Hochschule
Encyclopedia
Hochschule is a German
term with two meanings.
The literal meaning of the word Hochschule is “high school” which is not appropriate as a translation.
in Germany that confer academic degree
s like specialized (primarily vocational or technical) universities
and college
s in the Anglo-American education systems. German art schools (Kunsthochschulen) have the same formal academic status as universities (Universitäten), while other institutions like Fachhochschulen usually differ.
without full university status, i.e. for institutions that:
Institutions that are called Hochschule meet one or more of these criteria, which differentiate them from a full Universität.
These are similar in mission to specialized college
s or academies (e.g., of arts) in English-speaking countries. Other German terms for this type of institution are Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften (university of applied sciences
) or Fachhochschule
(FH).
In most German states, a Berufsakademie
is not a Hochschule by either of the definitions because the bachelor's degrees conferred by such are professional degrees, which are de jure not academic degrees. However the state of Baden-Württemberg
, from where this type of tertiary sector education originally emerged, has recently elevated these institutions to the status of a Hochschule as Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University
. The degrees awarded by the latter are academic degrees and equivalent to those awarded by Fachhochschule
n and Universitäten
.
The Hochschule has equivalents in other European countries, such as the főiskola (lit. "main school") in Hungary or the högskola
in Scandinavia.
German language
German is a West Germanic language, related to and classified alongside English and Dutch. With an estimated 90 – 98 million native speakers, German is one of the world's major languages and is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union....
term with two meanings.
The literal meaning of the word Hochschule is “high school” which is not appropriate as a translation.
Generic term
The term Hochschule can be used to refer to all institutions of higher educationHigher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
in Germany that confer academic degree
Academic degree
An academic degree is a position and title within a college or university that is usually awarded in recognition of the recipient having either satisfactorily completed a prescribed course of study or having conducted a scholarly endeavour deemed worthy of his or her admission to the degree...
s like specialized (primarily vocational or technical) universities
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
and college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s in the Anglo-American education systems. German art schools (Kunsthochschulen) have the same formal academic status as universities (Universitäten), while other institutions like Fachhochschulen usually differ.
Specialised term
In recent years, Hochschule has increasingly become the term for institutions of higher educationHigher education
Higher, post-secondary, tertiary, or third level education refers to the stage of learning that occurs at universities, academies, colleges, seminaries, and institutes of technology...
without full university status, i.e. for institutions that:
- Do not cover a large diversity of academic fields, but focus on certain areas
- Do not have the right to award doctorates, but bachelor's degreeBachelor's degreeA bachelor's degree is usually an academic degree awarded for an undergraduate course or major that generally lasts for three or four years, but can range anywhere from two to six years depending on the region of the world...
s and master's degreeMaster's degreeA master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
s.
Institutions that are called Hochschule meet one or more of these criteria, which differentiate them from a full Universität.
These are similar in mission to specialized college
College
A college is an educational institution or a constituent part of an educational institution. Usage varies in English-speaking nations...
s or academies (e.g., of arts) in English-speaking countries. Other German terms for this type of institution are Hochschule für angewandte Wissenschaften (university of applied sciences
University of applied sciences
University of applied sciences may refer to:*Ammattikorkeakoulu, the term for a university of applied sciences in Finland*Fachhochschule, the term for a university of applied sciences in Germany...
) or Fachhochschule
Fachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
(FH).
In most German states, a Berufsakademie
Cooperative education
Cooperative education is a structured method of combining classroom-based education with practical work experience. A cooperative education experience, commonly known as a "co-op", provides academic credit for structured job experience...
is not a Hochschule by either of the definitions because the bachelor's degrees conferred by such are professional degrees, which are de jure not academic degrees. However the state of Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg
Baden-Württemberg is one of the 16 states of Germany. Baden-Württemberg is in the southwestern part of the country to the east of the Upper Rhine, and is the third largest in both area and population of Germany's sixteen states, with an area of and 10.7 million inhabitants...
, from where this type of tertiary sector education originally emerged, has recently elevated these institutions to the status of a Hochschule as Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University
Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University
The Baden-Württemberg Cooperative State University is an undergraduate college with several campuses throughout the state of Baden-Württemberg, Germany. It offers dual education degree programs in cooperation with industry and non-profit institutions in the areas of engineering, business...
. The degrees awarded by the latter are academic degrees and equivalent to those awarded by Fachhochschule
Fachhochschule
A Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
n and Universitäten
University
A university is an institution of higher education and research, which grants academic degrees in a variety of subjects. A university is an organisation that provides both undergraduate education and postgraduate education...
.
The Hochschule has equivalents in other European countries, such as the főiskola (lit. "main school") in Hungary or the högskola
Högskola
A university college denotes an independent institution in Sweden and Norway that provides tertiary education and in limited cases also quaternary education...
in Scandinavia.
See also
- Education in GermanyEducation in GermanyThe responsibility for the German education system lies primarily with the states while the federal government plays only a minor role. Optional Kindergarten education is provided for all children between three and six years of age, after which school attendance is compulsory, in most cases for...
- Universities in Germany
- FachhochschuleFachhochschuleA Fachhochschule or University of Applied Sciences is a German type of tertiary education institution, sometimes specialized in certain topical areas . Fachhochschulen were founded in Germany and later adopted by Austria, Liechtenstein, Switzerland and Greece...
- Musikhochschule