If you finish school in 2027, the first question is when the exams take place and what has to be arranged before then. The Abitur exam dates for 2027 are set by each German federal state, so there is no single national date. Using the state of Hesse as an example, this guide shows how an official Abitur decree is structured, where binding dates appear, and how to align the exam phase with your university application (in German: Studienbewerbung).
Short answer: The 2027 Abitur exams take place in spring, and the dates are set by the states. For Hesse, the Abitur decree of 2 July 2025 provides for the main written exams from 15 April to 5 May 2027 and oral exams from 10 May 2027 at the earliest. The website of your state education ministry remains the authority. Last updated: November 2026.
The most important points at a glance
- Abitur exam dates are set by each German federal state. There is no single national date.
- For Hesse, the decree of 2 July 2025 sets the main written exams from 15 April to 5 May 2027.
- According to the same decree, written re-sit exams are planned for 18 May to 3 June 2027.
- Oral exams, presentation exams and colloquia start in Hesse on 10 May 2027 at the earliest.
- The decree gives no fixed date for announcing grades, so your school decides when the grade is final.
- Registering for the Abitur and applying to a university are two separate processes with their own deadlines.
When do the Abitur exams take place in 2027?
The answer depends on your state. Hesse shows which dates a typical Abitur decree sets. The table below takes the dates from the decree of 2 July 2025 in their original order. It applies only to Hesse and to the status of that decree.
| Exam phase | Date in the decree (Hesse) | What it means for you |
|---|---|---|
| End of course phase Q4 | 19 March 2027 | From here on, preparation for the exams matters more than regular lessons. |
| Practical exams | 5 March 2027 at the earliest | For subjects with a practical part, the exam phase starts earlier than for written subjects. |
| Written Abitur exams (main date) | 15 April to 5 May 2027 | The period in which the written papers are sat. |
| Oral exams, presentation exams, colloquia | 10 May 2027 at the earliest | This is the earliest start. Your school timetable gives the exact day. |
| Written re-sit exams (first re-sit date) | 18 May to 3 June 2027 | Relevant if an exam was failed or missed. |
| Announcement of grades | no fixed date in the decree | Ask the school when the Abitur grade is confirmed. |
It is important to distinguish between the earliest possible start and a specific date. The decree sets the framework, and your school creates the timetable for each individual exam. If you only know the outer dates, you cannot be sure on which day a particular paper takes place.
How does registration for the Abitur work?
Your school usually handles registration for the Abitur exams. The documents, the subjects and the deadlines are set by the state and by the school regulations. Follow the rules of your own school rather than general overviews. These are the points you should clarify:
- Which subjects and exam formats apply to you, and whether a subject is tested in writing, orally or practically.
- By which date your registration must reach the school and which proofs are required.
- How to handle illness or other reasons for withdrawing or sitting a re-sit, and which evidence the school requires.
- When grades are announced, because you need the Abitur grade for applications.
How to plan the time until the exams
A realistic schedule prevents studying, applying and daily life from competing with each other. A simple overview works best, with exam dates, school deadlines and university application deadlines side by side. If you make the dates visible early, you have less to improvise in spring. You can link the overview to a calendar that reminds you of deadlines.
An example shows the logic. Assumption: you sit a written exam in the main period in one subject and an oral exam in another subject in the same week. Then the workload falls on the preparation for that week. Plan fewer other commitments for that week and clarify early with your school whether dates can be moved.
What applies outside Hesse?
For the other federal states, the binding dates are on the websites of the respective education ministries and in their Abitur decrees. Overviews by third parties help with orientation, but for planning you should always compare them with the official text. Differences in subjects, exam formats and re-sit dates between the states are common.
What does this mean for your university application?
Your Abitur grade and your university application are closely linked. Many degree programmes ask for the Abitur certificate or proof of the higher education entrance qualification, and the Abitur grade feeds into the selection process for restricted subjects. Because the announcement of grades in Hesse is not fixed to a date, clarify with your school when you will have the grade in hand. University deadlines are independent of this and appear in the application portals. An overview of the process for the winter semester 2027/28 is in our article on applying for the winter semester 2027/28 (in German).
Money and insurance also need to be settled between the Abitur and the start of your studies. The article Abitur geschafft: Geld und Versicherung vor dem Studium (in German) explains what to consider.
Frequently asked questions
When is the Abitur 2027 in Hesse?
According to the Abitur decree of 2 July 2025, the main written exams begin on 15 April 2027 and end on 5 May 2027. Oral exams are planned from 10 May 2027 at the earliest. Your school will give you the concrete plan.
Is there a single nationwide Abitur date?
No. Education is the responsibility of the federal states, so each state sets its own exam dates, re-sit dates and deadlines. For your planning, only the decree of your own state counts.
When will I learn my Abitur grade?
In Hesse the decree gives no specific date for announcing grades. Your school sets the date. Ask early about the timetable so that you have the grade in time for your application.
What happens if I fail an exam?
Then the re-sit exams apply. In Hesse, the written re-sits are planned for 18 May to 3 June 2027 according to the decree. The conditions for a re-sit and the consequences of missed exams are set out in your state decree, so it is worth reading the text.
Do I have to apply to the university myself?
Yes, the university application is a separate process. Universities or the central allocation procedure set the deadlines and procedures. Finishing school does not replace the application.
What to do now
- Read the Abitur decree of your state for 2027 in full and enter the dates in your calendar.
- Clarify your exam subjects, registration deadlines and the date for announcing grades with your school.
- Create a second list with the university application deadlines and link it to the Abitur dates.
- Settle questions about insurance and finance for the move from school to university early.
Related articles
- Finding a study place: free places and waiting procedures overview (in German)
- Applying for the winter semester 2027/28: deadlines, documents and process (in German)
- Hochschulstart: what counts for restricted subjects (in German)
- Abitur completed: money and insurance before studying (in German)
Sources: Abitur decree Hesse for 2027, decree of 2 July 2025, Hessian Ministry of Culture and Education (in German). For other states, check the websites of the respective education ministries.
Last updated: November 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice.
