Germany adds new test to pre-visa checks for Indian master’s applicants

According to an announcement by the Science Section of the German Embassy New Delhi, the standardised academic aptitude test will be introduced in phases as an additional element of APS documentation for selected applicant groups, allowing the new procedure to be implemented “in a structured manner”.

The announcement also clarified that the dMAT does not replace APS document verification or the formal recognition of university degrees and higher education entrance requirements.

“The dMAT is an additional element in the APS documentation. It does not replace APS document verification,” the science section of the German Embassy New Delhi said in the announcement.

“APS India will continue to verify the authenticity and formal plausibility of academic documents in accordance with the existing APS procedure.”

The requirement will apply to applications from the summer semester 2027 onwards, unless transitional exemptions apply. It will not apply to all master’s applicants, but only to students whose previous degree falls within engineering, commerce, accounting, finance, economics, business or management.

Germany introduced the APS certificate requirement for Indian applicants in October 2022 to verify the authenticity of academic credentials before students apply to German universities and subsequently for student visas.

While the rollout initially faced criticism over processing delays, the German Embassy has since said staffing increases and procedural improvements have significantly reduced waiting times.

Students who completed their APS online registration or submitted their complete APS application before the June 29, 2026, cut-off will be exempt under transitional arrangements. Applicants who have already received an APS certificate are also not required to take the dMAT for that completed application.

Applicants who complete their APS online registration and submit their APS application documents will now need to include a dMAT certificate with their APS application, provided their previous degree falls within one of the affected fields.

The first dMAT examination will take place on September 26, 2026. Registration opened on June 29 and closes on September 15, with certificates becoming available online via the g.a.s.t. test takers’ portal from October 12.

Students who complete the assessment will receive a separate dMAT certificate issued by the Society for Academic Study Preparation and Test Development (g.a.s.t.), which will form part of their APS documentation and be reflected on their APS certificate.

The test will be offered through licensed centres across India, including Mumbai, New Delhi, Bengaluru, Chennai, Kolkata, Pune and other cities.

Germany faces a significant shortage of skilled professionals, and attracting talented international graduates – particularly from India – is a strategic priority for both higher education and the economyAkos Kiraly, SRH Higher Education

The introduction of the dMAT has also prompted discussion within Germany’s higher education sector about how the new requirement will interact with universities’ admissions processes.

“The dMAT is an important development, but it also raises a broader policy question,” Akos Kiraly, deputy director at SRH Higher Education, one of Germany’s largest private higher education providers, told The PIE News.

“Under German higher education regulations, admission decisions are the responsibility of universities. By making the dMAT part of the APS process, it effectively becomes an additional entry requirement.

“We support measures that enhance transparency and quality. At the same time, Germany faces a significant shortage of skilled professionals, and attracting talented international graduates – particularly from India – is a strategic priority for both higher education and the economy. Any additional requirement should therefore complement, rather than limit, the autonomy of universities to select qualified students based on their own academic criteria.”

The introduction of the dMAT comes as India has become Germany’s largest source of international students, with around 60,000 enrolled, while the country now hosts more than 400,000 international students overall.

Germany has become increasingly popular among Indian students because of its low-cost public universities, expanding portfolio of English-taught master’s degrees and strong graduate employment prospects.

The PIE has contacted the German Embassy in India and DAAD India for further comment on the rationale behind the new requirement, its implementation and its expected impact on prospective students.