Making the Most of Semester Break: How We Should Use Our Free Time

25.02.2026

Goodbye, lectures, at least for a while. Semester break is just around the corner! The lecture-free period begins – no exams, no term papers, no more stressful lecture schedules. For many students, this feels like a breath of fresh air. But semester break is more than just a pause. It offers the perfect opportunity to consciously use your free time and discover something new.

That means finally having time to recharge your batteries. Whether working, traveling, or simply switching off, with the best tips, you’ll know how to make the most of your semester break.

Semester Break Activities for Students – Now It’s Your Time

After an intensive lecture period with many study phases, semester break is finally the pause you needed. Now you can decide for yourself what your daily life looks like. The time between two semesters is valuable—and often over faster than you think.

Many students underestimate how much potential lies in the lecture-free period. Instead of starting the holidays without a plan, it helps to set clear goals. Do you want to relax, be productive, or gain new experiences? Semester break is the perfect time to consciously decide what you still want to accomplish.

Now you can make optimal use of the lecture-free period to gain experience, take on a part-time job, travel, or simply let your mind wander.

Take Advantage of Career Opportunities: Work, Part-Time Job or Internship

How about working during semester break? A part-time job or holiday job not only helps you financially, but also gives you valuable practical experience. Maybe you have the opportunity to work as a working student or complete an internship.

Completing an internship is an ideal way to learn new skills, enhance your résumé, and prepare for upcoming semesters. At the same time, you strengthen your soft skills such as teamwork or organization.

Maybe you even have the opportunity to get involved in volunteer work. Volunteering or community service, for example at an animal shelter or in the field of animal welfare, brings new experiences, strengthens your social contacts, and always looks good on a résumé. This way, you can develop personally while doing something meaningful at the same time.

Gain New Experiences and Discover Your Own City

Of course, semester break does not only mean work. It is also an opportunity to discover new places – maybe even in your own city. Cultural events, evenings at the theater or museum, student-organized events, or workshops at the adult education center bring a breath of fresh air into your daily life.

Activities don’t have to be expensive either. With your student ID or the International Student Identity Card (ISIC), you can use many offers at a low cost. Student discounts help you attend cultural events without blowing your student budget.

Maybe you’ve been wanting to try a new hobby for a long time, explore new places, or simply learn something new? A new hobby or a sports course can help you recharge your energy. Sport not only helps you switch off, but also supports your mental health after a stressful semester.

Travel or Simply Let Your Mind Wander

If not during semester break, then when? Now is the perfect opportunity for a longer trip. Whether vacation rentals, couchsurfing, or youth hostels, discovering new places broadens your horizons and gives you life experience. A longer trip can help you gain distance from everyday university life and perhaps even improve your language skills.

If traveling isn’t possible for you, you can simply chill for a while. Just let your mind wander and relax – that’s part of it too. Relaxation and recovery are important so you can start the next semester full of energy.

To make optimal use of your lecture-free time, you don’t have to be productive every minute. Having enough time for yourself is sometimes the most productive decision.

Personal Development During the Lecture-Free Period

You can of course use your semester break to learn a lot of new things. Maybe you want to learn a new language or improve your language skills. Learning something new, acquiring new abilities, or developing yourself creatively – all of this is possible during your lecture-free time. Use the time consciously. Use it to develop yourself further, define your goals for upcoming semesters, or create a study plan for the next semester.

Many students only realize during semester break how important balance is for them. The mix of productive phases and conscious breaks creates more motivation for new semesters.

Semester Break: The Perfect Time To:

• Define clear goals for the next semester
• Use a part-time job, holiday job, or internship for your résumé
• Take short trips or longer journeys (Here you will find exciting tips and suggestions for short trips: Great Ideas for Short Trips)
• Discover new places in your own city
• Attend cultural events and use student discounts
• Start a new hobby or learn a new language
• Get involved in volunteering or community service (Click the following article for more information: Get involved as a volunteer: Why it’s so important)
• Consciously relax and simply let your mind wander

Remember: Your lecture-free time is more than just a break from studying. It is the best opportunity to develop yourself further, gain new experiences, and recharge your energy. Whether you work, travel, or simply relax—what matters is that you consciously shape your semester break and make the most of it