Summer Intake at German Universities – The What, When and Why

The summer intake

The summer intake usually starts in March/April and runs until September. It is no different than the winter intake in the quality and focus of teaching. However, not all universities offer courses in the summer intake so make sure you check with your university before you make a decision.

Applications for the summer are usually open from December (the year before) until January. Sometimes, universities have a different deadline, and you should check your university website before you plan your applications.

The summer intake application timeline

The process of applying to a German university for the summer intake is not too complicated but it helps having certain milestones throughout the year to make sure you don’t miss out on anything.

Step #1 – June the year before you want to start – Do your research

This is the right time to start researching universities and courses you might be interested in. Germany’s many top-ranked universities are sure to have a course for you, no matter your field of study. You do need to remember that not all universities offer courses during this time of the year. Be extra sure before you start the rest of the process. If your course isn’t offered, you might have just enough time to get your application in for the winter intake of that year but hurry!

Step #2 – July/August – Get supporting documents ready

Once you’ve found courses you are interested in, take the time to check the documents you’ll need for your application and start getting them ready. Since universities in Germany have independent policies, they might have different criteria, but you can expect to need an English or German language test result depending on what your course is taught in.

This is also a good time to get your personal statements and references ready before you actually start applying. Gives you plenty of time to go through numerous drafts and proofing sessions!

Step #3 – September/October/November – Search for funding

Postgraduate study in Germany is known for being affordable. However, despite the almost free tuition fee, you need to account for living cost and might want to take the help of scholarships and funding to cover them. The average national estimate is that a student needs €867 a month in living costs

Step #4 – December/January – Apply to your university!

Now that you have everything with you, you’re ready to apply to your shortlisted universities. You’ll usually receive acceptance letters in February or March.

Step #5 – January/February/March – Apply for your student visa and find accommodation

Depending on how far you are in your application process, you can apply for one of two kinds of student visas. If you have not received a confirmation from your university yet, you can apply for a prospective student visa. If you have received an acceptance letter you can go ahead and apply for a full-fledged student visa will then need to be converted to a residence permit.

You must also aim to look for an accommodation during this time and finalise one before you fly.

Step #6 – March/April – Get ready to fly

Summer intake lectures usually begin in mid-April, but it is a good idea to arrive earlier (when will depend on your visa) so you get used to the city and its culture.

If you’re thinking of applying for the summer intake next year, you have plenty of time to prepare. You can read our guides on German universities, scholarships and student life in Germany for more information.

Why should you study in Germany in the summer intake?

Despite it being the less popular of the two, applying for the summer intake has its own benefits.

• Applications are less competitive and class sizes are smaller which facilitates more one-to-one interaction with your professors.
• You do not have to wait an entire year if you miss out on the winter intake.
• You’ll begin your study during the summer months so you can enjoy more of the outdoors in the beautiful German weather.

Decided in favour of applying for the summer intake?

Take a look at the 400+ Masters courses in Germany on our website.