The academic year
German universities have two semesters a year:
| Semester | Dates | Lecture period |
|---|---|---|
| Winter (WiSe) | October – March | roughly mid-October to mid-February |
| Summer (SoSe) | April – September | roughly mid-April to mid-July |
Outside the lecture period is the “lecture-free time” — for exams, papers, internships and work, not a full holiday. Universities of applied sciences (FH / HAW) usually start a few weeks earlier; check your academic calendar.
Credits (ECTS)
- The standard pace is 30 credits a semester; one credit is roughly 25–30 hours of work, including classes, self-study and exam preparation.
- Bachelor’s degrees are usually 180–240 credits (6–8 semesters), master’s degrees 60–120 credits (2–4 semesters).
- Know which modules are compulsory (Pflichtmodul) and which are electives (Wahlpflichtmodul) — your study regulations (Studienordnung) decide.
Exams and grades
- Grades run from 1.0 (best) to 4.0 (pass); 5.0 is a fail.
- Most exams fall around the end of the lecture period, and you must register for them in the university system — miss the deadline and you can’t sit the exam.
- Resits are limited; using them all up can end your enrolment in that programme. The rules are in your exam regulations (Prüfungsordnung) — read them early.
Internships (Praktikum)
- Mandatory internships required by your degree need no approval from the Federal Employment Agency and are exempt from the minimum wage.
- Voluntary internships count towards the yearly work allowance on a student permit (see Working as a student). Voluntary internships longer than 3 months must pay the statutory minimum wage (€13.90/hour in 2026).
Make sure the contract states whether it is mandatory or voluntary, its length and pay — the immigration office may ask when you extend your permit.
Thesis
- Find a supervisor and agree a direction
- Formally register your topic — the deadline runs from that day
- Submit on time (Bachelor- / Masterarbeit); some programmes add a defence
Many students write their thesis with a company and gain work experience at the same time.
Job-hunting after graduation
- After graduating in Germany you can get a residence permit to look for work for up to 18 months, as long as you can support yourself.
- You may work during this time, not only in jobs related to your degree.
- Once you find a suitable job, switch to a work permit or EU Blue Card — book the immigration office before your student permit expires.