Key takeaways
- Start 10 to 12 months before your intake; winter semester deadlines are often 15 July, sometimes earlier.
- The APS certificate is mandatory for most Indian applicants: about ₹18,000 and around 4 weeks, longer in peak season.
- uni-assist costs €75 for the first programme and €30 for each additional one in the same semester.
- After admission: blocked account (€11,904), health insurance and the student visa.
Applying to a German university from India takes about a year if you do it calmly. Most problems I see come from starting too late, usually because of the APS certificate or a missed deadline.
Winter intake deadlineOften 15 July
Summer intake deadlineOften 15 January
APS certificateAbout ₹18,000
uni-assist€75, then €30 each
Your timeline
| When (winter intake) | What to do |
|---|---|
| September to November | Shortlist programmes, check requirements, book IELTS or TOEFL, start German |
| November to January | Apply for the APS certificate |
| January to April | Prepare your CV, motivation letter and recommendations; take your tests |
| March to mid-June | Submit applications (uni-assist or direct), well before the deadlines |
| May to August | Admission letters; open the blocked account, get health insurance, apply for the visa |
| September to October | Travel, register your address, enrol, start classes |
Step by step
- Shortlist programmes. Use DAAD International Programmes and Hochschulkompass. Check the language of teaching, the fees and the exact deadline of each programme.
- Check the requirements. Your bachelor's degree, grades and credits, plus IELTS (often 6.5) or TOEFL for English programmes, or TestDaF (TDN 4) or DSH-2 for German taught programmes. Some programmes ask for GRE or work experience.
- Get your APS certificate. APS verifies your Indian documents and is mandatory for most Indian applicants. It costs about ₹18,000 and takes around 4 weeks, longer in peak season (Expatrio). Apply on the official APS India website.
- Prepare strong documents. A European style CV and a motivation letter written for each programme. My CV guide and cover letter guide work for universities too.
- Apply via uni-assist or directly. Many universities use uni-assist: €75 for the first programme, €30 for each additional one in the same semester (uni-assist). Submit by mid-June for a 15 July deadline, because checks can take 4 to 6 weeks.
- After admission: money and insurance. Open a blocked account with €11,904 for the first year (study.eu) and arrange health insurance.
- Apply for your student visa. Book your appointment early, because waiting times in India can be long in summer.
Common mistakes
- Starting the APS too late.
- Using the same motivation letter for every programme.
- Missing that some programmes have earlier deadlines, such as 31 May or even in winter.
- Paying an agent for something you can do yourself on official websites.
Planning to study in Germany and then work here? Read about jobs after a master's, and message me if you want advice on your plan.
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Written by Swapnil (Samadhan Mule)
I moved to Germany for my master's, collected more than 1,000 rejections, and then got multiple job offers within six months. I work in digital marketing in Germany and help international professionals get hired in Europe. Read my story.