semester
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semester
A half-year period of study at a university or college. The academic year is usually divided into a winter semester and a summer semester.
Im nächsten Semester muss ich meine Bachelorarbeit schreiben.
Next semester I have to write my bachelor's thesis.
The word 'Semester' (semester) comes from the Latin 'semestris,' meaning 'lasting six months' (se = six, mensis = month). So it literally refers to a period of six months, which corresponds exactly to half an academic year.
Ein akademisches Jahr besteht aus zwei Semestern.
An academic year consists of two semesters.
In an academic context, 'Semester' is often combined with 'Sommer-' (summer) or 'Winter-' (winter). People also say 'im ersten/zweiten/… Semester sein' (to be in one's first/second/... semester) or 'ein Auslandssemester machen' (to do a semester abroad).
Sie ist jetzt im dritten Semester ihres Medizinstudiums.
She is now in the third semester of her medical studies.
To describe a state, you use the preposition 'in' with the dative: 'im Semester' (in the semester). To describe the beginning or a movement, you use 'in' with the accusative: 'ins neue Semester starten' (to start the new semester).
Im laufenden Semester habe ich drei Prüfungen.
In the current semester, I have three exams.
school year
'Semester' and 'Schuljahr' both describe periods of time in education. The difference is where they are used and how long they are. A 'Semester' belongs to a university or college and lasts about half a year. A 'Schuljahr' belongs to school and lasts about one year, usually from one summer to the next. Learners may confuse the words because both have to do with learning, classes, and holidays. A simple rule is: at university, people talk about a 'Semester'; at school, they talk about a 'Schuljahr'.
Im nächsten Semester belegt Lisa drei Kurse an der Universität.
Next semester, Lisa is taking three courses at the university.
Nach den Sommerferien beginnt für Greta ein neues Schuljahr.
After the summer holidays, a new school year begins for Greta.