The APS Certificate: What It Is and Why Germany Requires It
One of the most commonly underestimated bottlenecks in a Germany application timeline, mostly because it isn't widely talked about.
By the BNPS International Counselling Team · Published 30 June 2025
Why Germany introduced APS for Indian applicants
APS was introduced country by country in response to a real problem: a rise in fraudulent or misrepresented academic credentials in applications from certain countries. China in 2001 and Vietnam in 2007 were the first to require it, and India followed in 2022 after German universities reported a rising volume of Indian applications with inconsistencies in transcripts or degree certificates that were difficult to verify individually. APS centralises that verification into one certificate rather than leaving each university to check credentials independently.
What APS verifies and who needs it
APS, short for Akademische Prüfstelle, is an academic evaluation process run to verify the authenticity of your qualifications before DAAD, Germany's academic exchange service, will process your application. It became mandatory for Indian students in 2022, following similar rollouts in China in 2001 and Vietnam in 2007.
It applies to Indian students applying for a bachelor's, master's, or PhD in Germany, and to Studienkolleg applicants. It doesn't apply to German or EU passport holders, students on a DAAD or Erasmus+ scholarship, or short-term exchanges under 90 days.
Cost, timeline, and documents
The processing fee is ₹18,000, with additional certified copies costing ₹500 each. Processing typically takes three to four weeks after you submit everything, so factor that into your application timeline well before your intended intake. This is one of the more common reasons an otherwise-ready application misses a deadline. You'll need your 10th and 12th mark sheets, degree certificates, academic transcripts, English test scores, a passport copy, and your university admission letter.
Because APS certification happens before, not alongside, most German university applications, treat it as one of the very first steps in your Germany plan rather than something to sort out once you have an offer. Getting an APS certificate early means it's ready and valid by the time you're actually submitting university applications, rather than becoming the bottleneck that delays everything else.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is APS certification required for every Indian student applying to Germany?
It applies to bachelor's, master's, and PhD applicants, and Studienkolleg applicants. It doesn't apply to German or EU passport holders, students on a DAAD or Erasmus+ scholarship, or short-term exchanges under 90 days.
How long before I apply to universities should I start the APS process?
As early as possible. Processing takes three to four weeks after you submit everything, and APS happens before, not alongside, most university applications, so treat it as one of the first steps rather than something to sort out after getting an offer.
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