What is an orientation semester for?

Are you not yet familiar with orientation or taster semesters? And you're wondering what an orientation semester is for? You can find the answers here.

Orientation semesters are one to two-semester programmes between the (technical) Abitur and studies/training. They are aimed at school leavers who are not yet sure which subject they want to study or which apprenticeship they want to do.

In these programmes, you can study various degree courses on a trial basis and get to know professional practice through internships. The idea behind this is that you find out what suits you through practical experience rather than reading information.

In recent years, we have noticed that more and more high school graduates do not yet know what they want to do afterwards. Many first-year students also start studying a subject without a realistic idea of whether the subject and the type of institution will suit them. They then only realise during the first few years of study that the course does not match their interests or that they do not have the right prerequisites.

We would therefore like to support high school graduates in finding out which degree programme or apprenticeship suits them individually before they start their studies.