A diplom (from Greek: δίπλωμα diploma) is an academic degree in the German-speaking countries Germany, Austria, and Switzerland and a similarly named degree in some other European countries including Belarus, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Croatia, Estonia, Finland (only for engineers), Greece, Hungary, Serbia, Slovenia, and Ukraine. Its level can be compared to that of a master's degree in countries using that system, but the required studies make it a combination of a bachelor's and master's degree. The studies and thesis needed for the Diplom are actually more extensive than the studies and theses needed to complete both a bachelor's and a master's degree.
The German magister degree was originally a graduate degree. In 1899, a second first degree, the diplom, was introduced when the Technische Hochschulen received university status. In East Germany, the diplom was the only first degree and was also granted in disciplines such as medicine or law, which at West German universities were completed with a staatsexamen.
With the implementation of the Bologna process, the diplom and magister are increasingly being replaced by bachelor's or master's degrees. Bachelor's degrees, rarely called bakkalaureus, are awarded in most cases after three to four years of study. Master's degrees are awarded in most cases after five years of study. Master's degrees are sometimes called magister, like the former German graduate degree, but they differ in structure.
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In Austria and Germany, the Diplom may be obtained by either of the two types of universities. At a university of applied sciences (Fachhochschule), the diploma degree is called a Diplom (FH) and takes mostly four years (240 ECTS Credits). At a Universität, the degree is called a Diplom or rarely a Diplom (Univ.) and usually takes around four to five years (300 ECTS Credits). These years are called "regular study time" (Regelstudienzeit) and may be exceeded (which is usually the case). Dipl. is short for Diplom and is, combined with an abbreviation of the study field, often used as an academic title before (or after) a person's name.
In Switzerland, the Diplom was the typical first degree at the two federal institutes of technology and at the Swiss universities of applied sciences. Since 2004, these Swiss degrees are no longer offered since they are replaced by Bologna style Bachelor's and Master's degrees.
The Diplom is the first academic degree many post-secondary students receive, since there has traditionally been no actual equivalent to the Bachelor's degree in the German and Austrian educational systems. A student typically completes the initial period of study (called the Vordiplom) after two to three years. In many cases, the time and effort in achieving a Vordiplom is considered to be equivalent to that for a BSc or BA, but few students finish studying after achieving a Vordiplom, as it is not considered a "stand-alone" degree, and stopping after achieving it is generally considered as "dropping out".
To complete the requirements for a Diplom, one must pass the examinations for the Hauptstudium (main study period) that follow the Vordiplom, complete one or sometimes more than one Studienarbeit (study research project), and write a Diplomarbeit (diploma thesis). The curriculum of diploma studies at a University of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschule) is, in contrast to a Universität, more application-oriented.
The Diplom is a prerequisite for preparing a doctorate (Doktorarbeit). It is usually accepted as admission into doctorate programs in other countries having an educational agreement with Germany, and in the European Union, it is generally accepted as the equivalent of a Master's Degree.
The following chart illustrates a comparison when the old degree (Diplom) and the new European degrees (Bachelor/Master) are obtained with some sample durations of studies.
It should also be noted for comparison purposes that at the time of the Bologna process, schools in most German states started changing from 13 school years to 12 or 13 years depending on the school. An exception are the states of Saxony and Thuringia, where Gymnasium lasts for 12 school years since German Reunification. Most of the students going for a Diplom therefore spent 13 years in school before starting their Diploma, while the younger Bachelor students nowadays may start one year earlier. However, in some states, such as Rhineland-Palatinate or Schleswig-Holstein, the first class which completes school after 12 years will graduate as late as 2016.
| 1st year | 2nd year | 3rd year | 4th year | 5th year | 6th year | 7th year | 8th year | 9th year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vordiplom | Diplom (FH) with excellent grades | additional coursework | Doctorate | |||||
| Vordiplom | Diplom (FH) | 2 Sem. Master | Doctorate | |||||
| Vordiplom | Diplom (Universität) | Doctorate | ||||||
| Bachelors (Bologna only)[1] | Masters | Doctorate | ||||||
Note: For the Diplom (FH) a student has to spend one to two obligatory semesters during his studies in a company where he/she does not study. These semesters are included in the table. The study time is therefore one to two semesters shorter. Bachelor studies have them included in the table too. For the Diplom (Universität) those semesters are sometimes not included in the table.
Also note: In Germany, a Diplom (Universität) student can enter a doctoral program directly (if the student meets the admission requirements). A Diplom (FH) student has to have excellent grades to directly enter a doctorate program [2]. A few German graduate schools, such as the Saarbrücken Graduate School of Computer Science or the Berlin Mathematical School also admit students with a Bachelor's degree and excellent grades to their doctorate programms.
In Greece, a diploma is a 5-year (10-semester) (diplom uni) (300E.C.T.S - I.S.C.E.D. 5A) degree, formatted similarly to the German Diplom, awarded to students of the Greek polytechnic schools, such as the National Technical University of Athens.
While every institution has its own individual approaches, the curriculum usually consists of general knowledge and essential background subjects in the first five semesters. After the end of the fifth semester, students select their academic area of interest and pursue a set of specialised courses for the next four semesters. The last semester is devoted to the preparation of a thesis on the student's chosen area of interest, which is presented before a three-member panel.
Diplomas are considered equivalent to master's degrees and allow the holder to sit in the Technical Chamber of Greece exams without any prerequisite. It also allows the engineer to be considered for doctorate studies without taking any additional classes.
Since adoption of the 2001 Higher Education Reform Act (Ν. 2916/2001 - Ν. 3549/2007) the higher technological institutes (Ανώτατα Τεχνολογικά Εκπαιδευτικά Ιδρύματα - Α.T.E.I) constitute a parallel, equivalent, and complementary part of public higher education in Greece. They confer a 4-year bachelor's degree formatted similarly to the German Diplom (FH) (240E.C.T.S - I.S.C.E.D. 5A).
Grades range between 0 and 10, 5 being the passing mark. However, since grading practice differs amongst awarding institutions, a descriptive mark is used, which is more or less universal throughout Greece. For example, in the National Technical University of Athens, a grade in the diploma between 5 and 6.99 is "good" (καλώς), a grade between 7.00 and 8.99 is "very good" (λίαν καλώς) and a grade of 9.00 or more is "excellent" (άριστα).[3] In the University of Patras[4] the ranges are from 5 to 6.49 (good), from 6.5 to 8.49 (very good) and from 8.5 to 10 (excellent).
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