09 - Germany - Organisation of the academic year

The academic year at the higher education institutions is generally divided into semesters. At universities, the summer semester runs from April to September, the winter semester from October to March. At Fachhochschulen, the summer semester runs from March to August, the winter semester from September to February. Lectures in the winter semester are usually held from late September/early October until mid/late February at universities and Fachhochschulenrespectively. In the summer semester, lectures take place from mid April until mid July at universities, from mid March until mid July at Fachhochschulen. A period of three months without lectures at Fachhochschulenand five months at other higher education institutions allows students time for private study, as well as time to prepare for classes, complete essays or take part in practical work experience and sit examinations.

Unlike the institutions of higher education the Berufsakademien do not have semester holidays. Students at these professional academies have an annual holiday entitlement of approximately four weeks on account of their contract with the training company.

For the time schedule in continuing vocational education at Fachschulen.

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