On this page
Two admissions systems, two kinds of deadline
Berlin runs two parallel admissions systems, and the deadlines work differently in each. The fee-paying international tier, the schools covered in our international schools in Berlin directory, mostly admits on a rolling basis, reviewing applications through the year and filling each year group as places open. The state sector, including the bilingual Staatliche Europa-Schule Berlin, admits through a fixed city registration window set by the Senate education administration. Knowing which system a school sits in tells you whether you are working to a rolling timeline or a single dated deadline, and it is the first thing to establish before you plan the year.
International tier: rolling, with a spring decision round
At the established international schools the application form, recent report cards and a birth certificate go in first, after which the school assesses the child and, for older year groups, may set an entrance test or a trial day. The practical rhythm is that the main intake for an August start tends to close around March, with offers commonly made between March and May, and later places released only where capacity remains. That is why the working rule is to apply six to twelve months ahead, and earlier still for the busiest entry points. Because each school sets its own timeline, the dates below are indicative planning anchors rather than fixed citywide deadlines, and you should confirm the cut-off with each admissions office.
State and bilingual entry: the autumn registration window
Entry to a Berlin state primary school, including the bilingual Europa-Schule network, runs through the city registration period rather than a rolling process. That window falls in the autumn, in the weeks before the autumn holidays, for children starting the following August, and 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 precise dates each year. We have not fixed an exact 2026 date here because it is set locally and can move, so treat the autumn timing as the anchor and confirm with your district.
| Route | How it works | Indicative timing for an August 2026 start |
|---|---|---|
| International tier, main intake | Rolling review, spring decision round | Apply by around March 2026; offers commonly March to May |
| International tier, later places | Released where capacity remains | Through spring and summer 2026, subject to availability |
| State and Europa-Schule primary | Fixed city registration window | Autumn 2025 registration period, confirm with district Schulamt |
| Mid-year entry | Where a year-group place is open | Any term, by direct enquiry |
The table sets out the shape of the year rather than guaranteed dates. Two points carry the most planning risk and should be confirmed against primary sources: the exact spring cut-off at each international school, and the precise autumn registration dates for the state and Europa-Schule route, both of which we have flagged rather than fixed.
Working to an admissions deadline?
The school finder filters Berlin schools by curriculum, district and stage, so you can shortlist quickly and contact the right admissions offices before the spring round closes.
Use the school finderPlanning the 2026 admissions calendar
Three practical points tie the deadlines to the rest of the year. First, the international school year starts in late August, so an application aimed at the main intake should be in well before the spring decision round to keep the widest choice of school. Second, fees are usually billed by term or semester with the larger invoice at the late-August restart, so an offer accepted in spring gives time to plan cash flow; our guide to international school fees in Berlin covers the bands and timing. Third, if you are targeting a primary place, stage-specific timing and the shortlist of schools sit in our Berlin primary schools guide, and the term and holiday framework that the school year runs on is in our Berlin school holidays 2026 page.
Related reading
- International schools in Berlin: the directory
- Berlin school holidays and term dates 2026
- International school fees in Berlin
- Berlin primary schools
Common questions
There is no single citywide deadline. Most fee-paying international schools in Berlin run rolling admissions, but the main intake for an August start tends to close around March, with offers commonly made between March and May and later places released only where capacity remains. Apply six to twelve months before your intended start date, and confirm the exact cut-off with each school as dates shift year to year.
Yes. Entry to a Berlin state primary school, including the bilingual Staatliche Europa-Schule Berlin network, runs through the city registration period, which falls in the autumn, in the weeks before the autumn holidays, for entry the following August. The Senate education administration and your district Schulamt publish the precise window each year, so treat the autumn timing as the planning anchor and confirm the dates locally.
Six to twelve months ahead is the working rule, and longer for the most popular entry points such as the first primary year, the start of secondary and the IB Diploma. Places at the established schools fill early, and an application that arrives before the main spring decision round has the widest choice.
Many do, where a place is open in the relevant year group. Rolling admissions mean applications are reviewed through the year, so a family arriving in, for example, January can often be placed for the spring term. Availability is the constraint rather than a deadline, so contact the admissions office directly to check current capacity.
Each school publishes its own admissions timeline, and the established schools such as Berlin International School and Berlin Brandenburg International School set out their application steps and intake windows on their websites. For state and bilingual entry, the Berlin Senate education pages and your district Schulamt hold the official registration dates. Always confirm against these primary sources before relying on a date.