies can take between six and eight semesters (i.e. three to four years) and be augmented with the post-graduate Masters course or, in exceptional cases, with the conferral of a doctorate. The qualification bearing the same title in the USA differs in both the structure of the study programme and in the recognition of the final qualifications. A European Higher Education Area – EHEA is to be created by the year 2010. By this point in time all study courses must be converted to the Bachelor/Master structure.
New aspects of the Bachelor Programme of the University of Music Lübeck
Formal
- Sensible grouping of subjects into modules
- Awarding of Credits for all modules and module elements (according to the European Credit Transfer System, ECTS)
Content
- Improved flexibility in studies (the Bachelor offers a first level qualification for entry into a profession which can be augmented with a special Master course of studies after a professional working period. However, Master Studies may also commence immediately after graduating as a Bachelor).
- Interdisciplinary activities and projects
- The possibility to choose an individual course of studies
- Personal support from mentors
Farewell Diploma?
Yes, this is what the Ministers of Education have decided.
However, instead of mourning the loss, we have resolved not only to retain the quality which our instruction has enjoyed to date, but also to take the opportunity to optimise our courses. As a result the study courses can now be customized much more closely to the individual requirements of our students.