Editing Heidelberg University (section)

===Organisation and length of courses===
The academic year is divided into two [[semester]]s. The winter semester runs from 1 October to 31 March and the summer semester from 1 April to 30 September. Classes are held from mid-October to mid-February and mid-April to mid-July. Students can generally begin their studies either in the winter or the summer semester. However, there are several subjects students can begin only in the winter semester. The standard time required to finish a [[Bachelor's degree]] is principally six semesters, and a further four semesters for consecutive [[Master's degrees]]. The normal duration of PhD programmes for full-time students is 6 semesters. The overall period of study for an undergraduate degree is divided into two parts: a period of basic study, lasting at least four semesters, at the end of which students must sit a formal [[Test (assessment)|examination]], and a period of advanced study, lasting at least two semesters, after which students take their final examinations.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/courses/prospective/admission_int/application_international.html |title=Application and Matriculation for International Students |access-date=26 September 2010 |publisher=Heidelberg University |archive-date=23 September 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170923062412/http://www.uni-heidelberg.de/courses/prospective/admission_int/application_international.html |url-status=dead }}</ref>