The Bologna reforms and the new Master degree
The Bologna process has redrawn the map of education in Switzerland like no other reform to date. By establishing an international benchmark in pro grammes and qualifications, the Bologna reforms promote mobility among students on the one hand and open up international career opportunities on the other. Furthermore, students now have the opportunity to graduate from universities or universities of applied sciences with an equivalent Bachelor or consecutive Master degree. What is a consecutive Master degree and what are its benefits? The consecutive Master degree is geared to individuals who have a Bachelors degree or equivalent qualification and are interested in gaining an additional qualification or who have a strong need to pursue an academic interest. As a rule, consecutive Master degrees at universities of applied sciences award 90 credits, which equals approximately 2,700 hours of coursework, usually distributed over four semesters. As a continuation to the Bachelor degree, the Master course specialises in a particular academic expertise and at the same time focuses strongly on the applied realm. Master courses thus are strongly focused on developing analyti cal skills among students and thereby provide them with career prospects at the middle and upper management levels. Many Master programmes are designed as a work-study option that permits participants to benefit from immediate knowledge transfer and continue their professional development without interruption. Thanks to the Bologna reforms, consecutive Master degrees are internationally recognised and open up career opportunities for graduates outside of Switzerland as well. The Master of Science is not the same as the Master of Advanced Studies The new consecutive Master degree counts as a second higher education level and should not be confused with the Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) or the Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree. Both the MAS and the EMBA are professional development programmes requiring students to have several years’ of practical experience before they start. The consecutive Master degree, however, involves more coursework and places stronger aca demic demands on students.
4