Apart from this most universities offered a postgraduate diploma with up to two years of study. French-speaking universities called them "diplôme d'études approfondies" DEA or DESS, the Italian-speaking university "post laurea" and German-speaking universities mostly "Nachdiplomstudium" (NDS). Today the federal legislation defines these postgraduate diplomas (60 ECTS credits) as Master of Advanced Studies (MAS) or Executive Master of Business Administration (EMBA) degree. Universities may also offer the possibility to gain a diploma of advanced studies (DAS), less than 60 ECTS credits). These degrees do not normally give access to the doctorate study.