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The best time to move to Berlin for international schools is, for most families, the summer, arriving ahead of the late-August start so the child begins with the rest of the cohort. The catch is that the school place has to be secured first, which means the planning starts the previous autumn or winter. This page explains how to time the move around the school year and the admissions calendar, and links up to our international schools in Berlin directory so you can line up the schools before you fix a date.
The short answer: aim for the August start
The international school year in Berlin typically begins in late August, around the end of the state summer holiday, so a summer arrival lets a child start with everyone else rather than joining part way through. That is the smoothest entry point socially and academically, and it is what most relocating families aim for. To make it work, the application needs to be in well before the spring decision round, which commonly runs March to May, so an August 2026 start really begins with planning in the autumn or winter of 2025. Arriving in the second half of the summer also gives time to settle a home and a routine before term begins.
How the Berlin school year is shaped
The school year runs on the Berlin state holiday framework, with the long summer break ending in late August in 2026 and shorter breaks in February, around Easter, in late October and at Christmas. International schools set their own precise term dates around these state holidays, so the exact first day varies by school and some were still finalising dates at the time of writing. Knowing the shape of the year helps you choose an arrival date that lands before term without overlapping the busiest travel period; our Berlin school holidays 2026 page sets out the dates in full.
Timing a move around the school year?
The school finder shortlists Berlin schools by curriculum, district and stage, so you can secure the place that sets your arrival date.
Use the school finderIf a summer move is not possible
Not every move fits the summer, and a mid-year arrival is workable. The international tier admits on a rolling basis, so a place can be offered for the spring or even the winter term where one is open in the relevant year group. A mid-year move asks for an earlier conversation with admissions and a little flexibility on which school, since availability rather than a fixed deadline decides the outcome. The trade-off is that the child joins an established class, which most schools manage well given how many international families arrive mid-stream. Our guide to applying covers the steps either way.
Align the move with the admissions windows
Whatever date you target, line the move up with the admissions calendar rather than the other way round. For the international tier, that means applying ahead of the spring decision round; for a state or bilingual primary place, it means hitting the autumn registration window the year before. Our Berlin admissions deadlines 2026 page sets out both, and budgeting the fees early with our international school fees in Berlin guide keeps the cost side of the move under control.
Related reading
- Berlin school holidays and term dates 2026
- Berlin admissions deadlines 2026
- Moving to Berlin with children: the school guide
Common questions
For most families the best time to arrive is the summer, ahead of the late-August start of the international school year, so the child begins with the rest of the cohort. To make that work, the application needs to be in well before the spring decision round, which commonly runs March to May, so the planning starts the previous autumn or winter.
Often, yes. The international tier admits on a rolling basis, so a place can be offered mid-year where one is open in the relevant year group. A mid-year move needs an earlier conversation with admissions and a little flexibility on school, since availability rather than a deadline decides the outcome, but it is a well-trodden path for relocating families.
Six to twelve months before the intended start is the working rule, and longer for the busiest entry points such as the first primary year, the start of secondary and the IB Diploma. Starting the previous autumn lets you visit schools, apply inside the main intake window and choose a neighbourhood around the school rather than the other way round.
The international school year in Berlin typically begins in late August, around the end of the state summer holiday, which runs to late August in 2026. Exact first days vary by school and some were still finalising dates, so confirm the start of the year with your chosen school rather than assuming a fixed date.
It helps. The Berlin summer holiday runs into late August, so arriving in the second half of the summer gives time to settle before term starts without overlapping the busiest travel period. Our Berlin school holidays guide sets out the 2026 dates so you can plan the arrival, the settling-in window and the first term around them.