The Academic Evaluation Center (Akademische Prüfstelle, APS) is a service institution of the cultural departments of the German embassies in cooperation with the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). It examines the documents of applicants who wish to apply for studies in Germany with a Chinese, Vietnamese or Indian school or university degree. After successful examination, applicants receive a certificate. This certificate confirms that the documents submitted are genuine and that the academic achievements suffice to study at a German university. As of 1 November 2022, Indian students who want to pursue higher studies in Germany have to include a certificate from the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS certificate) in their application for admission at universities in Germany as well as for the German student visa. However, as always, there are some exceptions. The Indian students do not need the APS certificate in the following cases:

• if you intend to do a PhD/ PostDoc in Germany
• if you have an international Indian degree (e.g. International Baccalaureate)
• if you receive a stipend from public funds (EU or German funds)
• if you have a foreign degree that is not Indian (e.g. British degree, Turkish degree, etc.)

The successful completion of document verification allows APS to issue a certificate, which is a pre-requisite for the student visa application for Germany.

APS certificate application process

Below is a step-by-step process involved in the processing of the APS application:

1. Plan your application following the guidelines given on APS India official website. Gather all the documents as per the checklists given below. In some cases, certain tests may be mandatory for the application process. See the checklist below.
2. Register online at www.aps-india.de
   Print and sign the completed application form. Kindly ensure that the entered data is correct and that the form is personally signed by the applicant. Incomplete or incorrect information will invalidate your application.
3. Transfer the APS verification fee of 18,000/- INR to the APS bank account (NON-REFUNDABLE)
4. Submit the required documents including the printed and signed application form via courier or in person at the reception desk of the APS. Kindly keep a record of your courier tracking details.
5. Document verification will be conducted by APS. Only complete applications will be processed.
6. Upon successful completion of the document verification, candidates may under certain circumstances, be asked to appear for a personal interview. These candidates will be notified via telephone or email 10 to 14 days prior to the interview date. The date shall not be changed. To avoid any delays, kindly inform us of any changes in your contact details.
7. The interview will last around 20 minutes. It will focus on the candidates’ academic history and achievements in India. The interviews will be conducted in English and / or German.
8. Within 5 days of the interview, your online profile will be updated with your verification result. Successful candidates will receive five original APS certificates via courier.

Documents Required to Get APS Certificate

The required documents for getting the APS certificate vary depending on whether you want to do your Bachelors or Masters in Germany.

Documents required for APS certificate Germany by students who want to study masters in Germany and already have a Bachelors or Masters Degree

• Printed and duly signed application form with a passport-size photo (not older than 6 months)
• Copy of APS fee transfer receipt
• Copy of Aadhaar Card with linked mobile number.
• Copy of passport. (1st and last page)
• Copy of Class XII mark sheet and certificate.
• Copy of Class XII admit card, if available.
• Copy of mark sheets of all semesters.
• Copy of the bachelor’s degree. If the degree has not yet been issued, the provisional certificate issued by the College will be accepted. (Not older than 1 year)
• Copy of the Master’s degree and transcripts (if applicable)
• Copy of language certificate – German and/or English

Documents required for APS certificate by students to apply for Bachelors degree in Germany after Class XII

• Printed and duly signed application form with passport-size photo (not older than 6 months
• Copy of APS fee transfer receipt
• Copy of Aadhaar Card with linked mobile number.
• Copy of passport. (1st and last page)
• Copy of Class X Marksheet and Certificate
• Copy of Class XII Marksheet and Certificate. If the certificate has not yet been issued, the Provisional Certificate issued by the school will be accepted (Not older than 3 months)
• Proof of participation in a Pre-University Entrance Exam (if applicable)
• Copy of TestAS Results (Core and Subject-specific)
• Copy of Language Certificate – German and/or English

Document checklist for APS Certificate for Bachelors Application after Class XII for students who have passed JEE Main and Advance

• Printed and duly signed application form with a passport-size photo (not older than 6 months)
• Copy of APS fee transfer receipt
• Copy of Aadhaar Card with linked mobile number.
• Copy of passport. (1st and last page)
• Copy of Class X Marksheet and Certificate
• Copy of Class XII Marksheet and Certificate. If the certificate has not yet been issued, the Provisional Certificate issued by the school will be accepted (Not older than 3 months).
• Proof of passing the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) Main and Advanced along with the Admit Card
• Copy of Language Certificate – German and/or English

Document checklist for APS Certificate Germany for Applicants applying for Bachelors degree in Germany who are already enrolled in a Bachelor’s course in India

• Printed and duly signed application form with a passport-size photo (not older than 6 months)
• Copy of APS fee transfer receipt
• Copy of Aadhaar Card with linked mobile number
• Copy of passport. (1st and last page)
• Copy of Class X Marksheet and Certificate
• Copy of Class XII Marksheet and Certificate. If the certificate has not yet been issued, the Provisional Certificate issued by the school will be accepted (Not older than 3 months).
• Copy of all Bachelor mark sheets for the first year of studies.
• Copy of TestAS Results (Core and Subject-specific)
• Copy of Language Certificate – German and/or English

Important Do’s and Don’ts while applying for APS certificate

APS Certificate Germany Fees   

The APS Certificate Germany fee is INR 18,000. Candidates are required to transfer the fee to the account mentioned below. Keep the transaction receipt for future reference.

Bank details* for transferring the fees in INR:
Account Holder: Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany – Wiss
Account Number: 0946426766
Name of Bank: Kotak Mahindra Bank
IFSC Code: KKBK0000182

*Bank details are subject to change without any prior notice. So, always confirm the bank details on the official website of APS India before making any payment. We do not take the responsibility of correctness of these bank details.

APS India: Interviews

The interviews are not always a part of the APS application for Indians! Usually, those Indian students who are still pursuing their Bachelor’s degree at an Indian university might need to go through the interview process after their documents were successfully verified. This depends on the individual profile of the candidate and on the decision of the APS India itself. If that is the case, then the applicants will be contacted via phone or email and notified about the place and date of the interview 10-14 days before the interview is planned. The candidates should reserve about 20 minutes for the interview, where they will mainly be asked questions regarding their academic background. The interviews will be held in English or German, upon the applicant’s desire, which can be indicated during the online registration. If the interview was successful, then applicants will get their APS certificate within 14 days after attending the interview.

When to apply for the APS in India?

As soon as possible!

Why? Because getting the APS certificate, getting the visa appointment, and the visa processing time itself might take together several months.  Thus, to increase your chances of arriving in Germany before the start of the semester, you need to act swiftly.

FAQs

Q1. What is the importance of an APS certificate?

• An APS certificate is the prerequisite for your visa application
  It is proof of authenticity for Indian academic documents and
  
• It states the guiding eligibility criteria, which the German universities apply to the candidates while offering the students admission to the courses.

Q2. Why apply for an APS certification?

Holding an APS certificate will simplify your application process to the German universities and accelerate your student visa application. An original certificate issued by the APS is mandatory for the student visa application.
Exception: Students sponsored by German or EU funded scholarships need not apply for an APS certification.

Q3. Do you apply first for an APS certification or directly to the German university?

The APS certificate will be required for all students applying for a student visa to Germany. We therefore suggest students to complete the APS process prior to their application with the German university to keep processing times at a minimum.

Q4. Does APS India issue visa? 

APS India does not issue visa. However, the APS certificate is an integral part of the visa application process. Kindly refer to the website of German missions in India for more details.

Q5. Is an APS certification required for attending language courses in Germany?

If you are going to Germany for the mere purpose of studying the German language without attending a university and/or without attending any pre-university preparatory classes, you will not have to apply for an APS certificate.

Q6. Are vocational certificates or diplomas accepted?

Vocational certificates or diplomas awarded by UGC and AICTE accredited or recognised institutions are usually considered to be valid for further education in Germany.
Please note:

• a 3-year diploma after completion of 10th grade will not be considered for further education in Germany as 12 years of schooling is mandatory for admission to undergraduate studies.
• a 3-year diploma after 10th grade is accepted along with a 3- or 4-year bachelor’s degree in a related subject.
  
• A post graduate diploma issued by UGC and state recognised institutions will be considered.

Q7. Is TestAS required?

Candidates who have not yet graduated with an Indian Bachelor’s degree and who are seeking admission to a Bachelor’s program in Germany are technically required to submit a TestAS score. Candidates who have cleared JEE Main and Advanced are exempted.

Q8. Do documents need to be notarized?

Documents submitted to the APS need not be notarised.
Exception: Documents translated into English language from any of the Indian regional languages must be notarised.

Q9. How many times can a candidate apply for an APS certification?

Once a candidate has been issued an APS certificate, it is valid indefinitely. In the event of a change in the candidate’s eligibility criteria, one may be required to apply for an updated APS certificate. Kindly contact the APS India office for further information. 

Q10.In case the degree certificate has not yet been issued, how long will the provisional certificate be valid for the APS verification process?

Provisional certificate older than one year will not be accepted.

Q11. How can I submit the documents to APS India?

A candidate can submit the required documents via courier or handover the documents personally at the APS India office reception during stipulated office timings. The office address is:
Academic Evaluation Centre, Gate No. 3, DLTA Complex, R.K. Khanna Stadium, 1 Africa Avenue, 110029 New Delhi, India

Q12. Is a withdrawal from the APS process possible? Can my verification fee be refunded?

After online submission of the application, a withdrawal from the APS process will not be possible.
Please note: Fees, once remitted, shall not be refunded under any circumstances.

Q13. What are the specifications for the documents to be submitted?Legible A4 sized coloured photocopies of all original documents. Both sides of all the documents must be photocopied

Q14. Is an interview mandatory for all candidates?

Generally, candidates who are enrolled in a Bachelor’s program at an Indian university but have not yet completed their course of study might be called in for an interview. APS reserves the right to call in any applicants to an interview as and when required. The candidates will be informed about the location and time of the interview via email and/or phone two weeks prior. Once the scheduled interview dates have been accepted by the candidate, the interviews cannot be rescheduled.

Q15.Which language is the interview conducted in?

The candidate has the choice of giving the interview in English and/or in German language. The candidate must inform APS India about their preferred language while registering online for the verification process.

Q16. What is the intent of the interview?

The main intent of the interview is to establish, if the candidate has basic knowledge of the subject studied at university in India. The interview will only be conducted once.

Q17. Is the interview chargeable?

There is no extra fee for the interview.

Q18. Is a language proficiency certificate required for the APS process?

Please note that APS does not impose any language requirements on the candidates for the verification process. If language certificates are submitted on a voluntary basis, APS will check their formal authenticity.
During the subsequent visa application, the visa section may reserve the right to ask candidates to submit language certificates according to the requirements of the admitting university. For further information, please refer to the visa leaflet of the German missions in India.

Q19. Would German or English language certificates obtained in India require verification by APS?

If the applicant voluntarily provides German or English language certificates during the APS verification process, APS will verify the formal authenticity of these documents.

Q20. My certificates are in a regional language. Should I submit the translated versions of these documents?

It is mandatory to submit notarised English translations of all documents issued in any regional language. Bilingual documents (English + a regional language) do not require any additional translations.

Q21. How will I know when my process is completed?

The status of your application can be checked online on your student profile under ‘My Account’ on the APS India website.

Q22. How will I receive the APS Certificate?

Successful candidates will receive five APS certificates via courier at the address provided on the application form. These certificates can be used for applying to all German universities.

Q23. Is it possible to apply for an extra copy of an APS certificate?

Candidates can request an extra copy of the APS certificate. Each extra copy will cost 500 INR.