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:
Summer semester 2022:
- Lecture period: 4th April 2022 - 15th July 2022
Winter semester 2022/2023:
Lecture period: 10th October 2022 - 3rd February 2023
Holidays: 7th May 2022 (Pentecost/Whitsun) and 23rd December 2022 - 6th January 2023 (Christmas holidays)
See also (in german): Current dates and deadlines.
Public holidays in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany:
Public holidays |
2022 |
2023 |
New Year's Day |
1st January |
1st January |
Carnival Monday |
dropped due to pandemic | 20th February |
Good Friday |
15th April |
7th April |
Easter Monday |
18th April |
10th April |
Labour Day |
1st May |
1st May |
Ascension Day |
26th May |
18th May |
Whit Monday |
6th June |
29th May |
Corpus Christi |
16th June |
8th June |
German reunification |
3rd October |
3rd October |
All Saints |
1st November |
1st November |
Christmas |
25th - 26th December |
25th - 26th December |