The implementation of the Bologna process has created a three-tier higher education system for international academic degrees (Bachelor, Master, Doctor). By 2010 around 80 percent of the programs offered by technical colleges and universities will have been adapted to the internationally accepted study system. The Kufstein University of Applied Sciences of Applied Sciences adopted this new structure of higher education in 2005. The degree programs offered at Kufstein provide primarily a scientifically founded professional education together with highly practical components.
Bachelor’s degree programs involve three years of studies, which can be completed on a full-time or part-time basis. Apart from the international recognition of the academic degree, the new system of higher education also offers a great advantage with regard to increased flexibility following the first degree and can therefore shorten study times.
It takes six semesters to complete the internationally recognized Bachelor’s degree. During the full-time study program students at Kufstein benefit from lectures held in English and from semesters focusing on international practical training and internships abroad. The lectures offered in the framework of part-time study programs are perfectly tailored to the needs of employed people as they are held on Friday afternoons and Saturdays and basically comprise block lectures. In addition, a one or two-week internship abroad complements the international orientation of the course. The professional practical training component is not included here.
Subsequent to the completion of a Bachelor’s degree, graduates can either start their professional careers or deepen their academic knowledge by means of the Master’s study program. The objective of this program is to extend the specialist expertise and provide complementary interdisciplinary management training. Therefore, graduates will be prepared to take leadership positions while further qualifying themselves for a scientific university career. The Master’s degree offers further career opportunities in an existing profession and is often a way for students to climb their respective career ladders.
