Glossary entry

German term or phrase:

Erststudium

English translation:

first degree/undergraduate studies

Added to glossary by Jonathan MacKerron
Feb 19, 2009 09:19
15 yrs ago
12 viewers *
German term

Erststudium

German to English Social Sciences Education / Pedagogy
Context here is introduction of the BA/MA system to German universities. The text often refers to the Erststudium, implying BA studies. It is also being compared and contrasted to the "Grundstudium" of the old system.
Would it be appropriate for me to call this "undergraduate studies"?
Thanks in advance,
J.

Discussion

hazmatgerman (X) Feb 19, 2009:
Undergraduate studies may be considered part of the first degree but are not identical to it. See Shiner proposal.
BrigitteHilgner Feb 19, 2009:
Admittedly I don't know the new system where the term "Erststudium" might be used with a new meaning. I am only familiar with the meaning which efreitag mentions in his/her contribution.

Proposed translations

+3
13 mins
Selected

first degree

If I have understood this correctly, I think it would be called this, at least in the UK.

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Note added at 15 mins (2009-02-19 09:35:27 GMT)
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I think the difference might be that previously a first degree in the German system would have included the Masters component, but now they are offering the two degrees separately.

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Note added at 6 days (2009-02-26 09:11:11 GMT) Post-grading
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Thanks for the points, Jonathan.
Peer comment(s):

agree hazmatgerman (X) : Yep. Grundstudium is not apt as it is not a self-contained body but integral part of the first degree. The German Humanities' "M.A." was always the first degree.
41 mins
Thanks, hazmatgerman
agree Ventnai
1 hr
Thank you, Ian
agree Jacqueline Comte : I agree. Look up "first degree" "second degree" in Yahoo!Canada - over 1 million hits from many universities. Seems to fit your context.
1 day 3 hrs
Thank you, Jacqueline
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4 KudoZ points awarded for this answer. Comment: "Thanks to all contributors!"
+2
15 mins

undergraduate studies

siehe Wikipedia-Link
Note from asker:
useful link, by the way I still use your Wörterbuch der Elektronik and many thanks for your efforts on that front!
Peer comment(s):

agree Lirka : definitely for BA! For MA, however, it is not suitable as this is already graduate level in the USA. However, the other option, "first degree", has teh same flaw :)
3 hrs
agree D-E Translator
1 day 12 hrs
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Reference comments

5 mins
Reference:

Erststudium

Ein Erststudium ist genau das: das erste Studium. Angenommen, ich mache zunächst einen Abschluss als Zahnarzt. Nach dem Abschluss beginne ich ein neues Studium, z. B. Fortswirtschaft ;-) Das Zahnmedizinstudium ist dann mein Erststudium, und zwar m.E. einschließlich des Masters, Forstwirtschaft mein Zweitstudium.

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Note added at 14 Min. (2009-02-19 09:34:12 GMT)
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I think so, yes. Look at the definition of "Zweitstudium" in the same source:

"Das Zweitstudium ist ein Studium, das einem erfolgreich abgeschlossenen Studium folgt, jedoch kein Aufbaustudium ist."

Also, "Aufbaustudium" is defined as follows:
"Ein Aufbau- oder Ergänzungsstudium setzt ein abgeschlossenes Studium voraus."

Under these definitions, an MA is an "Aufbaustudium", not a "Zweitstudium".

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Note added at 44 Min. (2009-02-19 10:04:31 GMT)
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The question whether an MA is part of the "Erststudium" seems indeed to be discussed controversely.

"Der Landesjugendring Thüringen e. V. versteht unter einem Erststudium eine Hochschulausbildung, welche das BA - und das MA - Studium umfasst."

"Was ist ein Erststudium? Ein Erststudium ist das, was zu finanzieren der Staat für geboten hält. Bislang war der Begriff für die meisten Studenten bedeutungsgleich mit „Studium“. Für die Hälfte der Studenten aber wird demnächst ein Erststudium zugleich ein Kurzstudium und ein Letztstudium sein. Denn Ministerin Kraft fühlt sich durch das Grundgesetz und das Bundesverfassungsgericht in diesem Sinne nur dazu verpflichtet, „ausreichend Ressourcen für die Erstausbildung - also zunehmend in Bachelorstudiengängen - zu reservieren“.
http://www.faz.net/s/Rub117C535CDF414415BB243B181B8B60AE/Doc...

It might be a good idea to choose a general term here and not get drawn into discussion.
http://www.landesjugendring-thueringen.de/wDeutsch/download/...



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Note added at 44 Min. (2009-02-19 10:04:56 GMT)
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To sum it all up: I don't know an answer ;-)
Example sentence:

Für das Erststudium bewirbt sich jeder, der noch nicht studiert hat bzw. noch kein Studium abgeschlossen hat.

Note from asker:
Does your definition pertain to the new BA/MA system as well?
Peer comments on this reference comment:

neutral hazmatgerman (X) : Erststudium = first degree, usually a bachelor.
50 mins
agree Harald Moelzer (medical-translator) : Absolutely correct and legally relevant!!! "Erststudium" does not at all refer to the type of degree you are aiming for, but indicates that you haven't made a degree before!!
1 hr
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