This includes a preparatory course in phi-losophy called the Examen philosophicum. Examinations from state colleges, may alternatively be induded in the university cand.mag. degree. Graduate Level Graduate degrees are awarded by universities, the university colleges, in some cases by state colleges. These are awarded on completion of 1.5 - 2 additional years of graduate study beyond yhe cand. These degrees include independent research and a thesis.
Professional degrees have a more rigid structure with fewer options for choosing general subjects.
These studies are normally composed of modules that must be completed in a given sequence. The universities and university colleges offer various integrated study programmes for professional degrees of 4.5-6 years. Degrees in engineering and business administration are also awarded by some of the state colleges. This assumes a successful application to the doctoral programme, which is essentially a research programme. In addition to completing a doctoral thesis under contract-bound supervision, the candidate has to undergo obligatory training in scientific theory and method.