In Germany to attend university one has to take a diploma (called
"Allgemeine Hochschulreife" ) - but what - and above all where will
you now study?
Someone=B4s saying "Study whatsoever you like" is, of course, meant as a
provocation and shouldn=B4t be taken seriously.
The question "where shall I study?", however, is food for thought,
really.
http://www.concordia-rigensis.de/
It now seems to be standard practice in this country to rank
universities and professors. For example on visiting this website you
may get some quite comprehensive ranking info by "German Academic
Exchange Service" (DAAD):
By publi****ng the English version of the university ranking, the DAAD
was able to close a long-standing gap in the information services for
international students who were often left without details on quality
aspects of Germany's universities. Moreover, and in contrast to the
sweeping simplifications commonly found abroad, such as "the best
university is XY", this ranking offers a differentiated, detailed
picture which takes account of the wide range and diversity of
university education and additionally sets international standards.
Three quality-based reasons differentiate this university ranking from
others:
The most comprehensive ranking to date
Since 1998, 280 German universities have been included in the
university ranking, with more than 210,000 students and around 21,000
professors taking part in the surveys.
Detailed analysis rather than general ranking
We deliberately chose not to add the results of the survey together
into a sum total. Why? Because there simply is no "best university",
neither in one subject and certainly not across all subjects. Instead,
we offer a multidimensional ranking. Several tables each based on very
different criteria produce a differentiated and detailed picture of
the strengths and weaknesses of each university.
Groups, not league positions
You won't find individual universities given "league positions" in the
CHE/DIE ZEIT ranking in the way that is found in other surveys; rather
the universities are placed in the top, middle or bottom group. League
positions can be dangerous because minimal differences produced by
random fluctuations may be misinterpreted as real differences. By
contrast, the ranking group approach ensures that the top and bottom
group differ to a statistically significant degree from the overall
mean value."
Although such ranking-lists are giving students quite a bit of useful
information, according to a recent survey only about 8% of Germany=B4s
students have arrived at their decision on the grounds of ranking
lists.
Obviously, contacts with other students and friend****ps are a lot more
im****tant than e.g. the number of Ph.Ds a university "produces".
At the moment things seem to be a little difficult for beginners as at
the Italian town of Bologna the German government have agreed by 2010
to change the system of Germany=B4s universities. They promised to
introduce a system of academic grades
1. easy to read and compare
2.essentially based on two cycles;a) a 1st cycle directed at the
employment market(bachelor)andb) a 2nd more academic cycle (master)
The grading should follow the "European Credit Transfer and
Ac***ulation System" ECTS
Some critics suspect, however, that German politicians acted like this
for economical reasons only, because most students would leave
university having taken their "bachelor exam" after only 3 years,
whereas for a "Staat***amen" you need 5-6 years.
But, the German politicians might as well have had in mind that in
most countries some 80% of university leavers graduate in say
economics at the age of 22 or 23.
The big problem, though, is qualification.
Will German universities now graduate e.g. quite a few "engineers
light", "economists light" or "teachers light"?
As they don=B4t want to introduce such modules with the medical
departments we may not be afraid, though, being treated by "doctors
light" in the near future.
The websites of Hamburg=B4s Universities [cf. our LINKS] give you lots
of information as to what examinations you can take.
contact us, please, if you are interested in info on qualifications
necessary for attending Hamburg=B4s universities and colleges. It is the
aim of Corps Concordia Rigensis to give our members every possible
help so that they will be able to successfully finish their studies.
Success in your studies is not only based on dilligence in your
subject - it is greatly enhanced by the community of younger and older
students and graduates as offered by Corps Concordia Rigensis.
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