Study in Germany in 2023: Winter Semester, Timeline and Admission Requirements

When planning to study abroad, aspirants often look for pursuing their studies in the best universities they can find for themselves. And as time passes by, German universities have garnered a reputation for academic excellence, attracting students from all over the world. Similar to the admission customs seen in top countries like the US, the UK, Canada and others, this popular EU state also enrols students via two popular admission intakes in German universities.

Offering students the option to choose between two different admission intakes in Germany, the universities in the country usually hold admissions between the months of September and March for the winter semester in Germany and April for the Summer intake in Germany.

Among the top European Countries often chosen by international students across the world includes Germany. Home to a few top universities in the world such as Berlin School of Business and Innovation, Arden University, GISMA Business School, and many more, German universities offer immense higher education opportunities to students from across the globe.

Study in Germany: Popular Intakes in Germany

Similar to the admission processes followed by universities across other popular study-abroad destinations, German universities also conduct international student admission through two popular intakes in Germany. While there are two popular admission intakes in Germany, i.e. the Winter Intake and the Summer Intake, students will have to check the individual course requirements to study in Germany, to know the exact admission deadlines for submitting the application forms and fees.

As stated above, there are different intakes available for admissions in Germany, to which students can apply and enrol in the university or college of their choice. International students can apply to the top universities in the country via the Summer and Winter intakes in Germany. In this article, we shall discuss the timeline you should maintain for the Winter Intake in Germany, also known as the September Intake in Germany. If you are interested in applying during the summer intake in Germany, please refer to our German Summer Intake: Timeline and Requirements article.

Winter Semester in Germany: September 2023 Admission Timeline

In Germany, as is the case with other countries, the main or primary intake takes place during the Winter Semester in Germany, i.e.the September 2023 intake for the current academic year. You will be required to complete the necessary prerequisites such as applying to the respective colleges, appearing for different standardised tests, researching and applying for different loans, scholarships and other financial aid available along with satisfying other admission requirements.

Study in Germany 2023: Winter Semester

For those interested in applying to any of the popular German universities during the September (Winter Semester) Intake this academic year, then we recommend following the timeline as suggested in the table given below:

All students are advised to start preparing to submit their application to the different universities in Germany, a year before the commencement date of their desired programme. Study abroad experts usually suggest such a long time due to the amount of time required to complete all the prerequisites that come along with applying to universities for the winter semester in Germany.

Step-by-Step Timeline for the Winter Semester (September Intake 2023) in Germany

While your schedule to apply to German universities abroad should be unique to you and your requirements outlined below is the step-by-step timeline for admissions to the winter semester in Germany, i.e. the September 2023 intake, which can help you complete the entire admission process with ease. This step-by-step timeline will help you properly schedule the different steps in completing your application to German universities such as shortlisting the right university, preparing and applying for standardised tests, filling out and submitting the application forms of different universities, and more.

October to December 2022: Research and Shortlist Universities

A crucial task and the foremost task in your process to apply for the winter semester in Germany is to research and shortlist the different universities and/or colleges that you can apply to that also lay within your budget.

• While the first step in choosing a university abroad, is to select the desired country, here we have already chosen Germany. Therefore, start by listing down the possible German universities you can apply to and shortlist those universities or colleges that offer your desired course or programme.

• Once the universities and colleges have been shortlisted, visit the official website of each of the different universities and read through their offerings and further shortlist the more attractive universities as per you.

• One crucial parameter that you should look out for is the financial aid and scholarship opportunities offered by the shortlisted universities for international students, specifically you, as well as other student support facilities. Studying abroad will not be cheap nor will it be easy for students to live thousands of miles away from friends and family.

January to February 2023: Prepare and Attempt Standardised Tests

Most international universities would require international students to provide valid test scores for different admission tests that are usually accepted around the world. Some of these tests that are accepted by institutions include English proficiency tests such as IELTS or TOEFL, or admission entrance tests such as GRE or GMAT, among others. Therefore, when shortlisting the more desirable universities, keep an eye out for the individual course requirements to study in Germany, which will vary between the shortlisted universities.

• Your preparation for and application to different standardised tests will take time with some even taking up months. Therefore, try to be the early bird and prepare well for the tests ahead of the deadlines stipulated by the universities of your choice.

• Since there are thousands of international applicants applying to German universities from around the world, the test score cut-offs and minimum score requirements can be high in most universities, depending on the competition at the time of admission. Therefore, take your time, prepare well, or even take up a coaching class if you need it and attempt the tests.

• English Proficiency Tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, PTE or Duolingo that applicants may be required to submit by most universities.

  • For IELTS and TOEFL - applicants will be required to apply and register at least a month prior to the test date.

• GRE and GMAT are other standardised tests that are specific to a few programmes and disciplines such as Engineering, Science, Management, etc at the graduate/master's level. Therefore, before applying to any one of the tests, cross-check the requirements of each of the universities of your choice and apply to the appropriate test.

May to June 2023: Its Application Time

Depending on the deadlines defined by different universities, you must start compiling all the documents needed for the application process and fill out the respective admission forms. While filling out applications and compiling the documents may not take time, acquiring relevant documents from an authorised government or private institution may take time.

• Visit the official website of the shortlisted universities and go over the admission and application requirements.

• Fill out the application forms and adhere to the rules and regulations specified by the institution regarding admissions.

• International universities release their application forms for any academic session, almost a year before the session commences.

• Most universities will require aspirants to submit Letters of Recommendation and/or a Statement of Purpose (SOP). This may take time, therefore, before applying and submitting the application forms, structure and form the LORs and SOPs as per guidelines outlined by the university.

Note: Each university will define its own requirements for admission and deadlines to submit the application forms. Therefore, it is crucial to regularly visit the official website and check for updates.

July to August 2023: Admission Emails and Responses

After the application forms have been submitted, the respective colleges will reach out to the applicants and ask them to participate in the rest of the admission processes.

• Universities will contact the eligible students via the registered email address, requesting them to participate in further admission processes, which may include taking part in Personal Interviews and/or Video Interviews. In some cases, universities may just send the student an admission offer letter, wherein the student will be required to confirm whether they wish to study at a given university within a specific time period.

• It is necessary to respond to different college emails if specified by the desired higher educational institution. Here, quick responses will be beneficial. However, it is also important to take your time in finalising the college or university with your family before accepting any acceptance letter.

• All the universities and colleges you have applied to as well as completed all other required admission processes such as the personal and/or video interviews, will send an acceptance or offer letter via the registered email address. Therefore, keep a keen eye on all the emails that you receive after submitting your application forms.

• As a prospective student, you will be required to reply to these acceptance letters within a given deadline. Most universities require applicants to pay a non-refundable deposit to lock in their seats for particular courses.

August to September 2023: Finances and Scholarships

Before sending in your reply to acceptance letters, it is important to settle your finances and search for scholarships and financial aid. International education can be an expensive ordeal, therefore, searching for scholarships and different financial aid is crucial before responding to any acceptance letters.

• Research and study the different German scholarship opportunities available through the university and the local or federal government.

  • Select an appropriate scholarship or financial aid to study in Germany, if available.

  • You may also be required to choose a student loan, therefore, go through the different student loans available to you.

• Few universities may also offer scholarships to students at the time of admission based on academic merit. Check up with the International Student Office at the respective university for such scholarships or apply for other scholarships offered either by the university or the government or local private organisations.

September to October 2023: Final Steps

One of the final requirements to study in Germany is to apply for German Student visas and book flight tickets. All Indian students aspiring to pursue higher education during the winter semester in Germany are required to apply for an appropriate student visa.

• After accepting an offer letter from a recognised German university, apply for the appropriate German student visa as soon as possible.

• Applying for a student visa to study in Germany may be a quick and easy task, however, the waiting period for the application to be approved and receive the student visa can be long.

• Usually, applicants are able to receive their student visas within a month of their application, provided they have met all the requirements.

• It is also important to look for flight tickets as soon as possible. Flight tickets get more expensive as the time to reach the university closes. Therefore, book your tickets as per the dates and deadlines specified by the university.

Keeping a schedule, as defined above, may help reduce the stress caused to most students when it comes to applying to different universities abroad. Especially in the case of international education, it is necessary to plan your activities for your convenience.

Popular Universities in Germany for International Students

If you are looking to study in Germany, then check out this list of top universities in Germany for you.

If you are interested in pursuing higher education in the country and wish to learn more about international admissions and international education, then you can reach out to us at abroad@collegedekho.com.