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Fachhochschule graduates gaining ever more doctorates - However, the doctoral rules have not been yet been modernised everywhere
The results of a recent survey carried out by the German Rectors' Conference (Hochschulrektorenkonferenz - HRK) show that more and more graduates from Universities of Applied Sciences (Fachhochschulen - FHs) are gaining a doctorate and that the number of successful doctorates is increasing steadily. "Excellent Fachhochschule graduates must be given the opportunity to gain a doctorate, even though they initially chose to take another path. Our figures prove that they have become ever more successful over the twelve years in which we have been carrying out our surveys," said HRK President Prof. Dr. Margret Wintermantel, commenting on the results. "FH graduates are seen to be particularly successful in engineering and the natural sciences." This shows how important it is to intensify the research collaboration between Universities and Fachhochschulen and to jointly promote and foster graduates.The new academic structure of studying raises new questions: Graduates holding a Master's degree from both types of higher education institutions - Universities or Fachhochschulen - are in principle entitled to continue directly with a doctorate. "These new structures hardly appear at all in the latest survey results, because the number of graduates is still quite small," said HRK President Wintermantel. In some cases, Master's graduates from an FH who apply for admission to the doctorate are still being required to a take special examination, especially where the doctoral regulations have not yet been adapted to take account of the new degree structure or where the doctoral subject does not have an exact equivalent in the range of subjects offered by the Fachhochschulen. "Those working in these fields will have to adjust their practices in line with the new developments taking place in the higher education sector," stated Wintermantel.
The survey covered 138 higher education institutions that were entitled to confer doctorates with a total of 777 faculties or departments. 104 higher education institutions responded to the survey. A total of 624 answers (equal to an 80% response rate) were sent to the faculties or departments. The detailed results of the survey as well as the previous study "Ungewöhnliche Wege zur Promotion" (Unconventional Paths to a Doctorate) have been published here.
Fachhochschule graduates gaining ever more doctorates - However, the doctoral rules have not been yet been modernised everywhere [Größe 0.03 MB, Typ pdf]
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