Master MA – Master of Science MSc

The Master, also called "konsekutiver Master" or "Ausbildungs-Master", is the second level of the three-level education system of Universities and Universities of Applied Science according to Bologna (Bachelor, Master, Ph.D.). It builds up on the Bachelor with its 90 Credits. It shall not be mixed up with a "Nachdiplomstudiengang" (NDS, Executive).

MAS – Master of Advanced Studies

This degree describes the successful graduation of a very practical oriented and encouraging professional further education ("Weiterbildungsmaster"), that is comparable to the previous "Nachdiplomstudium" (NDS). The offer is directed to professionals who already have an academic degree and are seeking for further qualifications.

The MAS demands an effort of 1,800 working hours what equals 60 ECTS and includes normally 600 contact hours. Who wants to complete this further education in a compact form, needs to calculate with a study period of approximately 1.5 years. The MAS is accepted by federal law and enjoys a special protection of the title. For the MAS a Diploma Supplement is provided.

Executive Master, EMBA

Executive Master was previously the English name of a "Nachdiplomstudiums (NDS)". All of our EMBA/MBA are federally accredited. An EMBA is an Executive Master of Business Administration.

DAS – Diploma of Advanced Studies

A further education program with a minimum of 30 ECTS.

CAS – Certificate of Advanced Studies

The Certificate Program does comply for the most part a previous "Nachdiplomkurs (NDK)". Normally it is part of MAS, lasts at the FHNW for 1 year, contains a minimum of 100 contact lessons and is rated at least for 10 ECTS. A CAS finishes after the passed qualification with a certificate.

Further Education Courses

Courses with a confirmation of participation, no title awarded. Further education courses can be taken separately or partly within the scope of electives of a CAS.

Bologna-Declaration

Declaration in order to create a European Higher Education Area, EHEA and to strengthen the competitiveness of Europe as a place of study and education. In June 1999 it has been cosigned by Switzerland. The goal is to create university degrees that are Europe-wide comparable in extensiveness and quality, introduce the Bachelor and Master-Levels, increase mobility of students and lecturers and cultivate the cooperation of European Universities among each other.

ECTS-System

The ECTS-System (European Credit Transfer and Accumulation System) regulates the interplay of Credits (ECTS-Punkten) and courses as well as the accumulation and the transfer of Credits.

Credit (ECTS)

A Credit is an entity that measures the timely workload of a student. The time that is supposed to be invested is defined according to the learning goals that need to be achieved. A Credit at FHNW equals a student workload of 30 working hours. Credits are only awarded in connection with controlled course achievements. The student workload of a full academic year matches 60 Credits.