Institutions individually and autonomously determine the periods with teaching activity. Generally, institutions work with two semesters, each consisting of two sub-periods or blocks. The first semester generally runs from September until the end of January, and the second semester from February until the end of June or the beginning of July. The length and precise dates of the semesters or blocks are determined individually by the institutions. Some institutions may choose to work with trimesters or another academic structure.

additional note: some courses start in the course of the academic year, on 1 February. 

Institutions individually and autonomously determine both the length and dates of examination periods. Examinations generally take place at the end of teaching periods or blocks, although examinations and resits may also be scheduled during other periods, including the summer period.

During examination periods, teaching activities may stop or be reduced so that students can devote their time to preparing for examinations. The precise organisation of examinations is determined by the institution and, in some cases, by the individual programme.