Complete APS certificate guide for Studienkolleg applicants from India, China, and Vietnam. Costs, documents, timelines, interview tips, and exemptions.
Students from India, China, Vietnam, and Mongolia need an APS certificate before applying to a Studienkolleg in Germany. The APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) verifies that your academic records are genuine. Without it, no German university or Studienkolleg will process your application. The process takes 3-20 weeks depending on your country and the time of year. Costs range from 140 EUR (Vietnam) to 340 EUR (China), with India at around 225 EUR. Start at least 4-5 months before your Studienkolleg application deadline. This is the single biggest bottleneck in the application process — many students miss deadlines because they underestimate how long APS takes.
This guide covers the full APS process for each country: documents, costs, interview preparation, timelines, and exemptions. Every detail you need to plan your application is here.
APS stands for Akademische Prüfstelle (Academic Evaluation Centre). It is a joint office run by the German Embassy and the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service) in countries where academic fraud is common. The APS office checks two things: that your academic documents are real and that you actually earned the qualifications listed on them.
Germany introduced APS for Chinese students in 2001 — the first country to require it. Vietnam followed in 2007. India was added in October 2022. Mongolia also requires APS verification.
The APS certificate proves your qualifications passed this check. You need it for two separate steps: your Studienkolleg or university application, and your student visa application. No APS means no admission and no visa.
Since April 2023, APS issues a digital certificate called DigZert (Digitales Zertifikat). You receive a PDF with a QR code that universities can verify online. The certificate is valid for 3 years from the date of issue. You can use the same certificate for multiple applications.
Example: A student from Delhi gets her APS certificate in January 2026. She uses it to apply to Studienkolleg Hamburg for winter semester 2026, and again for Studienkolleg München in 2027 — both with the same certificate.
The APS certificate does not replace the anabin database check. Universities still verify your degree type through anabin. APS only confirms your documents are authentic.
India joined the APS requirement in October 2022. All Indian students applying to a German university or Studienkolleg must now obtain an APS certificate. There are no exceptions based on which university or state you come from.
18,000 INR (approximately 225 EUR). Pay online via the APS India portal. The fee is non-refundable, even if your application is rejected.
The APS India office is in New Delhi:
Prepare the following before submitting your application:
All documents must be clear, legible scans or copies. APS India does not require notarized copies for initial submission, but they may request originals for verification.
Total time from submission to certificate: 5-12 weeks.
The APS interview for Indian students is not always required. APS India uses a document-based review for many applicants. If they need to verify something, they schedule a 20-minute interview.
The interview is in English or German (your choice). Questions focus on your academic subjects — what you studied, your coursework, and your thesis or project topics. No personal questions or trick questions.
Example: Priya from Mumbai submitted her APS application in early March. Her documents were straightforward, so she received her APS certificate in 5 weeks — just in time for the July 15 Studienkolleg deadline.
China was the first country to require APS verification, starting in 2001. The process for Chinese students involves a mandatory interview and is the longest of all APS countries.
2,500 RMB (approximately 340 EUR). Pay via bank transfer to the APS account. Keep the receipt — you need it for your application.
China has two APS offices. Which one you use depends on where your university is located:
Beijing Office:
Shanghai Office:
All academic documents must be notarized by a Chinese notary public, and the translations must also be notarized. This is different from India, where simple copies suffice. Budget 1-2 weeks and 500-1,000 RMB for notarization.
Total time from submission to certificate: 6-20 weeks.
The APS interview for Chinese students is mandatory — every applicant must complete it. There are no exceptions.
Example: Li Wei from Shanghai submitted his APS application in January. Processing took 14 weeks due to the peak season backlog. He received his interview appointment in late April and his certificate in mid-May. Plan for the worst case.
Vietnam has required APS verification since 2007. The process is different from China and India because interviews are held only twice per year on fixed dates.
Payment goes to a Vietcombank account. Keep the receipt as proof of payment.
The APS Vietnam office operates out of the German Embassy in Hanoi:
This is where Vietnamese applicants face a unique challenge. APS Vietnam holds interview sessions only twice per year:
Processing of documents takes 6-8 weeks. After your documents clear, you are assigned to the next available interview session.
Total time from submission to certificate: 8-16 weeks, depending on when you apply relative to the interview sessions.
Example: Thanh from Hanoi submitted her APS application in February. Her documents were processed in 6 weeks, and she was assigned to the May interview session. She received her certificate in June — in time for a winter semester Studienkolleg start.
Mongolia also requires APS verification for students applying to German universities and Studienkollegs. The process is simpler because it runs through the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar directly.
The volume of Mongolian applicants is much smaller than India or China, so processing times are more predictable. Contact the German Embassy in Ulaanbaatar directly for current requirements and appointment scheduling.
Example: Bat-Erdene from Ulaanbaatar applied in December and received his certificate in February — well ahead of the July deadline.
If your APS process includes an interview, here is exactly how it works and how to prepare.
The interview lasts 15-20 minutes. You sit across from one or two academic evaluators. They have your transcripts and documents in front of them. The atmosphere is formal but not hostile — think of it as an oral exam at your own university.
You choose the language: English or German. Pick whichever language you can discuss technical topics in more fluently. The evaluators speak both.
All questions are about your academic background. Nothing personal. Expect questions like:
They may ask you to draw a diagram, write a formula, or solve a short problem on paper. This is especially common for engineering, science, and mathematics students.
Each country has different rules for retaking the APS interview:
| Country | Retake Attempts | Waiting Period |
|---|---|---|
| China | 2 retakes (3 total) | 3 months between attempts |
| India | 2 retakes (3 total) | Varies — check with APS India |
| Vietnam | Unlimited | Next session (6 months) |
| Mongolia | Varies | Check with embassy |
Failing on your first attempt is not the end. Most students who fail do so because they could not explain a specific course on their transcript. Review the weak areas and try again.
Not everyone from India, China, Vietnam, or Mongolia needs an APS certificate. Here are the exemptions.
| Exempt If… | Details |
|---|---|
| PhD applicant | Doctoral candidates are exempt in most cases. Check with your university. |
| DAAD or Erasmus scholarship holder | The scholarship vetting process replaces the APS verification. Your scholarship letter serves as proof. |
| Already passed the Feststellungsprüfung | If you already completed a Feststellungsprüfung (FSP) at a German Studienkolleg, you do not need APS for further university applications. |
| International school qualification | Holders of a US high school diploma, British A-Levels, or IB Diploma are exempt — even if they are Indian or Chinese citizens. |
| EU/EEA citizen | APS is not required regardless of where you went to school. |
| Already hold a German degree | If you completed a bachelor’s or master’s at a German university, no APS needed. |
| Attending a school in a non-APS country | An Indian student who completed high school and a degree in the UK does not need APS. The country of education matters, not citizenship alone. |
Common misconception: JEE Main + Advanced scores (India) exempt you from the TestAS entrance exam, but they do not exempt you from APS. You still need the APS certificate.
Also note: APS is required for both public and private Studienkollegs. Some students assume private institutions skip this requirement. They do not. Every Studienkolleg and university in Germany will ask for your APS certificate if you come from a required country.
Example: Ananya is an Indian citizen who completed her A-Levels at an international school in Singapore. She applies to Studienkolleg Berlin. Because her qualification is A-Levels (not an Indian board exam), she is exempt from APS.
Here is a month-by-month timeline for students aiming to start Studienkolleg in the winter semester (October). Adjust dates forward by 6 months for a summer semester start.
| Month | Action |
|---|---|
| September-October (year before) | Start collecting documents. Get notarizations and translations done. Open the APS portal and fill out the form. |
| November-December | Submit your APS application with all documents. Pay the fee. |
| January-February | APS reviews your documents. You may receive an interview appointment. |
| March-April | Complete your APS interview (if required). Receive your APS certificate. |
| May-June | Apply to your chosen Studienkolleg with your APS certificate. Start your visa application. |
| July | Application deadline for most Studienkollegs (July 15 for winter semester). |
| August-September | Receive your admission letter. Complete your visa process. |
| October | Start Studienkolleg. |
The key takeaway: apply for APS at least 4-5 months before your Studienkolleg deadline. For Chinese students, 6 months is safer due to longer processing times.
If you are applying for the summer semester (April start), shift everything back by 6 months. The Studienkolleg application deadline is usually January 15, so submit your APS application by August or September of the previous year.
If you have less than 3 months before the deadline:
You need APS for both. The APS certificate is required whether you are applying to a Studienkolleg or directly to a university. Studienkollegs are part of the German higher education system, and they follow the same document verification rules as universities. Without APS, your Studienkolleg application will not be processed. You also need the APS certificate again when you apply for your student visa at the German embassy.
In most cases, no. The majority of Studienkollegs require your APS certificate as part of your application package. A few institutions may accept your application with a note that APS is pending, but they will not issue an admission letter until the certificate arrives. Do not count on this exception. Submit your APS application early enough so the certificate arrives before the Studienkolleg application deadline.
The APS certificate (DigZert) is valid for 3 years from the date of issue. You can use the same certificate for multiple university and Studienkolleg applications within that period. If your certificate expires before you apply, you must go through the entire APS process again. Since the certificate costs 140-340 EUR and takes weeks to obtain, make sure you use it within the validity period.
You can retake it. In China, you have 3 total attempts with a 3-month waiting period between each. In India, you can also retake the interview (check with APS India for current rules). In Vietnam, a failed interview means waiting for the next session, which is 6 months away. If you exhaust all attempts in China, the standard APS route is closed. You would need to explore alternative pathways such as obtaining a qualification from a non-APS country.
It depends on the country. For China, all academic documents must be notarized and translated into English or German by a certified translator. For India, APS accepts English-language documents without translation since Indian academic records are already in English. For Vietnam, translations into English or German are required. Always check the current requirements on your country’s APS website, as rules can change between application cycles.
Yes. One APS certificate covers all your applications in Germany. You do not need a separate certificate for each Studienkolleg or university. The digital certificate (DigZert) includes a QR code that any institution can verify online. Apply to as many programs as you like with the same certificate, as long as it is still within its 3-year validity.
Yes. APS is required for all German higher education institutions, including private Studienkollegs. The requirement comes from the German government and applies nationwide. Whether you apply to Studienkolleg Hamburg (public) or a private Studienkolleg, you need the certificate. Check the costs guide for a full comparison of public and private Studienkolleg fees — APS costs are the same regardless.
If your country is not India, China, Vietnam, or Mongolia, you do not need an APS certificate. Students from all other countries apply to Studienkollegs and universities without APS. Your documents are verified directly by the institution or through uni-assist. However, you may still need to get your documents certified or translated depending on the specific requirements of your target Studienkolleg.
You now know exactly what APS requires, what it costs, and how long it takes. The single most common mistake is starting too late. Open the APS portal for your country today, check your documents, and submit your application as soon as everything is ready. Every week you save on APS is a week of breathing room for your Studienkolleg application and visa.
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