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There are two main intakes in Germany: the Winter Semester and the Summer Semester. Winter is usually the larger intake, with more courses accepting applications, while Summer has fewer options. The exact intake depends on the course and university, so students should check their chosen program before planning their application.
For students planning ahead, Summer 2027 will be Germany’s next intake, and Winter 2027/28 will be the next intake for students in the broader application cycle. Indian students planning ahead should also consider obtaining their APS certificate in time. Selected master’s applicants should also be aware of a new requirement, such as the dMAT. Deadlines will vary from program to program, so be sure to visit the university’s page directly before applying. Global Degrees can help students understand these timelines and organize their applications around the right intake.
Germany has two intake cycles. Winter Semester normally spans from October through March, and the Summer Semester from April through September. Lecture dates vary from university to university, but these are the cycles that are generally followed.
| Intake | Usual start | Typical application deadline | Course availability |
| Winter Semester | October | Often July 15 | Wider range of programs |
| Summer Semester | April | Often January 15 | Fewer programs |
July 15th and January 15th are common deadlines, not set deadlines for each Germany intake. Universities and individual programs can set different deadlines, including earlier deadlines for some Master’s programs. Check the course page you are interested in for the specific deadline.
If you are planning on applying in the upcoming cycle, Summer 2027 is the next upcoming semester in Germany. The Summer Semester starts on April 1, 2027, but classes will start later. TUM’s lecture period for Summer 2027, for instance, will run from April 12 to July 16, 2027.
More importantly, you should verify if your desired course actually allows summer applications. Some courses use January deadlines, while others close much earlier. For instance, master’s application deadlines at the University of Bonn are staggered by program, and there is not one unified master’s deadline that covers all programs. If you cannot find your desired course for Summer 2027, you can instead prepare for the Winter 2027/28 intake, which starts in October of 2027.
Winter semester 2026/27 starts on October 1, 2026, and ends on March 31, 2027. Universities like TUM, for instance, start their lectures on October 12, 2026, which means that the start date of the semester doesn’t necessarily equal the start of the teaching period.
July 15 is a common application deadline for the Winter Semester, but it is not a universal deadline. Universities can set earlier deadlines for applications to certain master’s courses, Studienkolleg courses, or for certain categories of applicants. uni-assist recommends sending your application at least eight weeks before the deadline to allow time for any missing documents.
As of September 2026, many of the regular Winter 2026/27 deadlines have already passed. If you have already been accepted, your focus can shift to registration, budgeting, health insurance, housing, and your student visa.
If you missed your program deadline, you may still find programs that offer a Summer 2027 intake, but there may be limited courses. Alternatively, you could focus on applying for Winter 2027/28. Remember that if you are applying through uni-assist, you will need to have all documents and your online application submitted prior to the university deadline.
Study Abroad Consultants in India can work with you to compare programs and begin preparing for the next round of applications if you are unsure of what options you have remaining. The key is to assess the individual course deadline instead of relying on general dates of intakes in Germany.
The Summer 2027 intake start date is April 1, 2027. There are fewer courses offered during Summer than during the Winter semester. January 15 is a common application deadline, but universities and programs may set different or earlier deadlines.
Summer intake is offered for some bachelor’s and master’s courses, but it must not be considered a university-wide option. Some courses take applications both semesters, and some courses only take students in Winter. For instance, the deadline for summer applications for MSc Biomedical Engineering and Medical Physics at TUM is Nov 30, 2026 for Summer 2027. This shows that some Summer 2027 application deadlines can fall several months before the semester begins.
For Indian applicants, early shortlisting can really help. Check the course page for the intake offered, eligibility, route, and deadline before finalizing your documents.
For students applying for Summer 2027, it’s best to apply many months in advance of the deadline. Uni-assist recommend that applicants submit their application at least eight weeks prior to the deadline. It states that their current processing time for applications with certificates from Asia is 3-4 weeks, though some applications can take longer.
Give yourself extra time if you need to order a VPD, as you may need it before applying to the university. Compared to intakes in Germany, Summer 2027 may be a good alternative to Winter 2027/28 if your chosen course accepts students in the Summer semester.
Germany intakes for master’s vary greatly from program to program. Some programs accept applications for their master’s courses in both Winter and Summer semesters; others only once a year, typically in Winter. The frequently cited deadline of January 15th for Summer semester applications is not a given for every program; some close their applications for their master’s courses several months before that.
Before planning to study in Germany, Indian applicants should review the program’s eligibility criteria, intake availability, and application deadline. Depending on the course, requirements may include:
As of now, the dMAT requirement applies to eligible Indian applicants with prior degrees in Engineering, Commerce/Accounting/Finance/Economics, or Business/Management for Master’s applications from the Summer 2027 intake onwards, subject to applicable exemptions.
Just because a university offers Summer admission doesn’t necessarily mean your master’s program does.
Double-check the intake, deadline, and admission requirements on your master’s course-specific page.
Two things to note for applying to intakes in Germany for Indian students. APS verification has started rolling out again. Additionally, there is now a new requirement called dMAT for Master’s applicants beginning Summer 2027.
The Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) India confirms degrees and academic certificates awarded by Indian education providers. In most cases, you will need an APS certificate as part of your application for the German student visa; however, the APS certificate does not equal university admission or a visa decision.
Locate the correct APS process for your education history, view the checklist for that process, and prepare your documents accordingly. Once your documents are prepared, create an online account, pay the fee, and upload your application. Please have your application complete and formally correct before sending. Due to workflow and pending responses from the educational institutes that participated in authenticating your documents, APS cannot promise you a set turnaround time.
Starting Summer Semester 2027, to be admitted to a master’s program in India, eligible applicants whose bachelor’s degree is in Engineering; Commerce, Accounting, Finance, or Economics; or Business and Management must provide a dMAT certificate with their APS, unless they qualify for a transition exception.
The first dMAT cycle follows this schedule:
For dMAT-affected candidates, they can upload their APS docs before sending their dMAT certificate. APS India may begin the verification process before you submit your dMAT certificate, but the APS certificate will only be issued after the dMAT certificate/result has been submitted and verified.
If you are an Indian applicant looking for assistance in planning and coordinating your university applications, meeting APS requirements, and meeting intake deadlines, Study Abroad Consultants in Kerala can help you with that too.
For intakes in Germany for Indian students, you need to begin the application process a few months prior to the actual deadline. The dates mentioned below are to be used as a reference, as universities and courses have their own application dates.
| Timeline | What to do |
| Sep–Oct 2026 | Shortlist courses and check intake, eligibility, and deadlines. |
| Oct–Nov 2026 | Finish language tests and prepare your SOP, CV, and LORs. |
| Nov–Dec 2026 | Finalize documents and apply to courses with early deadlines. |
| Dec 2026–Jan 2027 | Submit applications for programs with January deadlines. |
| Jan–Mar 2027 | Track applications and prepare for the next steps after admission. |
| Winter 2027/28 | If needed, use the additional time to prepare for the next Winter intake. |
Documents required for Germany university intakes vary depending on the university, course, level of degree you are applying for, and your academic background. However, here is a general checklist of the documents you will need to put together:
In general, not all universities or programs will request each one of these documents. Different programs, levels of study, universities, and application methods will have different requirements. One university may ask for a VPD, while another may not. Another university may want detailed module descriptions, and another may not. Be sure to check your program’s official checklist before you submit your application.
Students who need help organizing university applications and visa-related paperwork can also approach Study Abroad Consultants in Calicut for guidance.
Planning ahead for Germany study visa intakes is advised. Plan for the documents you will need to apply for university admission and, from there, the visa application. Most Indian applicants with Indian academic qualifications will need an APS certificate as part of their visa documentation, subject to applicable exemptions. Proof of funding as well as health insurance should be sorted out beforehand.
Keep in mind that visas can take time to process; leave a large enough gap between when you get admission and when you wish to travel. University application deadlines do not necessarily match up with your visa timeline. Meeting one deadline does not mean you automatically qualify for the other.
A simple order to follow is:
Program shortlist, Application, Admission, Financial proof, Insurance, Visa application, Accommodation and travel
Students who want support with application and pre-departure planning can also consult Study Abroad Consultants in Vijayawada.
There is no universally best intake for applications to universities in Germany. Instead, it depends on which program you want to do and how ready you are to apply by that date.
| Student situation | Better option |
| Target program starts only in Winter | Winter |
| Program accepts Summer, and the student is ready | Summer |
| Winter deadline was missed | Summer, if available |
| More preparation time is needed | Next available cycle |
| Master's program has only Winter admission | Winter |
| More time is needed for APS, dMAT, or language preparation | Later suitable intake |
| PhD or research applicant | Supervisor or program timeline |
Begin with the program, not the semester. If your master’s course of choice is only available during Winter intake, holding out for Summer won’t suddenly give you an option that the university didn’t already offer. Similarly, if you find your dream Summer course and are ready with all your documents, you don’t have to wait around for Winter just because classes aren’t offered then.
Likewise, if you know you need more prep time, taking the other intake is often more realistic than throwing together an application and missing a key detail. Choose the intake that suits your program and preparation best.
A few common application mistakes made by applicants that can easily be avoided when applying for intakes in Germany:
The most common mistake applicants make is approaching Germany as if there’s one calendar of applications. Deadlines, intakes, and requirements will differ depending on the program you are applying for, so make sure you check with each program before preparing your application.
Since the intakes in Germany differ from course to course in Germany, there is no perfect intake that suits all students. Summer 2027 might work for those courses that accept applications during that semester. However, Winter 2027/28 may be a better option if the course you are applying to only accepts students in the Winter or if you need more time to prepare your application. Global Degrees can help Indian students shortlist suitable courses and understand the application requirements before choosing an intake.
German student visa processing can take several weeks or longer, depending on the application and the responsible German mission. Students should apply with sufficient time before their planned travel.
Some German universities accept alternatives to IELTS, such as other recognized language tests or proof of previous English-medium education. Requirements vary by course, so check the university’s language requirements.
Most German public universities don’t charge tuition fees for Bachelor’s degrees and consecutive Master’s degrees. Some states and universities do charge tuition fees. Even if you don’t have tuition fees, you still pay a semester contribution.
If using a blocked account, you will need to prove you have €11,904 for 2026. You can also provide evidence of a scholarship or another proven source of funding.
It’s totally possible to live in Germany knowing only English, especially if you study German in an English-taught study program. That said, knowing some basic German words and phrases will help you immensely with day-to-day tasks like speaking to authorities, shopping, and finding an apartment.
