An academic degree called a licentiate or one of its cognates exists in various European countries, representing different educational levels.
In Belgian universities, the Licentiate (or Licentiaat in Dutch) is the equivalent of a master's degree.
Students receive a Licentiate after 4 years of successful study. The first two years are known as kandidatuur (candidacy), meaning students are qualifying themselves for study at the licenciate level.
Study is very rigorous. Students in Belgian universities usually take more than 30 hours a week (as opposed to an average of 15 at American universities.) Thus, students are able to complete their degrees in four years, as opposed to the usual six at American institutions.
In Swedish universities, a licentiatexamen or Licentiate degree, called a filosofie licentiat (Licentiate of Philosophy), teologie licentiat (Licentiate of Theology) etc, depending on the faculty, equals completion of the coursework required for a doctorate and a dissertation roughly equivalent to half of a doctoral dissertation. Also the Finnish education system has the same degree (in Finnish lisensiaatti), the two Nordic countries having a common heritage.
Bologna Convention
In 2003, the European Union organized the Bologna convention on higher education, in order to create uniform standards across the EU in that field. The resulting conclusions called for all European universities to change their degree programs to an undergraduate degree and a master's degree. These changes will be implemented in Belgian universities for students starting study in 2004–2005.
The Bologna process is not affecting the status of the Finnish Licenciate degree. However, the Finnish universities strongly encourage continuing studies all the way to the doctorate.
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