13 Semester

Moritz and Dirk leave their small home village in Brandenburg to study mathematical economics at Technische Universität Darmstadt. The move signals a new chapter where their paths will diverge. The film follows how this early journey sets up two very different approaches to life and study.

Dirk settles into his studies and quickly becomes a confident performer, mastering tutorials and term papers with ease. Moritz struggles with motivation, letting the party scene pull him behind in class. The contrast foreshadows the different trajectories of their careers.

Moritz embraces the motto Screw the early bird and spends his nights at Bernd's parties. He also takes on various side jobs to make ends meet while chasing the student lifestyle. This phase marks a shift away from scholarly focus.

At one of Bernd's parties, Moritz meets Kerstin, the woman of his dreams, and begins a relationship. The romance offers him a sense of purpose beyond his studies. The dynamic adds motivation but also foreshadows later tension.

Moritz's lack of academic motivation leads to his dismissal from the study group. This setback acts as a turning point that motivates him to pursue a more deliberate path. He starts to imagine a serious future beyond partying.

Moritz teams up with Aswin, his disciplined Indian fellow student, and together they push through his studies. With Aswin's steadiness, Moritz passes the intermediate diploma. The friendship highlights a contrasting approach to life at the university.

After earning his diploma, Moritz spends a semester abroad in Australia. The scenes are presented as photo sequences narrated by Moritz, whose storytelling shifts depending on his audience. This international interlude marks a new chapter in his personal growth.

Back in Germany, Moritz meets Kerstin again in a laundromat and they quickly rekindle a relationship. At first the dynamic is harmonious, but Moritz's growing dissatisfaction with his life disturbs the balance. The laundromat encounter reopens the romance with unresolved questions.

The relationship with Kerstin deteriorates and she breaks up with Moritz. In response, he moves out of the apartment he shared with Bernd, signaling a new personal independence. The move sets the stage for his next life decisions.

Moritz meets his old friend Dirk again, who now works in Frankfurt. Their conversation reveals that Dirk pursued a direct, goal-driven path, but he remains unsure whether this was the best approach for happiness. The encounter challenges Moritz's own perspective.

Inspired by Dirk, Moritz commits to finishing his studies. He applies himself, and eventually passes his diploma, completing his formal education. The moment marks redemption after the earlier scatter and the new maturity.

In the film's ending, Moritz and Dirk are in Australia, where they run a successful chain of Maultaschen restaurants. The open ending hints at the fate of Kerstin, leaving her story unresolved. The conclusion ties together the theme of finding purpose beyond early ambitions.