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 2020/2021:
- Lecture period: 2th November 2020 - 12th February 2021
Summer semester 2021:
- Lecture period: 12th April 2021 - 23rd July 2021
Holidays: 24th May 2021 (Pentecost/Whitsun) and 23rd December 2021 - 6th January 2022 (Christmas holidays)
See also (in german): Current dates and deadlines.
Public holidays in North-Rhine Westphalia, Germany:
|
Public holidays |
2021 |
2022 |
|
New Year's Day |
1st January |
1st January |
|
Carnival Monday |
dropped due to pandemic | 28th February |
|
Good Friday |
2nd April |
15th April |
|
Easter Monday |
5th April |
18th April |
|
Labour Day |
1st May |
1st May |
|
Ascension Day |
13th May |
26th May |
|
Whit Monday |
24th May |
6th June |
|
Corpus Christi |
3rd June |
16th June |
|
German reunification |
3rd October |
3rd October |
|
All Saints |
1st November |
1st November |
|
Christmas |
25th - 26th December |
25th - 26th December |