 By the government decree of July 1998 the polytechnics started to offer a two-stage curriculum (the first three years conferring a "bacharelato" degree, the following two years a "licenciatura bietápica" degree); both are undergraduate degrees, but the universities were offering a single licentiate degree ("licenciatura") of four to five years.This was changed with the Bologna process with a new system of three years for a bachelor's degree ("licenciatura").Two additional years grant a master's degree ("mestrado") which is conferred by the polytechnic institute under protocols with a partner university or alone when the polytechnic institution is in full compliance with the necessary requirements (proper research activity, doctoral teaching staff, and budget).