Masters in Germany
APS, VPD, ECTS, English vs German programmes, application timeline, costs, and top universities. Written by someone who did it.
A Masters in Germany is genuinely one of the best decisions an Indian student can make — and one of the cheapest, despite what people assume.
The short version: tuition at public universities is zero. You need a blocked account of around ₹12 lakhs which you get back monthly from part-time work. The total money you actually spend over two years is ₹3–4 lakhs — less than one year at a private Indian college.
You need an APS certificate before applying (6–10 weeks processing), a relevant 3 or 4 year Bachelors degree, and either an IELTS/TOEFL score (for English programmes) or a TestDaF/DSH certificate (for German programmes).
The application window is April for winter intake (October start) and October for summer intake (April start). Most Indian students apply for winter intake.
The rest of this page is the detailed version of every step.
The honest eligibility check for Indian Bachelor's degree holders.
Most German universities require a Bachelor's degree of at least 3 years from a recognised Indian university, with a final grade that converts to roughly 70 percent or higher (CGPA 7.0+ on 10, or first division).
Indian 3-year Bachelors like BA, BCom, BSc are accepted at most universities — but some highly ranked universities (TU Munich, RWTH Aachen) prefer or require 4-year Bachelors like BE, BTech, BBA (4-year). If you have a 3-year Bachelor's and want to apply to those universities, you may need a Master's or a one-year bridge programme to meet eligibility.
Field-relevance also matters. You usually need a Bachelor's in the same or closely related field as the Masters you are applying for. A BA in Economics can apply for Economics, Business, Finance, Management Masters. A BA in English Literature applying for an MBA would need to show relevance through work experience or supplementary coursework.
Some highly specialised Masters require specific subjects in your Bachelor's. For example, a Masters in Psychology requires you to have studied biology in school and Bachelor's-level psychology coursework. A Masters in Computer Science requires programming and mathematics in your Bachelor's.
If you are uncertain whether your Bachelor's is eligible — check the university's specific page on uni-assist or use the Anabin database (anabin.kmk.org), which is the official German database that classifies foreign degrees.
The single most missed step in Masters applications from India.
APS stands for Akademische Prüfstelle. It is the German Academic Evaluation Centre operated by the German Embassy in New Delhi. Since 2022, APS is mandatory for almost all Indian students applying to German universities.
What APS does: it verifies your academic documents (degrees, marksheets, transcripts) are authentic, and conducts a short interview to confirm your qualifications and academic background. After clearance, you receive an APS certificate which you must submit with your university applications.
Processing time is 6 to 10 weeks. This is the number one reason Indian students miss application deadlines — they discover APS exists too late.
The cost is approximately ₹18,000 (₹18,000 for individual procedure, ₹4,500 if you fall under the group procedure). You apply online at aps-india.de.
Documents needed: scanned passport, all 10th/12th certificates, Bachelor's degree certificate and all semester marksheets, English proficiency proof, CV, and any work experience certificates if applicable.
Apply for APS the moment you decide Germany is your goal — ideally 6+ months before your earliest university deadline. Do not wait until you have shortlisted universities.
The decision that shapes your entire timeline.
Germany offers thousands of Masters programmes taught entirely in English. The DAAD database lists over 1,500 English-taught Masters at German universities. For most Indian students applying from India, English-taught programmes are the practical choice.
If you choose English-taught:
You need IELTS (typically 6.5 overall) or TOEFL (typically 88+ iBT). You still need basic German (A1–B1) for daily life and the visa. Many universities accept students with no prior German if you commit to learning it during the programme. Programme content, exams, thesis — all in English.
If you choose German-taught:
You need TestDaF (TDN 4 in all sections) or DSH-2 before applying. This means 1.5–2 years of serious German study. Programme content, exams, thesis — all in German. The advantage: significantly more programme options, often better integration with German job market afterwards, and free of the impression that you 'took the easy English path.'
For 90 percent of Indian Masters applicants, English-taught with strong German A2–B1 alongside is the right choice. It gets you in, gets you started, and lets you build German over the two years rather than gating you for 18 months before you can even apply.
Not every application goes through uni-assist. Here is when it does.
Uni-assist (uni-assist.de) is a centralised application service used by many German universities — but not all. It pre-checks your documents, converts your grades to the German system, and forwards your application to the university.
Some universities require you to apply directly through their portal. Some accept both. Some only accept uni-assist applications. Check each university's website individually — this is non-negotiable.
If a university requires uni-assist, they may also require a VPD (Vorprüfungsdokumentation) — a preliminary document evaluation. The VPD is a document uni-assist issues after evaluating your degrees, before you can even apply. It costs around €75 per university for the first application, €30 for additional ones.
Timeline: VPD takes 4–6 weeks. If you need VPD for multiple universities, the cost adds up — five universities through uni-assist costs you around €255 in VPD fees alone.
ECTS conversion: German universities measure programmes in ECTS credits (1 ECTS = 25–30 study hours). A typical Indian Bachelor's has around 120 credits in Indian terms; the German conversion usually puts it at 180 ECTS, which meets most Masters entry requirements. Uni-assist or your individual university calculates this — you do not have to do it yourself.
The most common path — applying in your final year of Bachelor's for the next winter semester.
18 months before: Decide Germany is your goal. Start learning German (at least A1–A2 within 6 months). Begin researching universities and programmes.
12 months before: Take IELTS or TOEFL. Score 6.5+ overall in IELTS, 88+ iBT in TOEFL.
10–12 months before: Apply for APS certificate. Wait 6–10 weeks for processing.
8–10 months before: APS certificate in hand. Shortlist 6–10 universities. Check uni-assist requirements for each.
6–8 months before: Apply for VPD where required. Begin drafting SOPs, LORs, CVs.
4–6 months before: Submit applications. Winter intake deadlines are typically March 15 to July 15 — varies by university.
3–4 months before: First responses arrive. If admitted, start visa application immediately.
2–3 months before: Visa interview. Block account setup. Health insurance arrangement.
1 month before: Flights, accommodation, packing. Last German classes if continuing.
Day 0: You land in Germany.
This timeline is for winter intake starting in October. For summer intake starting in April, shift everything six months earlier — application deadlines fall in October-January.
A starting list — not exhaustive. Use the universities directory for full filtering.
TU Munich (Munich) · RWTH Aachen (Aachen) · KIT Karlsruhe (Karlsruhe) · TU Berlin (Berlin) · TU Darmstadt (Darmstadt) · University of Stuttgart (Stuttgart)
Mannheim Business School (Mannheim) · ESMT Berlin (Berlin) · WHU Otto Beisheim (Vallendar) · Frankfurt School of Finance and Management (Frankfurt) · LMU Munich (Munich) · TU Munich School of Management (Munich)
University of Mannheim (Mannheim) · LMU Munich (Munich) · Goethe University Frankfurt (Frankfurt) · Humboldt University Berlin (Berlin) · University of Bonn (Bonn) · Free University Berlin (Berlin)
TU Munich (Munich) · RWTH Aachen (Aachen) · Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (Karlsruhe) · TU Berlin (Berlin) · Saarland University (Saarbrücken) · University of Tübingen (Tübingen)
Heidelberg University (Heidelberg) · Humboldt University Berlin (Berlin) · LMU Munich (Munich) · University of Tübingen (Tübingen) · Free University Berlin (Berlin) · University of Göttingen (Göttingen)
Bauhaus University Weimar (Weimar) · UdK Berlin (Berlin) · HFG Karlsruhe (Karlsruhe) · Folkwang University of the Arts (Essen) · Berlin University of the Arts (Berlin)
Heidelberg University (Heidelberg) · LMU Munich (Munich) · TU Munich (Munich) · University of Göttingen (Göttingen) · Humboldt University Berlin (Berlin) · University of Tübingen (Tübingen)
| Cost | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition fee at public universities | €0 (₹0) |
| Semester contribution (admin + transport) | €200–€400/semester (₹18,000–₹36,000/semester) |
| Blocked account (deposit, returned monthly) | €11,208 (~₹12,00,000) |
| Living expenses (monthly) | €850–€1,200 (₹75,000–₹1,05,000/month) |
| Health insurance (monthly) | €120–€130 (₹10,800–₹11,700/month) |
| Initial setup (deposit, winter clothes, first month) | €1,500–€2,500 (₹1,30,000–₹2,20,000) |
| Flights from India | ₹40,000–₹70,000 each way |
Most Indian students cover their monthly living expenses through a part-time job (legally up to 20 hours per week during semester, full-time during breaks). Minimum wage in Germany is €12.41/hour as of 2024 — at 20 hours per week, that is around €990/month before tax, which covers most students' monthly outgoings.
The €11,208 blocked account is not money you spend. It is a deposit you transfer to a German account, which is released to you in monthly instalments of ~€934. Most students cover that monthly release from their part-time job earnings, meaning the blocked account stays largely intact and returns home with you over time.
The actual money your family spends to get you to Germany and through the first month is ₹3–4 lakhs — flights, first month's rent deposit, winter clothing, initial groceries, SIM card, and transport pass.
'My CGPA is only 7.5 — am I out?'
No. Most German public universities accept students with CGPA 7.0+. Highly competitive programmes (TU Munich, RWTH Aachen) may require 8.0+ in specific subjects. A 7.5 is genuinely fine for the vast majority of programmes.
'I don't know German at all — can I still apply?'
For English-taught Masters, yes. You will need basic German for daily life and your visa officer may ask. Start with A1 immediately and aim for A2–B1 by the time you land.
'Will I get a job after?'
Germany has a labour shortage in engineering, IT, healthcare, and many sciences. International students get an 18-month job-seeker visa after graduation. The honest reality: getting a job is much easier in technical fields. Non-technical fields require B2+ German and persistence — but it is absolutely possible.
'Is my degree from a Tier 2 city Indian university acceptable?'
Yes, as long as it is recognised by UGC and listed in the Anabin database as H+ (recognised). Most Indian universities are. Check anabin.kmk.org with your university name.
Visit Anabin to check your university, or DM us on WhatsApp or Instagram and we can help you check.
'How safe is it for a girl from a small town?'
Germany is one of the safest countries in Europe. As a woman, you will have more freedom and safety than almost anywhere in India. The challenges are different — loneliness, bureaucracy, language barrier — but personal safety is genuinely not a major concern in most German university towns.
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