Germany Intakes and Application Timeline: When to Apply (2026)

One of the first questions African students ask about Germany is a simple one: when do I apply, and when do classes actually start? Germany runs on two main entry points a year — a big one in October and a smaller one in April — and the whole system rewards students who plan early. Miss a deadline by a week and you are usually waiting six months for the next intake.

This guide walks you through Germany’s intakes, the real deadlines, and a month-by-month timeline you can follow. It also explains an important split that trips people up: public, German-taught universities mostly apply through a central service called uni-assist with fixed cut-off dates, while the private, English-taught universities Craydel works with often have rolling or multiple intakes and let you apply directly. Getting this distinction right saves you months.

1. Germany’s two main intakes: winter (October) and summer (April)

Germany has two intakes a year: the winter semester starting in October and the summer semester starting in April. October is the main intake — it has the widest choice of courses — while April is the smaller second intake with fewer programmes open.

If you have a free choice, aim for the October (winter) intake. Almost every programme opens for it, so you get the most options for your subject, the most scholarship rounds, and the smoothest path into student life alongside the largest group of new arrivals. The April (summer) intake is a genuine option too, especially if you need a few extra months to prepare your documents or funds — but expect a shorter list of available courses, and check that your specific programme actually admits April starters. Some programmes also have start dates in September or March, particularly at private and pathway providers, so always confirm the exact start month for the course you want rather than assuming.

2. When to apply: start 9-12 months before you want to begin

Begin your preparation 9 to 12 months before your intended start date. That may sound early, but between admission, the blocked account and a scarce visa appointment, the calendar fills up fast.

The reason is a chain of steps that each take time and mostly have to happen in order. You choose a course and secure admission, then open the €11,904 blocked account to prove you can support yourself, then arrange mandatory health insurance, and only then book and lodge your national (type-D) student visa. Visa slots are especially scarce in the run-up to the October intake, so students who leave the visa to the last minute often cannot get an appointment in time. Starting 9-12 months out gives you room for document delays, resits of an English test, or a slow bank transfer — without losing your place.

3. Public universities: apply via uni-assist by 15 July or 15 January

Most public (tuition-free, largely German-taught) universities process international applications through a central clearing house called uni-assist. For many programmes the deadline is 15 July for the October (winter) intake and 15 January for the April (summer) intake.

uni-assist checks your foreign qualifications, converts your grades to the German system and forwards a verified application to the universities you choose. A few things to know before you rely on those dates:

• The 15 July / 15 January dates are common, not universal. uni-assist itself states these apply to many — but not all — courses. Individual universities, and especially Master’s programmes, often set earlier deadlines. Always confirm the date on your specific university’s page.
• Build in processing time. uni-assist typically returns an evaluation 4 to 6 weeks after it receives your application, and advises applying at least 8 weeks before the deadline so there is time to fix any missing documents. In practice, submit well before 15 July, not on it.
• Most public courses are taught in German. Tuition-free normally means German-taught, so you will usually need proof of German (such as TestDaF or DSH). This is the main reason many African students choose the English-taught private route instead.
• You pay a fee per application. uni-assist charges a handling fee for the first university on an application and a smaller fee for each additional one, so it pays to shortlist carefully rather than applying to a long list on a whim.

One common mistake is treating 15 July as the day to send your papers. Because your qualifications have to be checked and forwarded, and because certified translations and document requests can take weeks, aim to have everything with uni-assist by late May at the latest for an October start. If a single certificate is missing, the clock keeps ticking — and there is no extension once the university’s cut-off passes.

Source: uni-assist — Deadlines and processing time (15 July winter / 15 January summer; 4-6 week evaluation; apply 8 weeks early). Confirm your programme’s exact date with the university.

4. Private, English-taught universities: rolling and multiple intakes

Craydel’s partner universities in Germany are around 21 private, English-taught universities, and they work very differently from the public system. Many have rolling or multiple intakes and let you apply directly — no uni-assist, no German-language test, and often no single hard deadline.

For these universities you are usually assessed as soon as your application is complete, so an earlier application means an earlier decision — and a better shot at the scholarship rounds, which can cut tuition by up to 50%. Tuition sits around €12,000 a year, and courses are delivered in English, which removes the biggest barrier for most African applicants. The trade-off is that these are fee-paying private institutions rather than the tuition-free public ones. If English-taught study and a flexible application window matter to you, this is usually the smoother path — and Craydel handles the direct application for you.

The flexibility is a real advantage for African students. If you narrowly miss a public university’s July deadline, a private English-taught university may still be accepting applications for the same October intake — or offer you a January or April start instead of costing you a whole year. That extra room to manoeuvre often makes the difference between arriving on time and waiting another six months.

5. The intake calendar at a glance

Here is how the two intakes line up with their application windows and course start months. Use it to see how far ahead you need to begin.

Source: uni-assist deadlines (15 July / 15 January) for public universities; private English-taught intakes vary by university — confirm the exact start month and deadline before applying.

6. A month-by-month timeline for the October intake

Working backwards from an October start, here is a realistic schedule beginning about a year ahead. Shift every step six months earlier for an April start.

1. 12-10 months out (roughly Oct-Dec): Choose your course and universities, sit or book your English test (IELTS 6.0-6.5 is a common requirement), and gather transcripts and certificates. Check whether your country needs an APS certificate and start it now if so.
2. 9-7 months out (roughly Jan-Mar): Submit applications. For public universities, apply through uni-assist well before 15 July — allow for the 4-6 week evaluation. For Craydel’s private English-taught universities, apply directly and expect a faster, rolling decision.
3. 6-5 months out (roughly Apr-May): Accept your offer, apply for scholarships, and open the €11,904 blocked account.
4. 4-3 months out (roughly Jun-Jul): Arrange mandatory health insurance, then book your visa appointment as early as possible — October-intake slots are scarce.
5. 3-1 months out (roughly Jul-Sep): Lodge your national (type-D) student visa with the full document file, book flights and accommodation, and prepare to register your address on arrival.
6. October: Arrive, enrol, complete your registration so the blocked account starts releasing about €992 a month, and begin classes.

For the full picture of each stage, see our step-by-step guide to studying in Germany, the blocked account guide, the German student visa guide, and our list of English-taught programmes.

Frequently asked questions