Time off from university over the summer is the ideal opportunity not only to relax but also to invest in your future.
From preparing for exams to catching up on things you have missed and planning ahead for the next semester – let yourself be inspired and make the most of your summer!
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Relaxing
Relaxing is, of course, one of the most important things to do during the summer break – enjoy the fact that you do not have exams to write and essays to hand in and simply take a little time off from the hustle and bustle of university life.
Reading
Summer is a good time to catch up on all those books you have been wanting to read for ages but never so far got round to because of all the other reading required for university. Check out the University Library – it has more than enough reading material to keep you busy throughout the summer and beyond. Oh, and while you are there you can bring back the books you have borrowed over the semester. Returning books on time saves you money (no fees for late returns!) and gives other students working on the same topic the chance to get their hands on the books they need.
Information on the opening hours of the various libraries at the University of Vienna can be found here.
Tidying up
Happy desktop, happy life! Get round to finally closing the 100 tabs in your browser that you have used over the semester for learning and writing, save those half-finished Word documents and actually turn off your laptop for the first time in months. After all, your computer also deserves a break!
Need new hardware for the up-coming semester? Then get these dates in the diary for the u:book sales period from 22 September until 20 October 2025. It is a great chance to get your hands on high-quality laptops, convertibles and tablets for a very reasonable price.
Planning your career
Heading into your final year at university? Check the wind, set sail and cruise on over to Uniport, the University of Vienna’s online career advice centre, where you can check out which options are available to you after – or even before – you graduate.
Still not sure what to do after leaving university? The alma mentoring is an opportunity to team up with graduates from the University of Vienna who will be happy to share their experiences when it comes to navigating your way around the job market.
Paying your tuition / Austrian Students’ Union fee
Take the time to pay your tuition / Austrian Students’ Union fee. You can do it quickly and easily online to ensure you are able to continue with your studies next semester.
To pay the fee simply head over to u:space and select ‘Finanzielles’. The payment option is open from 14 July.
Writing
Sure, we know it can be hard to find the motivation to sit down and work on an essay when outside the sun is shining and the birds are singing. To make things just a little easier there is the MOOC series ‘Was mach ich hier eigentlich?’ offering support for both bachelor’s and master’s students. Oh, and by the way, from October the CTL will once again be offering a range of courses and workshops such as writing mentoring and, for all those in a hurry to finally finish off their thesis, the writing marathon.
Planning for next semester
Why not start planning for the upcoming semester? How many ECTS can you do? Which lectures do you need or want to attend? By planning ahead, you will save yourself plenty of stress at the start of the next semester.
Organising a semester abroad
Fancy studying in a different country? The website of the International Office is packed full of information on everything you need to know about studying abroad. Still not sure if a semester at a foreign university is the right thing for you? Check out our blog where lots of students who have spent time studying abroad tell us about their experiences.
Revising
We know revising over the summer is hard, but grit your teeth and get on with it so you can take your exams at the next possible opportunity. Good luck!
Tips on good ways to revise can be found in our blog.
Doing sport
Did you know that the USI also offers sports and courses during the summer months? Sign up for one of the summer camps or browse the courses on offer next semester.
Shopping
We do not want to blow our own trumpet too much, but we have got some seriously cool University of Vienna merch available to buy in our online shop. Over the summer months our travelling mobile shop is out and about at different locations, so if you want to be sure of getting your hands on merchandise, we recommend hitting up the online shop. Summer favourites include the cool University of Vienna hand fans and the University of Vienna shower towel. And for those who like to plan ahead, there are plenty of things that make great Christmas presents such as the ever-popular jigsaw of the main reading room.
So, that is enough from us for now. We do not want to keep you from enjoying the summer weather. Go out and enjoy the sunshine! But next time a summer storm is approaching on the horizon, maybe it is a good time to come back to this list and tick off a few items to make the start of next semester as stress-free as possible.
