A German Master’s plan has several checks that depend on each other. Your degree has to fit the programme. Your documents have to be verified in India. The university has to admit you before the visa stage can start. This guide walks through those checks in the order they usually arise for Indian graduates.

1. Check that your Bachelor’s degree fits the programme

DAAD India states that a four-year Bachelor’s degree from India is treated at par with a German Bachelor’s degree. If you hold a three-year degree, DAAD India advises contacting the programme’s course coordinator before you apply.

Parity is only the starting point. Each university sets its own admission requirements and makes its own decision. Programmes may ask for specific subject content in your degree, a minimum grade, English test scores such as IELTS or TOEFL, or GRE or GMAT results. German-taught programmes require certified German skills, for example through TestDaF or DSH. Read the requirements of each programme you shortlist, not a general list.

2. Plan the APS certificate early

APS India is the Academic Evaluation Centre at the German Embassy in New Delhi. It verifies academic documents issued by Indian institutions. APS India says the APS certificate is generally required for the German student visa procedure, and it advises applicants to plan the procedure early because processing times depend on application volumes and on responses from Indian institutions.

APS India does not decide on university admission and does not issue visas. Check its current checklists before you send documents, including whether any exemption applies to you.

3. Check whether the new dMAT applies to you

From the summer semester 2027 intake, APS India requires some Master’s applicants to take the Digital Master Test (dMAT). This applies to applicants whose previous degree is in:

  • Engineering, including B.E. and B.Tech degrees in an engineering branch
  • Commerce, accounting, finance or economics
  • Business or management

The dMAT is an academic aptitude test run by g.a.s.t., not by APS India. Applicants who must take it submit the dMAT certificate with their APS documents. APS India lists exemptions, for example for applicants who completed APS online registration or shipped complete APS documents before 29 June 2026. APS India publishes a list of affected degree fields. Check it against your exact degree title and specialisation.

The dMAT does not replace the university’s admission decision. Each university decides how to use the result.

4. Choose the right application route and timeline

Germany has two intakes: the winter semester, which starts in October, and the summer semester, which starts in April. Some universities take applications directly. Others use uni-assist, and DAAD India notes that uni-assist member universities often do not accept direct applications. DAAD India also notes that uni-assist has no representative office in India.

For a winter semester start, DAAD India’s suggested timeline is:

  • October to November of the previous year: research programmes
  • January to March: start the APS procedure and check deadlines
  • March to June: submit applications
  • July: apply for the student visa once admitted
  • September to October: arrive in Germany

Deadlines differ by university and programme, so treat this as a planning outline and confirm each deadline on the programme page.

5. Prepare the visa evidence after admission

According to Make it in Germany, the visa for studying requires admission to a state-recognised higher education institution, proof that you can cover your living costs, and any language proficiency the programme requires. A blocked account, a scholarship or a declaration of commitment can serve as financial proof. The required amount changes, so use the figure in your German mission’s current checklist rather than a number from an older article.

Residence permits for study are usually issued for an initial period of two years. During your studies, you can work up to 140 full days or 280 half days a year, or up to 20 hours a week. This is permission, not a promise that a suitable job will be available.

Where SGC fits

SGC can help you compare programmes, organise your documents in the right order and prepare application and motivation materials. Universities, APS India, g.a.s.t. and the German missions make their own decisions, and SGC cannot guarantee admission or a visa. See the Master’s Route page for how SGC supports this pathway.

Official resources

What we cannot promise

German authorities, universities and employers make every decision on visas, admissions, recognition and jobs. SGC explains the process and helps you prepare; it cannot promise an outcome.