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Semester Dates

Overview of all confirmed semester dates at a glance.

The academic year at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE Germany) follows the standard German system, with two main semesters listed in the UE academic calendar. The winter semester typically begins in early autumn, while the summer semester starts in spring. 

For 2025/26, the UE semester dates for the winter semester run from 1 September 2025 to 28 February 2026, with lectures from late September to late January. The summer semester begins on 1 March 2026 and ends on 31 August 2026, with teaching scheduled from late March to mid-July. Since lecture periods vary annually, students should consult the current University of Europe for Applied Sciences academic calendar for updated Germany semester dates. 

Berlin | Hamburg | Iserlohn | UE Innovation Hub

Art & Design Programmes

01.03.2026Start of the semester
02.04.2026End of intake
16.03.2026 – 20.03.2026Ersti Days
23.03.2026 – 11.07.2026Lectures
Attention! Appointments for oral examinations in A&D must be coordinated between the EO and the Vice Deanship.Exams 
23.03.2026 – 11.07.2026retake exams
31.08.2026End of the semester

Business & Sport, Health & Psychology, Tech & Sport Programmes

01.03.2026Start of the semester
02.04.2026End of intake
16.03.2026 – 20.03.2026Ersti Days
23.03.2026 – 11.07.2026Lectures
13.07.2026 – 25.07.2026Exams 
16.03.2026 – 21.03.2026retake exams
31.08.2026End of the semester

Art & Design Programmes

01.09.2026Start of the semester
09.10.2026End of intake
14.09.2026 – 18.09.2026Ersti Days
28.09.2026 – 23.01.2027Lectures
Attention! Appointments for oral examinations in A&D must be coordinated between the EO and the Vice Deanship.Exams 
21.09.2026 – 26.09.2026retake exams
28.02.2027End of the semester

Business & Sport, Health & Psychology, Tech & Sport Programmes

01.09.2026Start of the semester
09.10.2026End of intake
14.09.2026 – 18.09.2026Ersti Days
28.09.2026 – 23.01.2027Lectures
25.01.2027 – 06.02.2027Exams 
21.09.2026 – 26.09.2026retake exams
28.02.2027End of the semester

Summer 2025

8 March 2025 International Women’s Day (only in Berlin)

18 April 2025 – 21 April 2025 Easter (Good Friday to Easter Monday)

1 May 2025 Labour Day

29 May 2025 Ascension Day

9 June 2025 Whit Monday (Pentecost Monday)

19 June 2025 Corpus Christi (only in Iserlohn)

Winter 2025/26

3 October 2025 German Unity Day

31 October 2025 Reformation Day (only in Hamburg & Potsdam)

1 November 2025 All Saints’ Day (only in Iserlohn)

25 December 2025 Christmas Day (1st Christmas Day)

26 December 2025 Boxing Day (2nd Christmas Day)

Dubai

Art & Design Programmes

01.03.2026Start of the semester
06.04.2026End of intake
23.03.2026 – 24.03.2026Ersti Week
25.03.2026 – 11.07.2026Lectures
***Exams
24.03.2026 – 27.03.2026retake exams
31.08.2026End of the semester
***Attention! Appointments for oral examinations in A&D must be coordinated between the EO and the Vice Deanship.

Business & Sport, Health & Psychology, Tech & Sport Programmes

01.03.2026Start of the semester
06.04.2026End of intake
23.03.2026 – 24.03.2026Ersti Week
25.03.2026 – 11.07.2026Lectures
13.07.2026 – 25.07.2026Exams
24.03.2026 – 27.03.2026Retake Exams
31.08.2026End of the semester

Art & Design Programmes

01.09.2026Start of the semester
09.10.2026End of intake
21.09.2026 – 25.09.2026Ersti Week
28.09.2026 – 23.01.2027Lectures
***Exams
21.09.2026 – 26.09.2026retake exams
28.02.2027End of the semester
***Attention! Appointments for oral examinations in A&D must be coordinated between the EO and the Vice Deanship.

Business & Sport, Health & Psychology, Tech & Sport Programmes

01.09.2026Start of the semester
09.10.2026End of intake
21.09.2026 – 25.09.2026Ersti Week
28.09.2026 – 23.01.2027Lectures
25.01.2027 – 06.02.2027Exams
21.09.2026 – 26.09.2026Retake Exams
28.02.2027End of the semester

1 JanNew Year’s Day
31 March – 1 April National Holiday: Eid al Fitr
4th June – 8th JuneNational Holiday: Arafat Day & Eid al Adha
Dec 2 -3National Day

*All National holidays are tentative until confirmed by relevant authorities and may be subject to change.

FAQs

The winter semester starts on 1 September and ends on 28 February, and the summer semester begins on 1 March and finishes on 31 August. This is slightly earlier than many German universities and means that students at UE can begin their studies ahead of the traditional German academic cycle, allowing for a longer, well-structured teaching period and an earlier completion of modules.

At University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE), “intake” refers to the period during which new students can enrol for a semester. For the 2025/26 academic year, the winter semester intake closes on 10 October, and the summer semester intake closes on 2 April.  

Ersti Week at University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) is the mandatory orientation week for first-year students, designed to introduce them to the university, their peers, staff and resources before lectures begin. For the summer semester 2026, Ersti Week is scheduled from 16 March to 20 March 2026. 

We do not have an exact “must-arrive by” date for international students at University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE). However, since the semester officially begins on 1 September for winter and 1 March for summer, it is recommended that students arrive a week or two early to complete visa, accommodation, and registration formalities, and to attend orientation with the support of the Welcome Centre. 

The best time to book travel to and from Germany for University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) is around the start and end of each semester. Since the semester officially starts 1 March (summer) or 1 September (winter), and semesters end on 31 August (summer) or 28 February (winter), booking travel a week or two before the semester starts (for arrival) or after it ends (for departure) gives you a comfortable buffer for orientation, registration and final tasks. 

es, there is a break between semesters at the University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE) when no classes are held. For the winter semester, lectures end on 24 January, the semester formally concludes on 28 February, and the summer semester begins on 1 March, creating a short lecture-free interval. In the summer, lectures finish around mid-July, while the semester formally ends on 31 August, providing a longer lecture-free period before the next term. 

At the University of Europe for Applied Sciences (UE), exam periods are scheduled at the end of each semester. For the winter semester 2025/26, exams take place from 26 January to 7 February 2026, while in the summer semester 2026, exams are held from 13 July to 25 July 2026.