1. Check what you are eligible for
German universities admit international students to Bachelor's, Master's and PhD programmes. What counts is the qualification you already hold and how it compares with German requirements. Two databases decide most cases: anabin, the recognition database, and the requirements written on each programme page.
- Master's applicants need a relevant Bachelor's degree. Some programmes ask for a set number of ECTS credits in specific subjects, and some expect 210 ECTS, which a three-year Indian Bachelor's may not reach. Check each programme.
- Bachelor's applicants with an Indian Class 12 certificate often need extra qualifications - for example completed university study or a foundation course (Studienkolleg). The rules depend on your board and results.
2. APS and the dMAT
Applicants with Indian qualifications normally need an APS certificate before a German student visa. According to the official dMAT website, from 2026 the dMAT (a digital study aptitude test) is part of the APS process for graduates of Indian universities applying for Master's programmes. Start this early: it runs in parallel with your applications, not after them.
Official sources: APS India and dMAT in India.
3. Choose universities - and the right application route
Germany has hundreds of state and state-recognised institutions: research universities, technical universities (TU) and universities of applied sciences (Hochschule / HAW), which are more practice-oriented. Public universities usually charge no tuition fee, only a semester contribution, though some states and some universities charge non-EU students tuition.
How you apply differs by university:
| Route | What you do |
|---|---|
| Direct admission | Apply on the university's own portal. uni-assist is not involved. |
| uni-assist VPD | uni-assist checks your certificates and issues a preliminary review document (VPD); you then apply to the university. |
| uni-assist application | You apply through My assist; uni-assist forwards complete applications to the university. |
DMATBLAZE lists every university in its directory with its route, city, type and founding year, and its University Match tool converts your CGPA to the German grade scale and ranks universities that fit your profile.
4. Language: English or German?
Many Master's programmes are taught in English and ask for IELTS or TOEFL - 6.5 overall is a common IELTS requirement, though some accept 6.0 and some ask for 7.0. German-taught programmes usually require proof at C1 level, such as TestDaF, DSH-2 or telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule. Even for an English-taught degree, German helps enormously with housing, part-time work and daily life.
5. Money: what you must prove and what you will spend
For a student visa you must prove you can cover your living costs, usually with a blocked account, a scholarship or a formal sponsor. The required amount is set by the German authorities and changes, so read the current figure on the Federal Foreign Office or your German mission's website. Budget also for the semester contribution, health insurance, rent (the largest cost in most cities), APS and exam fees, and flights.
Funding exists: the DAAD scholarship database lists scholarships for international students, and the Deutschlandstipendium pays 300 euros a month to students of any nationality at participating universities.
6. Apply, then prepare the visa
Deadlines differ by programme and semester, so build your plan backwards from the earliest one: language test results, APS, documents and certified translations, recommendation letters, uni-assist processing, then submission with a safety buffer. After admission, book your visa appointment as early as your mission allows and prepare the documents on its current checklist.
7. After you arrive
In your first weeks you register your address (the law requires this within two weeks of moving in), enrol at the university, activate health insurance, open a bank account and apply for your residence permit. Non-EU students may work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year.
How DMATBLAZE helps
- Roadmap: 12 stages with checklists, from eligibility to your first job.
- University Match: your CGPA converted to the German scale, plus universities ranked for your field and preferences.
- Exam preparation: DMAT mock tests, IELTS practice mocks with model answers, German A1 to C1 with practice tests, and spoken English training.
- Applications: a board, a reverse timeline, an APS and dMAT tracker, email templates and a personal document checklist.
- Honesty: every official fact carries its source and the date it was checked.