APS India: dMAT & TestAS — Who Needs an Extra Exam? (2026)

India only. This guide covers APS India extra exams—dMAT and TestAS—for Indian students applying to German universities. It does not apply to APS China, APS Vietnam, or other countries. Those offices use different rules (interviews, TestAS-only paths, or document checks without dMAT).

APS India checks that your Indian degrees and marksheets are real. That part is the same for almost everyone: register online, pay about ₹18,000, courier self-attested copies.

What changed in 2026 is that some Indian applicants also need an extra test on top of documents. This guide helps you figure out if that is you.

Quick check: Take the dMAT eligibility checker — seven questions, ~2 minutes.

For the full APS paperwork walkthrough, see the APS India guide.

Not from India? Use APS China or APS Vietnam instead.

Start here: do you need an extra exam?

Answer these in order:

1. Are you applying for a Master's in Germany and you already have a Bachelor's degree?

• Bachelor's in Engineering, Commerce/Finance/Economics, or Business/Management → You may need dMAT (see below). Only for Summer 2027 intake and later, unless you are exempt.
• Any other Bachelor's field (e.g. humanities, many pure sciences) → Documents only. No dMAT under current rules.
• PhD → Documents only. No dMAT.

2. Are you applying for a Bachelor's or Studienkolleg (no Indian Bachelor yet)?

• You may need TestAS when APS turns the requirement on—watch APS India News.
• From Winter 2026/27, you also need at least 70% in Class XII for undergrad paths. See Studienkolleg guide.

3. Did you register or ship APS documents before 29 June 2026?

• If yes, you are exempt from dMAT for that APS procedure—even if your field would normally need it.

Still unsure? Check aps-india.de/dmat or email APS through their official contact form.

dMAT — India-only, for selected Master's applicants

dMAT = Digital Master Test. For APS India, it is run by g.a.s.t. (same body as TestDaF) at centres in India. Official pages: aps-india.de/dmat and d-mat.de/en/dmat-in-india.

It is not a replacement for APS documents. You still send transcripts and degrees. dMAT adds a test score on your APS certificate.

Note: A few German universities (e.g. RWTH Aachen) use dMAT subject modules separately for admissions—that is unrelated to whether APS India requires dMAT for your certificate.

Who needs it?

All three must be true:

1. Master's in Germany
2. Bachelor's in Engineering, Commerce/Accounting/Finance/Economics, or Business/Management
3. Target intake: Summer Semester 2027 or later

Winter 2026/27 Master's: no dMAT in the first cohort.

Who skips it: PhD, Bachelor's applicants, other Master's fields, official exchange/double-degree programmes (with proof), anyone who already finished APS before the new rules, anyone exempt via the 29 June 2026 cutoff.

Full field list: aps-india.de/dmat

First test dates (confirm before you pay)

Fee: €150 (g.a.s.t.) — on top of APS ₹18,000.

Register: d-mat.de · g.a.s.t. portal

How it works with APS India

• You can start APS and send documents while waiting for dMAT.
• APS cannot close your file until the dMAT certificate is in.
• Plan so results land before your university deadline.
• A low score does not auto-reject APS—but universities may look at it separately.

The test is about 3.5 hours at a test centre (Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Delhi, Mumbai, and others—see registration page).

TestAS — for Indian Bachelor's applicants (not Master's)

TestAS is for Indians who want a Bachelor's in Germany but have not completed an Indian Bachelor's degree yet.

Master's applicants: ignore TestAS. Your extra test (if any) is dMAT, not TestAS.

JEE exemption: cleared both JEE Main and JEE Advanced? You may skip TestAS when the rule applies.

APS India has not always made TestAS mandatory yet—check APS News before you book.

70% in Class XII — undergrad only

From Winter 2026/27, undergrad routes (Studienkolleg or direct Bachelor after 12th) need at least 70% of maximum marks in Class XII. All boards count.

This does not apply to typical Master's applicants who already hold a Bachelor's degree.

APS files submitted before 15 March 2026 were judged under old rules.

Simple timeline (Master's + dMAT)

Targeting Summer 2027 and dMAT applies to you:

1. Jun–Sep 2026 — Register and sit dMAT
2. Parallel — APS online registration + document prep
3. From Oct 2026 — Get dMAT certificate; courier full APS bundle including dMAT
4. Allow 2–10+ weeks — APS processing
5. Then — Uni applications, blocked account, CSP visa

Targeting Winter 2026/27 Master's in an affected field? Skip dMAT—do standard APS only.

Use the APS processing time tool and intake deadlines.

Common mistakes

• Thinking every Master's applicant needs dMAT
• Assuming dMAT applies to APS China or Vietnam (it does not—for APS documentation)
• Mixing up TestAS (Bachelor's) and dMAT (some Master's)
• Starting APS before your degree is finished (APS will not wait)
• Forgetting dMAT is a separate payment to g.a.s.t.
• Ignoring anabin if your college status is unclear

Official links (APS India)

• APS India — registration, checklists, news
• dMAT (APS India)
• d-mat.de — dMAT in India
• anabin — degree recognition

Related: APS India step-by-step · Application checklist · Student visa

Rules change. Check APS India News before each intake.