Higher education policy in Germany

This chapter discusses the higher education policy in Germany. German higher education consists of two main sectors, the university sector and the Fachhochschul sector. The universities, some of which are 100 years old, are based on the traditions of the German Research University. They represent the Humboldtian principle of the “unity of research and teaching.” The universities and the Fachhochschulen are the two main sectors of German higher education. As an additional sector the colleges of arts and music can be taken into consideration. Studies at the universities lead either to the Diplom, awarded by the respective institutions, or to the state examination. The normal length of studies is supposed to be 10–12 semesters. University studies do not provide for an “intermediate” examination, that is, one leading to the award of a degree that might qualify for the labor market, such as the Anglo–American bachelor degree. The institutions of the university sector have the exclusive right to award the Ph.D and the venia legend