uni-assist is the service that checks international applicants’ certificates on behalf of many German universities, and a VPD (Vorprüfungsdokumentation) is the evaluation certificate it issues for you to submit to the university yourself. uni-assist charges 75 € for your first application in a semester and 30 € for each further one. It does not make the admission decision, the university does. Whether you need uni-assist, a VPD or neither depends on each programme’s application page.
What is uni-assist?
uni-assist (Arbeits- und Servicestelle für internationale Studienbewerbungen) is an association that many German universities use to check whether international applicants meet the formal requirements. It reviews your certificates, checks your entry qualification and converts your grades to the German scale. The university then decides on admission.
uni-assist states that it does not cooperate with commercial agencies in Germany or abroad and that payment requests come only through its own portal. For example, if someone offers you “priority processing at uni-assist” for a fee, that offer does not come from uni-assist.
uni-assist, VPD or direct application?
The programme’s application page tells you which route it uses. There are three common routes.
| Route | What you do | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| Full application via uni-assist | Apply in My assist, uni-assist checks your file and forwards it to the university | The university |
| VPD | Get a VPD from uni-assist, then apply to the university with it before the deadline | The university |
| Direct application | Apply in the university’s own portal, no uni-assist step | The university |
What is a VPD and how long is it valid?
A VPD is a certificate from uni-assist that you submit directly to the university when you apply there. According to uni-assist, it shows your certificates, how they were evaluated and your grade converted to the German scale. A VPD is valid for one year from its date of issue, whichever semester you choose.
The VPD is not an application. uni-assist emails you when it is ready, you download the PDF from My Inbox in My assist and then apply to the university yourself. For example, a student who receives a VPD on 1 July for a programme with a 15 July deadline still has to upload it in the university portal by 15 July, otherwise there is no application at all.
How much does uni-assist cost?
uni-assist charges 75 € for the first programme you apply to in a semester and 30 € for each additional programme in the same semester. The fees apply again in every new semester. You can pay by credit card with 3D Secure, by online transfer from banks in some EU countries, or by bank transfer to your personal IBAN, which a third party can also pay into.
For example, three applications in the same winter semester cost 75 € plus 30 € plus 30 €, so 135 € in total.
How long does uni-assist take?
uni-assist’s table of current processing times, updated on 26 October 2026, shows two to three weeks for most regions, including Asia and Africa, and three to four weeks for Western Europe and Latin America. Its status page says you usually receive a result within four to six weeks, and in busy periods it can take longer.
For a VPD, uni-assist advises requesting it at least eight weeks before the university’s deadline. Treat that as the latest safe date, because a request for missing documents adds to the wait.
Which documents does uni-assist need?
You upload everything in My assist. uni-assist says you do not need to send documents by post. Documents must be official, which means they carry a signature and stamp, a note that they were issued automatically, or a verification code. Translations into German or English must come from a sworn translator or the issuing institution. Each country has its own list on uni-assist’s country pages.
| Where your certificates come from | Country-specific requirement on uni-assist |
|---|---|
| India | Digitally sealed APS certificate, uploaded unchanged |
| Pakistan | HEC attestation and the minimum passing grade |
| Nigeria | WAEC or NECO certificate with the scratch card |
If you are not sure which documents your degree needs, our document list service prepares the list for your country and programmes.
How do you apply through uni-assist step by step?
- Check the programme’s route. uni-assist, VPD or direct.
- Create a My assist account. Enter your education history.
- Upload your documents. Official copies and sworn translations.
- Choose your programmes. Add them to your application for the semester.
- Pay and submit. 75 € for the first, 30 € for each further programme.
- Watch your inbox. Answer requests for missing documents quickly.
- For a VPD, apply to the university. Upload the VPD in the university portal before the deadline.
When are the deadlines?
According to the DAAD, most universities close applications on 15 July for the winter semester and on 15 January for the summer semester, but private universities and individual programmes can differ. uni-assist itself sets no deadlines, each university does. Count back eight weeks from your programme’s deadline to find your uni-assist date.
Common mistakes
- Stopping after the VPD. You still have to apply to the university.
- Applying in the last week. Leave at least eight weeks for the evaluation.
- Paying an agent for uni-assist. uni-assist works with no commercial agencies.
- Uploading unofficial copies. Use official documents and sworn translations.
- Assuming all programmes use uni-assist. Check each programme’s route.
Frequently asked questions
Is uni-assist the same as admission?
No. uni-assist checks your documents, and the university decides on admission.
Can I use a VPD for a later semester?
Yes, within its validity. uni-assist says a VPD is valid for one year from its date of issue, whichever semester you choose. Check the date before you reuse it.
Do I need APS as well?
Only if your certificates were issued in India, China or Vietnam. APS is an extra step and does not replace the uni-assist evaluation.
Where to start
Shortlist your programmes and write down each one’s route and deadline. Then create your My assist account and prepare official documents and translations, so you can submit at least eight weeks before the earliest deadline.