Development of degree programs

There are many factors to consider when planning a new degree program.

• Does the planned degree program match the profile of my faculty? Who in the faculty and administration need to be involved? What are the decision-making processes?
• Which criteria and regulations must be observed? Are there any deadlines?
• Who can help me with the teaching concept or capacity calculation?

The Quality Management and Legal Affairs Section has published a handout that answers all relevant questions: Handout No. 8: Introducing New Degree Programs (PDF, in German only). The handout discusses in detail all factors to consider when introducing a new degree program at Universität Hamburg. It also describes the process for introducing new degree programs that the faculties and the Executive University Board have jointly developed.

• Are you a degree program coordinator and do the results of quality assurance procedures suggest that the organization of your program requires improvement?
• Have you and other teachers decided that the number of examinations is too high and ought to be reduced for the sake of appropriate modularization?
• Has the state of research in your field changed so that you wish to restructure the curriculum of your degree program?

The Quality Management and Legal Affairs Section has published a handout that answers all relevant questions: Handout No. 9: Advancing Existing Degree Programs—Procedures and Criteria (PDF, in German only).

We will discuss your questions and develop solutions with you, taking into account both the relevant legal perspectives and aspects of quality-focused academic reform. Where there is an interfaculty demand for the advancement of degree programs, we will coordinate the process among all involved parties.

Is your faculty considering the discontinuation of a degree program? You may find answers to your questions in our Handout No. 10: Discontinuation of Degree Programs (PDF, in German only).

Contact the Quality Management and Legal Affairs Section in advance to ensure that you have considered all aspects required to discontinue the degree program correctly. It is important to decide in which semester the last round of admissions will take place, for how many semesters the program will be maintained beyond the regular period of study to fulfill the legitimate expectation of the students, and for how long students will retain the right to take examinations beyond the end of that period.

Universität Hamburg adheres to a mission statement for university teaching, which should be taken into consideration when developing degree programs. Read the mission statement.