Structure of studies
The courses offered at the University of Fribourg are offered in compliance with the Bologna process. The University issues diplomas which are recognised in the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).
The education system is sub-divided into three cycles:
- Bachelor: an initial course earning 180 ECTS credits, corresponding in principle to 3 years of full-time studies and leading to the title of Bachelor of Arts, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Law or Bachelor of Medicine;
- Master: an in-depth course earning between 90 and 120 ECTS credits, corresponding in principle to 1, 5 or 2 years of full-time studies and leading to the title of Master of Arts, Master of Science, Master of Law or Master of Medicine;
- PhD: personal research followed by a thesis. Admission lies in the responsibility of the individual universities and is decided case-by-case on the basis of individual qualifications. The duration of studies is variable.
In compliance with the Bologna process, it is possible to study for a bachelor’s degree in one university and a master’s degree in another university.
Organisation of the academic year
The university academic year is divided into 2 semesters. Autumn semester lessons start in mid-September (week 38) and end at the end of December (week 51). Spring semester lessons start in mid-February (week 8) and end at the start of June (week 22), i.e. in principle 14 weeks of lessons for each semester.
Structure of studies according to Faculty
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Faculty of Theology
Bachelor
The Faculty of Theology offers two main types of study programmes: full major study programmes (180 ECTS credits) and major study programmes (120 ECTS credits). Students choose either a full major, or a major plus one or two secondary minors (60 ECTS credits or 30+30 ECTS credits) from a field of study other than that of the major.
The Faculty also offers minor study programmes (60/30 ECTS credits) to students from other Faculties.
Master
The Faculty of Theology offers two main types of study programme: full major study programmes (120 ECTS credits) and major study programmes (90 ECTS credits). Students choose a full major or a major plus one minor (30 ECTS credits) from a field of study other than that of the major.
The Faculty also offers minor study programmes (30 ECTS credits) to students from other Faculties.
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Faculty of Law
Bachelor
The Faculty of Law offers a full major study programme (180 ECTS credits) leading to a Bachelor of Law. The programme can be taken full-time or part-time
Students from other faculties may also study law as a minor study programme (60/30 ECTS credits).
Master
Study programmes at the Faculty of Law earn 90 ECTS credits.
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Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences
Bachelor
The main study programmes at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences earn 180 ECTS credits, with the exception of the Communication and Media Research programme (120 ECTS credits + one or two minor study programmes, 60 ECTS credits in total), the Economic and Legal Studies programme (120 ECTS credits + the minor study programme Law, 60 ECTS credits), and the Communication Studies programme (90 ECTS credits + one minor study programme, 60 ECTS credits + one minor study programme, 30 ECTS credits).
Students from other Faculties may also study economics and social sciences as a minor study programmes (60/30 ECTS credits).
Master
The main study programmes offered at the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences earn 90 ECTS credits.
The Faculty also offers minor study programmes (30 ECTS credits) to students from other Faculties.
Rules of the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences (in French)
Rules of the Faculty of Management, Economics and Social Sciences (in German)
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Faculty of Humanities
Bachelor
At the Faculty of Humanities, students choose a major study programme (120 ECTS credits) in a first field of study, and a minor study programme (60 ECTS credits) in another field.
There are four exceptions to this rule: the full major study programmes in French and German: Bilingualism and Cultural Exchange, Special Education and Social Pedagogy, Speech-Language Therapy and Psychology (180 ECTS credits).
The Faculty also offers secondary minor study programmes (60/30 ECTS credits) to students from other Faculties.
Master
The Faculty of Humanities offers three types of study programme: major study programmes (90 ECTS credits, including the master’s thesis), specialisation programmes (30 ECTS credits) and minor study programmes (30 ECTS credits). Candidates choose a major study programme then, if required as part of this programme, a specialisation programme (associated with the same field of study) or a minor (associated with another field of study). If a specialisation programme or a minor not required as part of the major, the choice of a specialisation programme or a minor is optional.
The Faculty also offers minor study programmes (30 ECTS credits) to students from other Faculties.
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Faculty of Science and Medicine
Bachelor
The Faculty of Science and Medicine offers major study programmes earning 150 or 120 ECTS credits. These study programmes must be completed along with a minor study programme (30 ECTS credits), or one or two minor study programmes (60 ECTS credits in total).
Exceptions to this rule are the major study programmes in Human Medicine and in Sport Sciences and Motor Control: Option Health - Performance - Research (180 ECTS credits).
The Faculty also offers minor study programmes (60/30 ECTS credits) to students from other faculties.
Master
The Faculty of Science and Medicine offers full major study programmes earning 90 or 120 ECTS credits, with the exception of the Human Medicine programme (180 ECTS credits).
The Faculty also offers minor study programmes (30 ECTS credits) to students from other faculties.
Teacher Education for Secondary level
For this courses, please consult the following sources for the structure of studies: