dMAT
What the digital Master Test is, whether it applies to you, the next test sessions, and how it fits into your APS application. Every fact on this page is checked against the official APS India and g.a.s.t. pages, which are linked throughout.
Last verified against official sources: 23 October 2026
As of 23 October 2026, APS India has not yet published the updated list of affected fields or the registration start date for the January and March 2027 sessions. g.a.s.t.'s India pages still show the introductory 2026 information. Until the update appears on aps-india.de/dmat, treat any list or date you see elsewhere, including on social media, as unconfirmed.
The digital Master Test (dMAT) is a standardised academic aptitude test for Master's applicants. It is offered by g.a.s.t. (Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung). Its format was developed with the Universities of Ulm and Kassel.
APS India is introducing it step by step as an additional element of the APS documentation for selected Master's applicants. The two bodies divide the work:
The dMAT is taken on a computer at an appointed test centre; it is not an at-home online test. It is not a language test either, so your German or English requirements are unchanged — see our German language exams comparison. It also does not replace anabin or formal recognition of your degree.
Short answer: Master's applicants with Indian degrees whose previous degree falls in an affected field, applying for the Summer Semester 2027 intake or later, unless an exemption applies. The list of affected fields is being updated.
The introductory list. For the 2026 introduction, g.a.s.t. and APS India's field list (version 1.0, 29 June 2026) named three field groups:
The pending update. On 15 October 2026, APS India said that details of the updated list of affected fields will be announced on its website shortly. The list could therefore change. Check APS India's dMAT page before you rely on any version.
Not affected under the current procedure, according to APS India:
Mixed or interdisciplinary degrees. APS India decides the classification itself, based on the official degree title, branch, major or specialisation in your academic documents. Words such as "Technology" or "Management" in a title do not settle it on their own. Version 1.0 of the field list gave detailed guidance on borderline cases. Wait for the updated list, and if your degree is still unclear after reading it, ask APS India at info@aps-india.de rather than guessing. Getting it wrong can delay your APS certificate.
APS India sets three transitional rules. Each applies to that particular APS procedure; if you later start a new APS application, the rules in force at that time apply.
| Your situation | dMAT required? |
|---|---|
| You completed APS online registration before 29 June 2026 | No, even if you post your documents after that date |
| You shipped your complete APS documents before 29 June 2026 | No, even if verification is still ongoing. Keep proof of shipment. |
| You already hold an APS certificate | No, for that completed procedure |
| You registered and shipped documents on or after 29 June 2026, in an affected field, for Summer Semester 2027 or later | Yes |
| Officially confirmed exchange, double-degree or partnership programme | No. Submit the confirmation, including your group number, with your APS documents. |
| Item | Status on 23 October 2026 |
|---|---|
| Next test sessions | Mid-January and mid-March 2027, according to APS India (15 October 2026). g.a.s.t.'s FAQ says the next date is planned for the first quarter of 2027. |
| Exact test dates | Not yet published |
| Registration start | To be announced on APS India's website |
| Registration deadline | Each test date has its own deadline, published by g.a.s.t. |
| Most relevant for | Applicants aiming to start a Master's in Winter Semester 2027/28, according to APS India |
Registration happens through g.a.s.t.'s dMAT registration portal once dates are published. Seats are booked first come, first served, and APS India cannot reserve them for you.
The completed first session, for reference. These dates are historical and do not apply to the next sessions.
| First India session (completed) | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opened | 29 June 2026 |
| Registration deadline | 15 September 2026 |
| Test date | 26 September 2026 |
| Results and certificates published | 12 October 2026 |
For the APS procedure, the dMAT has two compulsory modules. Every participant receives the same tasks.
| Module | What it measures |
|---|---|
| Core Module | General cognitive and analytical ability, in three subtests. g.a.s.t.'s introductory videos cover figure sequences, mathematical equations and Latin squares. |
| General Academic Module | Applying those abilities to academic problems. Each task presents a typical problem followed by related questions. g.a.s.t. gives an average of about 60 questions. |
All questions are single-choice, and the current subject modules are in English. g.a.s.t. says the test rewards transfer and application rather than memorised facts. Questions may draw on mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, engineering, business administration, economics, social sciences and humanities. There is no syllabus to revise.
g.a.s.t.'s general dMAT page gives a total duration of three and a half hours with a break between modules. Test-day details, including check-in, appear in your participant portal about five days before the test.
g.a.s.t. publishes free preparation material, and recommends using all of it, because no further instructions are given during the test.
g.a.s.t. notes that sample questions show possible topics and question types, and may differ in difficulty from the real test. Work through the official material before paying anyone for dMAT coaching.
Test centres. g.a.s.t. lists centres in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Kolkata, Mananthavady, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune, as well as Berlin and Kathmandu. The final list of available centres is shown during registration.
Identification. Only a valid passport is accepted. Without one you cannot sit the test, so apply for a passport well before the test date. Enter your name exactly as it appears in your passport; name changes are possible only in consultation with g.a.s.t.
Registration checklist, according to g.a.s.t.:
| Item | What is published |
|---|---|
| Test fee | €150, payable at registration (APS India). g.a.s.t. says the exact amount is shown on the booking page. |
| When registration is binding | Once g.a.s.t. confirms your registration and the fee is paid |
| Cancelling by the registration deadline | Via the participant portal; the fee is refunded, minus an administrative fee of up to 15% |
| Cancelling after the deadline | No refund. The same applies if you do not attend, stop the test or are excluded, and no certificate is issued. |
| Changing test centre | Possible in the portal until the registration deadline, if seats remain |
| Changing test date | Ask g.a.s.t. at kontakt@gast.de whether rescheduling is possible |
| Right of withdrawal | Generally 14 days from conclusion of the contract under g.a.s.t.'s terms; you must notify g.a.s.t. explicitly |
The dMAT fee is separate from the APS fee. The full terms are on g.a.s.t.'s terms and conditions page.
Your certificate shows two results for each module:
The overall result is the sum of the two module scores. You download the certificate from the g.a.s.t. participant portal. g.a.s.t. says it is generally valid indefinitely, although a university you send it to directly may set its own rules on how old a result can be. You may take the dMAT more than once.
Within APS. The dMAT result is reflected on your APS certificate. APS India states that it is not a pass-or-fail test for APS, and that a low score does not automatically lead to refusal of the APS certificate.
At universities. German universities decide independently how they assess the result. It can be one element alongside your other documents; it does not guarantee admission, and a low result does not automatically mean rejection. Separately, g.a.s.t. names RWTH Aachen University and the University of Göttingen as using the dMAT in selection, but with their own subject modules for particular Master's programmes. That is not the same as the General Academic Module taken for APS.
We do not publish a target score. No official source gives one, and the use of results differs by university and programme. If a programme uses the result, its own admission page is the authority.
The dMAT does not have to hold up your APS application. If it applies to you, APS India allows the following order for applications for Summer Semester 2027 or later:
Only the dMAT certificate may follow later. You cannot add or update academic documents later alongside the dMAT certificate for the same APS procedure, so check your first submission carefully.
APS India's Graduates checklist (valid as of June 2026) still says to take the dMAT before submitting your APS documents. APS India's later dMAT page, updated on 13 July and 15 October 2026, explicitly allows submitting your documents first. This guide follows the later page. If your case depends on the difference, confirm with APS India.
For planning, start from your programme's deadline and work backwards: when the university or uni-assist needs the APS certificate, how long verification may take (APS India says at least two weeks), and which dMAT session fits. Our APS guide covers the APS procedure itself, and the Masters guide covers shortlisting, VPD and deadlines.
Rules, dates and fees for the dMAT are still settling. This page summarises the sources below; they, not this page, are the authority.
Every fact on this page was checked against the sources above on 23 October 2026. At that point, APS India had announced the January and March 2027 sessions but not yet the registration start or the updated list of affected fields. Check the official pages before you register or plan around a date.
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