Gyanberry > Study in Germany > 2023 application deadlines for german universities

2023 Application Deadlines For German Universities

ACAlpina ChariSep 8, 2022

2023 Application Deadlines for Public & Private Universities in Germany  

German universities have two distinct application deadlines: the summer and the winter intake deadlines. The summer intake is for the summer semester, which starts in March or April. Similarly, the winter intake is for the winter semester, which begins in September or October. For most universities, the application deadlines for the summer semester begin in early December and end on 15 January. Whereas the application deadline for winter intake runs from early May and ends on 15 July. 

The academic year in Germany generally begins in the winter semester. A majority of German universities offer programs during that time. Only a few German universities have applications open for summer intake. Therefore, the bulk of the international student intake occurs during the winter semester. According to DAAD figures, 2.95 million students were registered in various courses in Germany during the winter semester of 2021–2022. 416,437 of those were international students. Since the COVID situation is under control, these numbers will be even higher in 2023.

If you plan to apply to any German university for the upcoming year (2023), you need to prepare for it well in advance. Here is a comprehensive guide to the 2023 application deadlines for public and private universities in Germany.

Overview of Deadlines for German Universities

Number of semesters  2, summer and winter 
Winter semester begins in  September or October
Winter intake deadlines Early May to July 15 each year
Summer semester begins in March or April
Summer intake deadlines Early December till 15 January each year

The DAAD website lists 1,443 English-taught programs meant for international students at German Universities. 

Application deadlines for popular Business and Management schools

German business schools make significant investments in globalization. They have ties with numerous international colleges and organizations. Students can utilize such opportunities to get acquainted with the global labor market. Additionally, German MBA programs provide extensive specialization possibilities, including engineering management, big data management, etc. The robust economy of Germany is another factor luring foreign students. Multinational corporations like BMV, Volkswagen, Adidas, and others that are based there provide many job prospects for business graduates. As a result, German business and management schools are growing in popularity internationally.

The table below lists the tentative application deadlines of popular business schools in Germany. 

University Name Type Summer Semester Deadline  Winter Semester Deadline 
University of Munich Public  15 January 2023 15 July 2023
University of Bonn Public  15 January 2023 15 July 2023
Technical University of Munich Public October 2022 to January 2023 April 2023 to May 2023
Cologne Business School  Private  Rolling admissions 
Munich Business School Private 
EU Business School Munich Private  Rolling admissions 
GISMA Business School Private  Rolling admissions 
ISM International School of Management Private  15 December 2022 15 June 2023
IUBH: International University of Applied Sciences Private  Rolling admissions 
BIC Berlin International College Private  Rolling admissions 
Steinbeis University School of Management and Innovation Private  Rolling admissions
Kuehne Logistics University Private 31 May 2023 

Application deadlines for Medical schools in Germany

To study medicine in Germany, students must have excellent academic standing. Due to Numerus Clausus (limited number of seats), the acceptance rate of public medical universities is exceptionally low. Therefore, many international students choose private schools to pursue a medical degree. Let us go through the provisional deadlines for some popular medical universities in Germany. 

University Name Type Summer Semester Deadline  Winter Semester Deadline 
Heidelberg University Public  15 January 2023 15 July 2023
Humboldt-Universität Zu Berlin Public  15 January 2023 15 July 2023
Freie Universität Berlin Public 15 January 2023 31 May 2023 to 15 July 2023
University Targu Mures Medical Campus Hamburg (UMCH) Public To be announced

Medical students have to interact with patients in hospitals. Thus, German language proficiency is essential for them. If you wish to learn advanced-level German, then courses by IIK Deutschland are the perfect option. You can choose between on-campus and online courses that are offered.

Application deadlines for popular Engineering and IT universities

Engineers are well respected in the country. In contrast to other nations, Germany hardly ever has unemployed engineers. Due to  digitalization, the IT sector is also gaining momentum in Germany. German universities provide a wide selection of specializations in engineering and IT programs. They are therefore well-liked by international scholars. Some very popular courses are:

Here is a list of tentative deadlines for engineering and IT colleges in Germany. 

University Name Type Summer Semester Deadline Winter Semester Deadline 
Technical University of Berlin Public  15 January 2023 15 July 2023
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology Public  15 January 2023 15 July 2023
University of Duisburg-Essen Public 15 January 2023 15 July 2023
Lancaster University of Leipzig Private Rolling admissions 
Berlin International University of Applied Sciences Private 31 January 2023 31 August 2023
SRH Berlin University of Applied Sciences Private 15 January 2023 15 July 2023 to 11 November 2023
University of Europe for Applied Sciences Private Rolling admissions 
Arden University Berlin Private Rolling admissions 

Application deadlines for Studienkolleg (preparatory programs)

Applying to German universities without preparation is difficult. German universities have quite high standards for their higher education programs. Therefore, your chances of being rejected are significant if you do not meet the eligibility requirements. To determine your eligibility, you can visit the “My Guide” section of the DAAD website. If you are not eligible, then you won’t be able to apply to any higher education institute. Students can attend Studienkolleg to pass the “Feststellungsprüfung” (university qualification exam). The future deadlines to apply to these foundation courses are as follows.  

Studienkolleg Program Application Deadline 
Studienkolleg Düsseldorf Rolling admissions 
Studienkolleg Paderborn- International Foundation College at Paderborn University February 29 (summer semester) and September 30 (winter semester)
FH Aachen University of Applied Sciences – Freshman Year Program Autumn 2022 (September and October)
Wildau Foundation Year, Technical University of Applied Sciences September 2022 – August 2023 and March 2023 – August 2024

Application deadlines for German universities are not universal for public and private universities. Plus, they may vary from university to university. Deadlines for bachelor’s programs may vary from those for master’s degrees. The following deadlines apply to students submitting applications through the Uni-assist:

  • January 15, 2023, for the summer semester 
  • July 15, 2023, for the winter semester 

Uni-assist advises students to submit their applications at least 8 weeks prior to the deadlines. This guarantees that they will have adequate time to submit extra paperwork if necessary.

It can be hard to decide which German university to apply to. Public universities are difficult to get into. They provide free education, and thus the competition is high. To avoid overcrowding, these universities offer a limited number of seats known as Numerus Clausus. Hence, students with high academic scores have a higher chance of getting into a public school. On the other hand, private universities have less competition, and hence their acceptance rate is high. Gyanberry has partnered with many German universities. We provide admission counseling services to help students study at their dream German university. Book a free video appointment if you want to learn more about our services.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Depending on the university, the winter semester in Germany may begin in September or October. Every year, the application dates for the winter semester are mostly set for early May through July 15.

Yes, there are some private universities in Germany that do not have set deadlines because they offer admissions on a rolling basis.

As per Uni-assist, the ideal time to apply to any German university is 8 weeks prior to the set deadline. 

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