Indian applicants need an APS certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) in New Delhi before applying for a German student visa. You register online at aps-india.de, pay ₹18,000 and courier your documents. Some Master's applicants now also need a dMAT result. Start at least three months before your first university deadline.
Since 2022, Germany requires an APS certificate for Indian applicants who want a national visa to study. It is also required by universities and uni-assist for Bachelor's, Master's and Studienkolleg (foundation course) applications. APS checks that your Indian certificates are genuine and that your academic record makes you eligible.
APS applies to anyone whose school or university education was in India, whatever their passport. Groups often described as exempt include holders of DAAD or other German-funded scholarships, some PhD applicants and people already holding a German degree. Exemptions are applied case by case. Confirm yours in the APS India FAQ or with the German mission before skipping it.
New in 2026: from Winter Semester 2026/27, APS India applies a minimum of 70% overall in your Class XII certificate for undergraduate eligibility, whatever your board.
The digital Master's Admission Test (dMAT) is run by g.a.s.t., not by APS. It applies to Master's applicants whose previous degree is in engineering, commerce, accounting, finance, economics, business or management, for intakes from Summer Semester 2027.
Check the current test fee and dates on aps-india.de/dmat before you plan, because rules have changed during 2026.
The exact list depends on your stage. APS publishes separate leaflets for Class XII applicants, undergraduates still studying and graduates. Typically, for a graduate applying for a Master's:
Send self-attested photocopies unless the checklist for your stage asks otherwise. Keep your originals. APS can request them for checking.
Getting your grades in German format? Our grade converter uses the modified Bavarian formula that most universities apply.
Most graduates are now assessed on documents alone. APS keeps the right to invite any applicant to an interview. Undergraduates still studying are the most likely to be called. Older APS leaflets describe the interview: you get 10–14 days' notice by phone or email, the date cannot be moved, and it lasts about 20 minutes in English or German. Questions cover subjects from your degree. Your online profile is updated within about five days.
If invited, revise the core subjects from your mark sheets. Be ready to explain any gaps, backlogs or a change of field.
| Intake | Typical university deadline | Send APS documents by |
|---|---|---|
| Winter semester (October) | Many deadlines 31 May to 15 July. Some 15 January | February–March |
| Summer semester (April) | Many deadlines 15 November to 15 January | August–September |
Many universities and uni-assist accept an application with proof that APS is in progress and the certificate to follow. Others want the certificate itself. Check each programme page. You will need the certificate in hand for your VFS visa appointment, so do not let it slide past your admission letter.
APS will not keep a file open while you wait for final-semester results. Apply with the mark sheets you have. Students in their final year can apply with results up to the 5th or 7th semester and send the final degree later. Plan the whole sequence with our Master's application roadmap.
₹18,000, as stated in APS India's June 2026 leaflet. It is not refunded, whatever the outcome.
APS gives no fixed time. Most applicants report 4–8 weeks, and the April–July peak can take longer.
Not for everyone. Most applications are decided on documents, but APS can call any applicant to a roughly 20-minute interview, most often undergraduates still studying.
No. Once issued it stays valid indefinitely and can be used for several applications.
Only if your previous degree is in engineering, commerce, accounting, finance, economics, business or management, and you started APS on or after 29 June 2026 for Summer Semester 2027 or later.
Checked against these sources on 14 October 2026. Rules and fees change; confirm with the authority before you apply.
