Moves to establish a standardised European Higher Education Area have led to the introduction of a two-cycle degree system across Europe. Bachelor’s degree programmes generally comprise 180 to 240 ECTS points and Master’s degree programmes 90 to 120 ECTS points – regardless of whether the course is at a university or a university of applied sciences.
This standardised degree system benefits the students above anyone else: anyone completing a Bachelor’s degree at a university of applied sciences is entitled to enrol on a Master’s programme at a university – and vice versa. However, additional examinations may be required in both cases. The Master’s degree programme can be practical or research-oriented.
Graduates of a Master’s degree programme at a university of applied sciences can pursue a further academic career at a university: regardless of any additional examinations required, Master’s graduates from a university of applied sciences meet the admission requirements for taking a relevant doctoral programme at a university.