Degrees of German Universities 1

[electricuwe]

In the past years lots of german universities introduced Bachelor and Master Courses additionally to the courses leading to the traditional german degree Dipl.-Ing.

They claim that this will lead to better career opportunies for german engineers outside Germany.

To my experiece the traditional degrees from well known german universities already provided excellent opportunities outside Germany. Lots of my former colleagues work outside Germany.

I'd like to know your opinion on that topic.

 

[anca]

As long as the curriculum covers what is needed for a Dipl. -Ing. I don’t see a problem. If you refer to the American system, I think that you’ll find here good and bad engineers with Masters or Bachelor degrees. For Americans to hire you if you have a Master or Bachelor Degree and Diploma this is a big plus for you. They will hire you if you come from outside , sometimes reluctantly, and this will reflect in your paycheck.
Sometimes you have to have some papers published and have a Ph.D. in order to make it as an engineer in the States. But this is not the rule. You will find employers (at least some of those who request additional personnel to be recruited) who think outside this box and are not biased, as I explained above.
Is that mistrust that Universities and Colleges outside continental US are not on the par with those inside USA.
In my view, what’s important is to have the opportunity to show that you master the knowledge necessary for a good engineer - and some employers in the States will give that opportunity and some will not.
I have no experience outside the USA. I remember when I was in college that I had many colleagues coming from outside the States just to get a MS here for recognition and some of them never went back home.
It also has to do with the cultural background of those who hire you (in the States and I think world wide), how willing and flexible are to hire foreigners.
Regards,
Michael

 

[ifegermany]

I have had contact with english (U.K. by way of a research assistantship) and german system (by way of my original professional education as a engineer) I'd say:

1. there are many aspiring graduates and a limited market to absorb'em. So offering a additional titel (e.g. a MSc in addition to the german BSc or MSc* aequivalent title already at hand) on your first engineering job application forms, might gain you a plus with some personal department. Further it gets you some additional time looking for a job, if after completion of the BSc you can not get a job right away. But basically I think it's just a trend (like that particular color of the year in fashion) popped up, also to be seen in context with the globalization and english as dominant language, might help to increase articulation, communication skills.

2. A trend seen too is, that jobs assigned to PhD and MSc holders are assigned to BSc's in Germany, a established fact of life in english speaking countries. This derives from the fact that rather few high level research and developement (R&D) posts can really benefit from a MSc or PhD titel holder(representational functions are a special case)

Even these might by filled in with a bright MSC or talented BSc candidate at times, or in case of lack of application of a suitable PhD or MSc canditate. This does not imply that holding a PhD or MSc might not have advantages for the right job.

I have seen some guy (femals are a rather estinct species in classical engineering branches) which showed the MSc, seen someone who went right to the PhD from first class honours BSc and I am sure he shines even more with PhD and I have worked with real acute BSc guys too (I am a BSc myself with a rather strong bias for selective autodidactic scientific add-on education) so it really depends who you met

Only IF the MSc or PhD leeds to a particular specialisation not covered by the BSc, e.g. in demand in a specific area or with a specific employer, or as with the german Dipl.-Ing.* gives you a plus wrt in depth base knowledge - so that it gains you real additional prospects - evtl. effort and/or time/money invested in a prolonged or additional educational period seems well spent

I am not saying that it hurts if you are young, but if you are not it might


Title legend (AFAIK)
BSc is equated with the german Dipl.-Ing(FH) (with medium duration 3.5 to 4 years) by european and english speaking institutions
MSc is equated to the german Dipl.-Ing.* (medium duration 6-7 years - from scratch as this is not a add-on of 1-2 years as with the MSc but a integral course as the BSc, but more intense in terms of maths and physics in particular)
PhD is equatable to the german Dr.-Ing.

There is further a german Dipl.-Ing.(BA) which has a duration of 1-1.5 years of study plus same amount of time working on the job, which is nominated as a possible title in job offers (I do not know the aequivalent for this title in the english educational system)

Cheers, Frank
IFE Bonn Germany

http://www.ife.subito.cc