We had a course dedicated to design patterns in the third semester, a second course on them in the fourth semester, and in semester 6 you could optionally take another course on them.
On top of that, we always had suggested reading material which would be given at the start of a semester. I'm fairly sure, but not 100%, that design patterns were mentioned at the start of the second semester as suggested reading material but not yet mandatory (since we would see it the year thereafter).
But my memory is hazy on that, I know that I picked a book up on it early in university but it is possible that that was one that I found by reference from another book and not by the list of books from the university.
On top of that, we always had suggested reading material which would be given at the start of a semester. I'm fairly sure, but not 100%, that design patterns were mentioned at the start of the second semester as suggested reading material but not yet mandatory (since we would see it the year thereafter).
But my memory is hazy on that, I know that I picked a book up on it early in university but it is possible that that was one that I found by reference from another book and not by the list of books from the university.