GERMANY · CHAPTER 3
Admission requirementsand APS.
Indian applicants need an APS certificate before applying or before the visa (check each university). Class 12 alone usually does not give direct entry to a German bachelor's — you may need a Studienkolleg foundation year or one to two years of a relevant Indian degree. For master's, your bachelor's must match the programme's subject requirements.
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- APS fee
- ₹18,000
- Non-refundable
- APS processing
- Several weeks
- Longer in peak season
Documents
- APS certificate
- Transcripts and degree
- Language certificates (English and/or German)
- CV in tabular format
- Motivation letter
- Letters of recommendation (some programmes)
- GRE/GMAT for some programmes
How applications work
Many universities use uni-assist to check international documents; others accept direct applications. Programmes with restricted places rank applicants by converted grade and subject fit.
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Documents German master's programmes ask for
- APS certificate (required for Indian applicants)
- Bachelor's degree and transcripts (with module descriptions for some programmes)
- IELTS / TOEFL for English programmes, or German C1 (TestDaF, DSH, telc, Goethe) for German programmes
- CV in a tabular German format (Lebenslauf)
- Motivation letter
- Recommendation letters if requested
- GRE for some technical programmes
How selective programmes rank you
Many programmes calculate a German grade from your Indian marks using the Modified Bavarian Formula and compare it with other applicants. They also check that your bachelor's credits match their subject requirements — sometimes credit by credit. A strong grade in the core subjects matters more than the university's name.
QUICK ANSWERS
Your questions, answered.
Competitive TU programmes often expect a converted German grade of about 2.5 or better, which roughly matches 70%+ in many Indian universities. Applied sciences universities can be more flexible.
WHERE TO GO NEXT
Keep going: the pages that help next.
Each card says what you will find there. Looking for something else? See every page on the site.
GERMANY GUIDE
Application process
From APS to admission letter: uni-assist or direct applications, deadlines, blocked account, insurance and visa appointment.
GERMANY GUIDE
IELTS & German tests
IELTS and TOEFL scores for English-taught programmes and TestDaF, DSH and Goethe C1 for German-taught programmes in Germany.
GERMANY GUIDE
Motivation letter & CV
German motivation letters, tabular CV format (Lebenslauf) and recommendation letters for German master's applications.
FROM INDIA
Month-by-month timeline
Month-by-month study abroad plan from India for a September 2027 start: tests, applications, scholarships, loans, visa, flights and a document checklist.
FROM INDIA
Documents & attestation
Indian documents for study abroad: transcripts, degree certificates, MOI letters, gap explanations, MEA apostille, notarisation, WES/ECA and sworn translations.
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