The short answer is that it depends on the kind of school. Most fee-paying international schools in Berlin keep applications open all year on a rolling basis, while state and bilingual schools open a fixed registration window in the autumn. Knowing which applies to you decides when to act, and this page sets out both, with a clear steer on timing for an August 2026 start. For the full list of schools to apply to, start with our international schools in Berlin directory.
International schools: open year round, decided in spring
The established international schools admit on a rolling basis, which means there is rarely a single date when applications open or shut. In practice, though, the meaningful window for an August start runs through the winter and into spring, with the main decision round commonly falling between March and May and later places released only where capacity remains. So while you can apply at almost any time, the application that lands before the spring round keeps the widest choice. The working rule is to apply six to twelve months ahead, and earlier for the first primary year, the start of secondary and the IB Diploma, where waiting lists form soonest.
State and bilingual schools: the autumn window
The state sector works differently. Entry to a Berlin state primary school, including the bilingual Staatliche Europa-Schule Berlin, runs through the city registration period, which opens in the autumn, in the weeks before the autumn holidays, for children starting the following August. Europa-Schule places also involve a language suitability assessment because teaching is bilingual from the first year. The Senate education administration and your district Schulamt publish the exact dates, which can move year to year, so we have flagged the autumn timing rather than fix a date. For an August 2026 start, that window falls in the autumn of 2025, which is earlier than many families expect.
Want to know which schools are still open?
The school finder shortlists Berlin schools by curriculum, district and stage, so you can see what fits and contact admissions before the main round closes.
Use the school finderWhat to do now
Whatever your target start date, two steps pay off immediately. First, build a realistic shortlist of three to five schools that fit your child’s age, curriculum and likely neighbourhood, then contact each admissions office to confirm current availability and its own timeline. Second, get your documents ready, the application form, recent report cards and the birth certificate, so you can apply quickly once you decide; our step-by-step guide to applying covers the full sequence. For the dated view of the year, see our Berlin admissions deadlines 2026 page, and budget the cost early with our international school fees in Berlin guide.
Related reading
- Berlin admissions deadlines 2026
- How to apply to international schools in Berlin
- International school fees in Berlin
Common questions
Most fee-paying international schools in Berlin keep applications open year round on a rolling basis, but the meaningful window for an August start runs through the winter and into spring, with the main decision round commonly between March and May. The practical rule is to apply six to twelve months before your intended start, and earlier for the busiest entry points.
Yes. State primary entry, including the bilingual Staatliche Europa-Schule Berlin, runs through the city registration period in the autumn, in the weeks before the autumn holidays, for entry the following August. The Senate education administration and your district Schulamt set the exact dates each year, so confirm them locally rather than relying on a fixed date.
For the international tier, broadly yes, because admissions are rolling and applications are reviewed through the year. A place still depends on availability in the relevant year group, so an out-of-cycle application is decided on current capacity rather than a deadline. State and bilingual entry, by contrast, is tied to the autumn registration window.
Aim to have international tier applications in by the late winter or early spring of 2026 so you are inside the main decision round, which commonly runs March to May. For a state or bilingual primary place starting in August 2026, the registration window falls in the autumn of 2025, so that route needs action earlier than many families expect.
Effectively, yes, at the busiest entry points. While the formal process is rolling, the established schools fill the first primary year, the start of secondary and the IB Diploma cohort early, so waiting lists can form well before the spring round. Applying ahead of the main decision window gives the widest choice and the best chance at a sought-after year group.