Studienabschnitt

Studienabschnitt is a term used in German-speaking higher education to denote a clearly delimited phase of a degree program during which a defined set of courses and assessments is completed. It serves to structure studies into coherent units and to specify the intended learning outcomes, credit requirements, and progression rules for each phase.

Typically a Studienabschnitt comprises a group of modules that together amount to a specified number of ECTS credits. Students complete courses, pass examinations, and may need to satisfy prerequisites to advance to the next Abschnitt. The duration of a Studienabschnitt varies by program and university but is intended to reflect a meaningful block of content and competencies rather than a fixed calendar period.

Usage varies by field and institution. In many programs the term is used across faculties; in medicine it is common to describe major phases of the curriculum that align with the licensing process. Such phases may be associated with particular examinations and with transitions between theoretical study and clinical or practical training.

Administrative basis: the concept is defined in study and examination regulations (Prüfungsordnung) and related curricular documents. These rules specify the exact structure of each Abschnitt, the required credits, the modules to be completed, and the criteria for successful progression.

Geographically, Studienabschnitt is widely used in Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, with variations in naming and crediting across universities and programs. It is closely related to ideas of modules, degree stages, and programmatic learning outcomes within the Bologna process framework.