Academic calendar

The academic year at German universities is divided into winter semester and summer semester.

Winter semester:     1st October - 31st March

Summer semester:  1st April - 30th September

Each semester is divided into lecture and lecture free periods. The dates of lecture period as well as holidays vary from semester to semester. Exams are usually taken in the first weeks of the lecture free period:

Winter semester 2023/2024:

Lecture period: 9th October 2023 - 2nd February 2024

Holidays: 21st May 2024 (Pentecost/Whitsun) and 21st December 2024 - 5th January 2025 (Christmas holidays)

Summer semester 2024:       

Lecture period: 8th April 2024 - 19th July 2024

See also (in German): Current dates and deadlines.

 

Public holidays in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany:

Public holidays

2024

2025

New Year's Day

1st January

1st January

Carnival Monday

12th February 3rd March

Good Friday

29th March

18th April

Easter Monday

1st April

21st April

Labour Day

1st May

1st May

Ascension Day

9th May

29th May

Whit Monday

20th May

9th June

Corpus Christi

30th May

19th June

German reunification

3rd October

3rd October

All Saints

1st November

1st November

Christmas

25th - 26th December

25th - 26th December