Information for International Students: Visa, Arrival, and Study Planning

For students who are concerned about arriving on time due to visa procedures, we have compiled some key information regarding the start of studies, orientation activities, and the impact of a late arrival on your course planning and study duration.

On‑campus program, Semester and and Start of Lecture Period
At KIT, the program is generally offered as an in‑person degree, and regular on‑campus attendance is expected. The semester officially begins on October 1, but lectures and exercises only start from Monday, October 26.

Study plan and first semester
The program structure is quite flexible; there is no strictly predefined study plan that all students must follow, and there are no compulsory modules in the first semester. Studying in this program requires a high degree of personal responsibility and self‑organization. Students select their courses independently before the lectures start. The module handbook and course catalog will be complete shortly before the beginning of the lecture period. As a full‑time student, you would usually aim for 30 ECTS credits (“Leistungspunkte”) per semester.

Orientation week (Fachschaft)
In the week before teaching begins, i.e., October 19–24, the student council (“Fachschaft”) offers an orientation week (so called “O-Phase"). This voluntary peer-to-peer event helps students make social contacts and provides valuable information and guidance on how studying in general and in the department’s programs is organized. Usually, there is also support with planning and selecting courses and a Q&A session for international students.It is highly recommended to arrive in time to attend this free and optional orientation program in mid‑October. Of course, this is only possible once a visa has been issued, and we sincerely hope that your visa process will be successful in time.

Recordings and online materials
Depending on your personal course choices and the individual instructor, there may be some recordings of lectures available in the local learning management system (ILIAS), but this is not the norm. Once you have access to the system, you will usually find lecture notes, homework assignments, and other course materials there. Access to ILIAS is granted once enrolment is complete.

Late arrival and workload
If you arrive a little later than the official start of classes, this may not be a major problem. We suggest that you contact your lecturers directly and let them know. Especially in case of late arrival you may consider not to plan for the full workload of 30 ECTS in your first semester, but instead focus on a smaller number of credits/ lectures.

Impact on study duration and maximum period
Unfortunately, admission cannot be transferred to a future semester. This means that, in order to secure your study place, you must complete your enrollment within the given deadline. If, due to a delayed arrival, you study only a limited amount in your first semester, your overall study duration until graduation will likely be extended by at least one semester. You should therefore expect the corresponding additional costs for an extended period of study (fees and living expenses). In addition, please bear in mind that there is a maximum study duration of eight semesters within which you must complete the program. This should also be taken into account when planning your studies. Apart from a potentially longer study duration, as described above, you should generally not face any further disadvantages.