If you’ve been looking at options for studying abroad, there’s a good chance Germany is already on your radar. The country is becoming a popular study destination for Pakistani students as it offers globally recognized and high-quality education at an affordable fee. Many universities also provide English-taught bachelors in Germany, which makes studying possible even if you don’t speak a word of German (yet).
However, it’s important to understand that the country uses a totally different education structure from what we are used to here. To mentally prepare for the new system, we’ve drafted this guide to give an overview of what to expect.
How the German Academic Year Is Organized
The academic system in Germany is organized into two semesters: the Winter Semester and the Summer Semester. These two then have their own schedules determining when you should apply, travel, and prepare your documents.
Winter Semester (Wintersemester – WS)
The Winter Semester is the main semester for admissions, especially in public schools. This is also the semester that gets the higher number of international students as that’s when most English-taught bachelor’s degrees start.
However, in private universities, the schedule is more flexible. Almost all their degrees start in both semesters, and there’s also an option for starting in January. The semester usually runs from October 1st to March 31st, often with a break around Christmas and New Year.
When applying to start your studies in this semester, ensure you submit your application by July 15, although the date can be flexible with some universities. Apply as early as possible to be safe.
Summer Semester (Sommersemester – SM)
The second semester is what’s referred to as the summer semester, and it runs mid-year. It’s not the most popular option for English programs at public universities, but it still works for private universities.
The semester starts on April 1st and ends on September 31st. But as we’ll see, it’s usually divided into a period of classes and another for doing other type of class work.
The application deadline for this semester is generally January 15th, but check with your university for the specific date. Since you are an international student, it’s always good to apply early to leave enough time for the visa application process.
Key Academic Periods
As you may have noticed, the academic system in the country doesn’t leave any time for free periods. There are some semester breaks, but these aren’t really free as you’ll have a lot of academic work you need to complete during the break.
Here’s a look at the different periods.
Lecture Period (Vorlesungszeit)
This is the time when your classes are in full swing. You’ll attend lectures, seminars, and workshops, depending on the course you are studying.
- Winter Semester: Mid-October to mid-February
- Summer Semester: Mid-April to mid-July
The classes don’t really follow a daily timetable, so you can have three classes today and a free day tomorrow. Since you’ll likely also be working part-time, it’s important to plan for your time wisely to ensure you don’t miss classes.
Non-Lecture Period (Vorlesungsfreie Zeit)
This is the period most international students mistake for a holiday. But when you get there, it’s actually not, but more of a non-teaching period.
- Winter Break: Mid-February to March
- Summer Break: Mid-July to September
While you won’t be attending classes, you’ll have lots of important activities like final (and repeat) exams, project work, thesis writing, and internships.
Use this time to catch up academically, but it’s also a good time to gain some work experience. Since you are the one in charge of your schedule, it’s all about planning well.
Ensure you register early for all semesters. From there, you’ll then need to do enrollment, which is where you’ll register for a course (and fully become a student). After registration, your university will send you specific enrollment instructions and deadlines to work with.
