Kim Heinzelmann, AJY Heidelberg Fall 2025
With the weather growing slowly but steadily colder and the trees losing more and more leaves each day, the approach of winter is apparent. Along with this awareness came the realization that, now towards the end of November, my friends and classmates in the US only have a couple more weeks of the fall semester at Pitt. Meanwhile, in Heidelberg, I am not yet halfway through the semester. It seems to me that I am only just settling into a routine, much less starting to think about finals or the next semester!
Having arrived in Germany in the beginning of September, the first month of my exchange program was spent partaking in an intensive language course. The official semester only began October 13th. In fact, the entire academic schedule in Heidelberg is different from that at Pitt. Rather than a “fall” and “spring” semester, there is a “winter” (from October to February, with a break for the winter holidays) and “summer” semester (from April to July). As a result, there is also a two month pause (from February to April) between the two semesters, which is often utilized as an opportunity to travel or work. Personally, I intend to take part in an internship during this pause.
However, the differences in the academic culture go beyond just the calendar.
Perhaps one of the most substantial differences is that each student must apply to a specific degree program rather than just to a university itself as a broader entity. For instance, one can apply to be a law student (as well as any number of other programs) at the university of Heidelberg, but cannot enter as “undecided.” Furthermore, if one wants to change their area of study, they must then switch programs and sometimes even universities, which, in some cases, can mean starting one’s Bachelor’s degree over from the very beginning. In other words, while it is not impossible, it is more difficult to change majors here than it is at Pitt, and doing so can add significantly more time to one’s studies.
Another significant difference is the absence of general education requirements. When one chooses a program, they take courses almost exclusively within that program. Electives are possible, but do not seem to be as commonly taken as they are at Pitt. Here, in Heidelberg, one has a higher and seemingly more intense concentration on their one (or, maybe two) specific programs, going perhaps deeper into this topic than one might in a similar major in the US. However, without gen-Eds, such an academic program is not as broad and multifaceted as what one would find at Pitt or other universities in the US.
While most courses at Pitt meet two or three times a week, the courses I am taking in Heidelberg each meet only once a week. In speaking with my housemates, I have learned that this is not true for all classes here, but that these once-a-week courses are certainly much more common. Additionally, the weekly homework load for many courses in Heidelberg is not as heavy compared to many courses at Pitt.
In many cases, rather than having a final exam at the end of the semester, courses in Germany require students to write a Hausarbeit (directly translated as house work), which is a well-researched, carefully-composed, and precisely-formatted paper. I am currently taking a German literature course and will have to write a 15-20 page Hausarbeit at the end of the semester. While the exact topic of this paper will be my choice, it must, of course, be related to course content. Another notable difference is that instead of being due before the semester break, students will usually have a couple of months to write and turn in a Hausarbeit. Mine will be due at the end of March. However, while I personally only have one this semester, it is not uncommon for German students to have to research and write multiple Hausarbeits.
A bachelor’s degree takes typically three years here rather than four, more than half of students take a gap year to travel, work, or volunteer before starting university, students tend to live in communal houses or apartments rather than university-owned dormitories … the list goes on. There are many differences both large and small between academic culture in Heidelberg and at Pitt, yet much also feels very similar. Students still flock to the library to study, I must read texts and prepare presentations, classes incorporate lectures as well as active discussion and group work, etc.
Most importantly, through my program, I have the opportunity to immerse myself within this culture and, thus, learn something new every day.
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