Application Deadline For German Universities 2021

Germany’s popularity among international students is only increasing year by year, thanks to the country’s top-tier educational infrastructure and reduced tuition fees. Many Indians plan to do an MS in Germany, but Bachelors courses are no less desired.

Application to German universities can be done through two methods – either you can apply directly to the university, or you can apply via the centralized portal uni-assist.de/en/. However, do keep in mind that all German universities are not available on uni-assist, so in some cases you can only follow the first method. To help you plan your study in Germany, the application deadlines to top universities and courses are outlined in this article.

Application Deadlines for Top German Universities

There are many globally recognized top-ranking universities in Germany, who offer a variety of courses at both undergraduate and postgraduate levels. You can find the general application deadlines to these German universities below.

Most German institutions have two intakes a year, i.e Summer and Winter semesters. As a general rule, winter semester applications close on 15 July while summer semester applications close on January 15, but it is not necessary that all universities and programs follow these exact dates.

German Universities With Open Admission

How to apply to a university in Germany

Check if you meet the admission requirements of your chosen German university by contacting the university’s international office. You will need a higher education entrance qualification (Hochschulzugangsberechtigung – HZB) or equivalent to be admitted.

Foreign students with qualifications outside the EU zone may have to sit a university entrance examination (Feststellungsprufung), after attending a preparatory course (Studienkolleg).

Even if you meet the admission requirements, you will often not be able to enrol directly. The most popular degree courses in Germany usually have certain restrictions called Numerus Clausus (NC). You will have to go through a selection process based on these restrictions. To avoid not being admitted because of course restrictions, it’s best to apply to more German universities at once.

Admission at German universities is based on the high school grade point average (GPA). The higher your score, the greater the chances of being admitted at your dream university.

Where to apply?

In Germany, some study disciplines are in very high demand, which is why there may be certain restrictions in place. These will influence the way in which you will apply for a university degree in Germany. The courses that follow this kind of admission procedure either have national or local admission restrictions. Current subjects with national NC restrictions:

• Architecture 
• Medicine 
• Dentistry 
• Veterinary Medicine 

Where to apply for degrees with national restrictions

Students with university entrance qualification in Germany or at an EU/EEA member country apply through the Trust for admission to higher education (Deutsche Hochschulreife – Hochschulkompass).

Students without a German higher education entrance qualification, or from a non–EU/EEA country apply through Uni–assist or directly at the university.

Where to apply for degrees with local restrictions or no restrictions

If you want to apply for a degree with local restriction or no restrictions, it’s best to apply through Uni–assist or contact the local university.

Language requirements for German university application

Germany offers a very limited amount of undergraduate courses entirely taught in English. However, there are some courses that are taught both in German and English – a great way to advance your German skills during your Bachelor’s studies. Graduate students will find an increasing variety of English–taught degrees in Germany.

Two main German language tests are accepted by all universities in Germany:

• DSH (German language exam for university entrance) – available only in Germany
• TestDaF – available in 90 countries worldwide

If the course you plan to attend is partially taught in English, you will have to provide an English language certificate. The most popular are:

• IELTS Academic
• TOEFL iBT
• PTE Academic

Required university application documents

Each university sets its own admission criteria, but, generally, most of the following will be included:

• Certified copy of a high-school diploma or a previously completed degree
• Translation of the course modules and grades
• Passport photo(s)
• Copy of your passport
• Proof of language proficiency – German and/or English
• Motivation letter
• Application fee

An official authority should certify all the documents you submit.

University application deadlines in Germany

Students planning to enrol at German universities can start their studies either in winter or summer:

• The application deadline for the winter enrolment is 15th of July
• The application deadline for the summer enrolment is 15th of January

These application deadlines can vary from one higher education institution or study programme to another. Always check the dates and start your application process early on. It will give you an advantage if you need to resubmit some documents or something unexpected happens