APS Certificate for Germany | APS Checklist for Indian Students

November 14, 2024

For an international student who aspires to continue his or her studies in Germany, there is the need for APS, or Academic Evaluation Centre, which evaluates the academic credentials of foreign students and checks whether they meet the requirements of German universities. The APS Certificate for Germany is mandatory. Therefore, students planning to continue higher education in Germany are supposed to know the requirements, documents needed, eligibility, fees, and other important aspects.

What is APS?

The German government, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) for that matter, established an APS evaluation system to vet international students’ qualifications before allowing them into Germany to study. It verifies whether foreign qualifications meet German higher education standards and if students have appropriate academic levels and language proficiency.

It is also a legal process, through which German universities can validate the authenticity and comparability of foreign educational qualifications. While the requirement for the APS process falls squarely on the shoulders of students, in ways, it is used as a means of filtering through forged or counterfeit academic documents to give universities an assurance that the candidates are indeed academically qualified.

Is the APS Certificate Mandatory?

Students from China, India, Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh, Mongolia, and others applying for university studies in Germany will require, among other things, an APS Certificate. The APS certificate for Germany is proof that the applicant’s previous documents are authentic and should, therefore, be on a par with what the German education system requires.

Without the certificate, APS, the student of the respective countries will not be eligible to apply for admission to a university in Germany as their applications will not be processed when not backed up by the verification of APS. This is a necessity in the application process with the certificate being one of the requirements for getting a German student visa.

But for applicants of other countries excluding the ones above, an APS certificate may not be required. They can apply directly to the university. However, it is recommended at times by referring to the German consulate or perhaps even the university concerned, especially regarding specific requirements for the non-APS countries’ applicants.

Related Post: Requirements to study in Germany

Who needs an APS?

Only those students who are from a specific country can acquire the APS certificate for Germany to apply for admission at any German University. The process of APS affects students whose higher secondary degrees are either 12th grade or are somehow equivalent degrees or undergraduate degrees if taken out of Germany.

These countries include but are not limited to:

India
China
Vietnam
Nepal
Bangladesh
Mongolia

Students from such countries must go through the APS process in order to demonstrate that their qualifications are up to the standards of Germany.

Eligibility Criteria for the APS

Applicants who want to obtain a APS Certificate for Germany under APS scheme are eligible based on the following eligibility criteria.

Completed Higher Secondary Education or Bachelor’s Degree: The applicant must have completed at least higher secondary education equivalent to 12th of his/her country, or an undergraduate degree from a recognized institution of the applicant’s country of origin. In the case of a Master’s Program, the applicant must have a recognized undergraduate degree.

Satisfactory Academic Performance: The student’s academic performance must meet the APS requirements. On average, students with a passable academic record, wherein marks are above average, are most likely to fare satisfactorily in the assessment process.

Recognition of foreign degrees: The student’s institution of higher education in his country of origin must be recognized by APS. This consideration is important, particularly for students coming from countries with complex or diversified systems of education.

Language Proficiency Tests: The candidate must fulfill course requirements by being proficient in German or English. APS does not hold language proficiency tests on their own but may require students to submit certificates of language competence like TestDaF, Goethe-Zertifikat, IELTS, or TOEFL upon registration for a program depending on the language of teaching.

Related Post: Cost of living in Germany

Registration Requirements at APS

The first step for students is to apply online to the APS center assigned to their country or region. Registration is not particularly complicated, but applicants must meet a number of key requirements:

Application Form: Most of the APS centers will provide an online registration system wherein the applicant will make an account, fill the registration form and submit preliminary details. Some registration centers will require the student to create a profile and upload some preliminary documents.

Proper Documentation: Take only the necessary documents to register, like university transcripts, certificates, copies of passports, and proof of proficiency in the language. Normally, all those documents should be in the right format, often as a PDF file, and preferably in English or German.

Interview Booking: Some APS centers require the candidate to book an interview, either face-to-face or virtual. It is not a requirement for everyone but may be required in certain countries where further verification is required.

Education Documentation: The applicants must produce education qualifications showing when they graduated from the previous degree and where the school is recognized within the APS system.

Personal Information Form: Students shall fill in the personal form with details about their name, contact details, educational background, and planned course or study in Germany.

Submission of Required Documents: Applicants upload or deliver (courier) the required documents physically or digitally as per the submission procedure in an individual APS center.

What are the Documents required for Registration on APS?

The authenticity and the educational background of the applicant can be verified through various important documents in the application process for APS. Below is the list of commonly required documents for the registration of APS.

Application Form: Completed APS application form. Forms are available mostly for download from the APS website of your country or region.

Passport Copy: A valid passport, which contains the name, photograph, and passport number of the applicant.

Academic Transcripts: Transcripts of all academic records (grades and courses, etc.) from other colleges. This means high school transcripts and transcripts for an undergraduate degree, if applicable.

Certificates of Education: Copy of the final certificates and mark sheets, such as a high school diploma or a certificate for a bachelor’s degree. Again, these documents have to be attested and officially translated from another language than English or German.

Documentation of proficiency in language: Where a candidate wants to join any course, he may be required to provide proof of proficiency in either German or English. For instance, German Level TestDaF, DSH, or Goethe-Zertifikat English Level IELTS, TOEFL, or equivalent certificate.

CV: In very detailed form, every academic and professional experience.

Passport Photos: Ordinarily two to three passport-sized photos, preferably the one complying with the specified format.

Statement of Purpose (SOP): Many of the APS centers require a Statement of Purpose (SOP) in which the applicants are expected to explain their academic goal, motivation, and also why they want to study in Germany.

Documents: In addition to the APS, depending on the country and the concerned APS office, some more documents may be required. For instance, applicants from certain countries are asked to provide proof of the accreditation of the university or any other certificates.

The Step-by-Step Application Process

This is the Application Process for obtaining APS Certificate for Germany:

Step 1: Register Online

Begin by creating an account on the APS India portal. Registering allows you to start the application and track its progress.

Step 2: Complete the Application Form

Fill in your details carefully, matching information on your documents. The form may ask for personal details, academic history, and contact information. Double-check for accuracy, as errors can delay processing.

Step 3: Submit Your Documents

Upload or mail your documents as per the APS instructions. Ensure that each document is complete and formatted correctly, as any discrepancy may require resubmission. APS also advises having original documents available during the interview phase, if required.

Step 4: Pay the Application Fee

Currently, the fee for an APS certificate application is ₹18,000 INR. This fee covers the application processing and certification. Payments are generally made online through the APS portal, however, some options may vary, so confirm before proceeding. Remember, the fee is typically non-refundable, so verify all your details and document requirements before paying.

Registration Fees in APS

The APS (Academic Evaluation Center) application fee for students in India is ₹18,000 INR. This fee applies to all applicants submitting their documents for verification, which is a requirement for students who intend to study in Germany. Once paid, the fee is non-refundable, regardless of the outcome of the verification process. Students are advised to carefully follow the application and payment instructions to ensure their documentation is processed without delays.

APS Processing Time and Delays

The APS Processing Time period can be very long, depending on the country wherein you filed your application and the bulk of the applications at the processing stage. Taking into consideration average processing, it would usually take 4 to 6 weeks from the time of the submission of papers before the APS certificate issues can be released. That time may be extended up to 2 to 3 months during peak periods, like the opening of the academic semester.

This delay would be a bit further as in case you are experiencing such flaws in your documents such as missing certifications, unclear translation or qualifications not being recognizable at the center, so when such a discrepancy arises your verification process might delay further. There might be delays when extra time is needed to verify your authenticity by verification or interviews.

What happens after receiving the APS Certificate?

You then apply to a German university. The APS certificate is one of the required documents in your application, and it will be proof that your former qualifications are of sufficient level for admittance into a university.

Apply at German Universities: You can start applying at German universities using the UniAssist platform or directly contacting any given university.

Language Competency Certificates: Besides your APS, you have to bring along your German or English language competency certificates. Of course, this depends on whether your course is taught in German or in English.

Application for Student Visa: After receipt of an admission letter from a German university you can apply for a student visa at the German consular representations in your home country.

Conclusion

Another important step for international students from certain countries is the APS Certificate for Germany procedure. The foreign academic qualification must be in line with those of German universities. By following the application procedure, submitting the relevant documents, and paying the required fees, students will successfully complete the application process for any German universities they wish to enter. It would be very important to start the application early since the process involves many aspects and is, therefore, quite complex. It would equally be important to understand possible document verification and other requirements of registration or fees.