Use common dates only as planning signals
uni-assist says the following dates apply to many, but not all, courses. Confirm the exact course and applicant category on the university website before treating a date as final.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare all columns.
| Study start | Common reference date | Why yours may differ | Next step |
|---|---|---|---|
| Winter semester | Often 15 July | Master's, Studienkolleg, restricted courses or international categories can close earlier | Official deadline guidance ↗ |
| Summer semester | Often 15 January | Not every degree offers a summer start and programme dates vary | Official deadline guidance ↗ |
| VPD route | VPD must be ready before the university deadline | uni-assist evaluation is a separate four-to-six-week step | VPD instructions ↗ |
| Direct application | University's published date | Portal opening, document and applicant rules are institution-specific | Application routes ↗ |
Build a sixteen-week application timeline
A safe plan begins before the portal opens. Qualification research, language tests, certified translations and programme-specific documents can take longer than the final upload.
uni-assist recommends applying at least eight weeks before the deadline so missing-document issues can be identified. Treat that as a minimum planning buffer rather than permission to delay preparation.
- 116+ weeks: verify route and requirements
- 212+ weeks: order documents and translations
- 38+ weeks: submit uni-assist or request VPD
- 4Before deadline: complete the university application
- 5After submission: monitor portal and email
A VPD creates two deadlines
First submit a complete VPD request through uni-assist. After the evaluation, download the VPD and submit it with the direct university application before that institution's deadline.
uni-assist states that a VPD is normally valid for one year from issue, but it is issued for a chosen university. Recheck the programme and intake instructions before reusing it.
Track every programme as a separate record
Create one row per degree rather than one row per university. A university can use different dates and portals for bachelor's, master's, restricted, non-restricted, Studienkolleg and international applications.
On a small screen, scroll the table sideways to compare all columns.
| Field | What to record | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Degree and intake | Exact programme title and semester | Prevents mixing similar course pages |
| Application owner | Direct, uni-assist, VPD or another route | Determines the actual sequence |
| Portal opens | First date submission is possible | Supports an early application |
| Final deadline | Date, time zone and applicant category | Avoids using a general date |
| Missing tasks | Test, translation, VPD, reference or portfolio | Shows the real critical path |
Connect deadlines to funding and visa planning
Admission, scholarship and visa dates are not interchangeable. Record scholarship decisions and financial-document preparation beside the course timeline, then start the visa route only with the evidence required by the responsible mission.