The APS certificate is a document check by the Akademische Prüfstelle (APS), the academic evaluation centre run by the German Embassy and the DAAD in China, Vietnam and India. According to uni-assist, anyone applying to a German university with school or university certificates from one of these three countries needs an APS certificate first. What matters is where your certificates were issued, not your passport. A student from Nepal with an Indian degree needs APS India, while an Indian citizen who studied in Dubai does not.
What does the APS check?
APS checks two things, whether your certificates are genuine and whether your academic background is plausible. APS India says it evaluates documents and qualifications issued by Indian institutions and that the applicant’s nationality is not the deciding factor. In China and Vietnam, APS can also interview the applicant about the subjects they studied, so the check goes beyond paperwork.
The practical effect is that your documents are checked once. For example, a B.Tech marksheet from an Indian university is evaluated by APS India in New Delhi, and you then upload the same APS certificate to every German university and to uni-assist instead of having each of them question the marksheet.
Who needs an APS certificate?
uni-assist lists APS as a requirement for applicants whose certificates were issued in China, Vietnam or India. On uni-assist’s country pages, APS appears for India, China and Vietnam, and does not appear for Pakistan or Nigeria. For Pakistan, uni-assist instead asks for HEC attestation of your university documents.
| Where your certificates were issued | APS needed? | What uni-assist asks for instead or in addition |
|---|---|---|
| India | Yes | Digitally sealed APS certificate, uploaded unchanged |
| China | Yes, regardless of citizenship | Original digitally signed APS certificate, no copies |
| Vietnam | Yes | Original or digitally certified APS certificate |
| Pakistan | No | HEC attestation and the minimum passing grade |
| Nigeria | No | WAEC or NECO certificate with the scratch card |
| Other countries | Usually no | The documents on uni-assist’s page for that country |
APS India also lists cases where APS is not required, even with Indian documents. These include degrees not issued by an Indian institution, a doctorate or postdoc where the German institution does not ask for APS, the International Baccalaureate as your highest qualification, and a scholarship funded by German or EU public funds. If you only plan a German language course, APS India says APS “may not” be needed, so check with the language school.
How does the APS India process work?
APS India runs separate procedures depending on where you are in your education, for example after Class XII, after at least two completed Bachelor semesters, after a Bachelor’s or Master’s degree, or for exchange students. You choose the procedure that matches your last qualification, register online and send your documents by courier.
- Register online. Choose the checklist for your level on the APS India website.
- Pay the fee. The June 2026 leaflet lists 18,000 INR, non-refundable, by CCAvenue or bank transfer.
- Send your documents. APS India asks for A4 colour photocopies and says not to send originals. Documents in English need no notarisation, others need a notarised English translation.
- Wait for the evaluation. APS India says the process takes at least two weeks, and its FAQ adds that no fixed processing time can be promised.
- Receive the certificate. APS India sends an electronically signed PDF by email.
Plan around the slowest step, not the fastest. For example, a student aiming for a 15 July deadline should start APS in March, because the uni-assist evaluation and the university’s own review still follow after the certificate arrives.
What does APS cost in each country?
The fee depends on the APS office. The amounts below come from the APS offices’ own pages as of October 2026.
| APS office | Fee | Note |
|---|---|---|
| APS India | 18,000 INR | Non-refundable, leaflet valid as of June 2026 |
| APS China | 2,500 RMB | Interview and TestAS route, since 7 April 2025 |
| APS Vietnam | 150 USD (undergraduate), 250 USD (Master’s) | Plus 20 USD for the digital certificate |
APS India has also introduced the Digital Master Test (dMAT) for Master’s applicants with B.Tech or B.Eng, commerce or economics, or business and management Bachelor’s degrees. According to APS India, it applies to intakes from summer semester 2027, costs 150 € and does not replace APS. The first test dates are 16 January and 13 March 2027.
How do you use the APS certificate in your application?
You upload the APS certificate as one more document in your university application. uni-assist asks applicants from India to upload the digitally sealed certificate as an unchanged original file in My assist, and APS India warns that the PDF must stay unchanged when you send it to universities, uni-assist, VFS or the visa section. For example, printing the certificate and scanning it again breaks the digital seal.
APS does not replace the rest of the process. If your programme uses uni-assist, you still need the uni-assist evaluation and sometimes a VPD, and the university still makes the admission decision. Our uni-assist and VPD support covers that part of the file.
Do you need APS for the student visa?
Yes, if APS applies to you. APS India describes the certificate as part of the documentation generally required for the German student visa, and successful candidates then apply for the visa through VFS. The visa section still decides on the visa itself, APS only confirms your documents. What else goes into the file is explained on our German student visa page.
Common mistakes
- Deciding by passport. APS depends on where your certificates were issued, not on your citizenship.
- Starting too late. APS comes before uni-assist and the university review, so leave several months.
- Sending originals to APS India. APS India asks for photocopies only.
- Re-scanning the certificate. Upload the digital PDF unchanged.
- Treating APS as admission. The university still decides, and the visa section decides the visa.
Frequently asked questions
Is APS required for Pakistan or Nigeria?
No. uni-assist lists APS only for India, China and Vietnam. Applicants from Pakistan need HEC attestation, and applicants from Nigeria need their WAEC or NECO certificate with the scratch card.
How long is the APS certificate valid?
APS India does not state a validity period. If your qualifications change, for example after you finish your Bachelor’s, a new evaluation may be needed.
Can I apply to universities while APS is still in progress?
Usually not with uni-assist, because the APS certificate is part of the documents you upload. Check whether your university accepts a later submission before you rely on it.
Does a DAAD scholarship exempt me from APS?
APS India lists scholarships funded by German or EU public funds as an exemption. Ask APS India to confirm your case before you skip the step.
Where to start
Check where each of your certificates was issued. If any of them comes from India, China or Vietnam, start the APS procedure for your level now and plan your uni-assist and university deadlines around it. If none of them does, you can move straight to choosing programmes and preparing your documents.