Amendment to the Fachhochschule Studies Act (FHStG) 2006

In 2006, the FH Council adopted new academic degrees based on the Amendment to the Fachhochschul Studies Act (FHStG) (Federal Legal Gazette I no. 2006/43) of 31 March 2006. The new academic degrees became effictive on 7 June 2006.

The new academic degrees apply exclusively to FH bachelor and FH master degree programmes. There are no changes to the FH diploma degree programmes. Graduates from all FH bachelor and FH master degree programmes that were accredited on or after 7 June 2006 will be awarded only the new academic degrees. For all FH bachelor and FH master degree programmes already existing at that time, the course-providing body of the respective degree programme has to file an application to the FH Council for changing the academic degree to be awarded. The FH Council will then approve the new academic degree by administrative decision. Only after this decision has been issued can an existing FH bachelor or FH master degree programme be completed with the new academic degree.

What do the new academic degrees mean for graduates of FH bachelor and FH master degree programmes who were awarded an "old" academic degree? How can you change the "old" academic degree to a new academic degree?

Graduates of FH bachelor and FH master degree programmes who were awarded an academic degree before the new degrees have become effective may continue to use their "old" degrees, which means that the right to hold already awarded academic degrees remains unaffected.

Please note: If you choos to keep your "old" academic degree, you should be aware that it is not allowed to use the academic degree without the addition "(FH)". However, graduates of FH bachelor and FH master degree programmes who were awarded an academic degree before the new degrees have become effective are entiteld to hold the new academic degree pursuant to section 5 sub-section 2 FHStG instead of the "old" academic degree that was originally awarded to them.

If required, graduates my request a confirmation of their entitlement to hold the new academic degree. Such a confirmation can be obtained upon application to the course-providing body of the respective degree programme, which will issue it (cf. section 21 sub-section 4 FHStG ad amended).

Please not: As the new academic degrees apply exclusively to graduates of FH bachelor and FH master degree programmes, changing an already awarded academic degree is not possible for graduates of eight-to ten-semester FH diploma degree programmes. The possibility to change their academic degrees is only open to graduates who completed their FH study programme in the new tiered system (bachelor/master system).