What is APS?-Everything you need to know

Students who want to study in Germany must now provide the embassy with their APS certificate. APS is a certificate that will be granted following the verification of the validity of each of your papers. This is now a prerequisite for applying for a visa. However, the APS verifies the accuracy of educational biographies and related educational achievements, and awards certificates if the assessment is accurate.

What is the importance of an APS certificate?

As previously stated, obtaining an APS certificate is a requirement for applying for a visa. It serves as verification of the validity of academic credentials issued by Indian institutions. This also outlines the requirements that German universities must meet before granting admission to students.

Why apply for an APS certification?

Having an APS certificate will speed up your student visa application and make it easier for you to apply to German universities. The application for a student visa requires an original certificate issued by the APS.
Condition applied: Applicants for APS certification do not need to be supported by German or EU-funded scholarships.

What are the requirements to apply for an APS certification?

Anyone regardless of country, who is pursuing education or has obtained a degree from one of the accredited Indian school boards or universities is eligible to apply for an APS certificate. Typically, Germany accepts vocational certificates and degrees from institutions approved or recognized by the UGC and AICTE as acceptable for further study.

Note:

• • Germany will not take into consideration a 3-year diploma earned after completing the tenth grade for further study since admittance to undergraduate courses requires 12 years of education.
  • A 3- or 4-year bachelor’s degree in a comparable field is acceptable in addition to a 3- or 4-year diploma following the tenth grade.
  • A postgraduate degree from an institution accredited by the UGC or a state shall be taken into consideration.

Applications will be accepted beginning on October 1st, 2022, and starting on November 1st, 2022, all student visa applications will require the APS certificate. From January 1st, 2023, TestAS (a central standardized aptitude test for foreign students) will no longer be optional. However, the summer semester of 2023 will temporarily waive it.

Who Needs an APS Certificate?

All Indian students planning to study undergraduate or postgraduate courses in Germany need an APS certificate. It is also mandatory for obtaining a German Student Visa.

Exemptions

– Indian students sponsored by German or EU-funded scholarships.
– Students studying the German language without attending a university or pre-university classes.

How to Apply for the APS Certificate in India?

If you’re an Indian student aiming to pursue higher education in Germany, obtaining the APS certificate is a crucial step. Here is a comprehensive guide on how to apply for the APS certificate in India:

1. Familiarise Yourself with the Requirements

Before starting the application process, it’s essential to understand the specific requirements based on your educational goals. Whether you’re applying for a Bachelor’s, Master’s, or Ph.D., make sure you have a clear understanding of the documents needed.

2. Collect the Necessary Documents

For those applying for a Master’s in Germany, here are the required documents:

– Complete application form (printed and signed) with a passport-size photo
– Copy of the verification fee receipt
– Copy of Aadhaar card with a linked mobile number
– Copy of the first and last pages of your passport
– Copy of 12th class certificate and transcript of records
– Copy of 12th class admit card (if available)
– Copy of the Bachelor’s certificate and transcript of records
– Copy of language certificate

Note: Only documents translated into English from regional languages need to be notarised.

3. Register Online

Visit the APS India official website and register online by filling out the required details. Click hear to apply.

4. Transfer the Processing Fee

Transfer the non-refundable processing fee of INR 18,000 to the APS bank account. Ensure you keep a receipt of this transaction.

5. Submit the Required Documents

You have two options for submitting your documents:

• Courier: Send your application package via a reliable courier service.
• In-Person: Submit the documents directly to the APS India office at:

Academic Evaluation Centre,
Gate No. 3, DLTA Complex,
R.K. Khanna Stadium, 1 Africa Avenue,
110029 New Delhi, India

Processing Time and Certificate Delivery

The APS office typically takes about 3-4 weeks to process your application. Start checking your online profile after three weeks for status updates. If your application is successful, you will receive a digital certificate via email, authenticated by a digital signature, valid for three years.

Important Considerations

– Recheck Your Email: Ensure the correctness of your email address to avoid complications.
– Check Spam Folder: Regularly check your spam folder to ensure you don’t miss any communications.
– Avoid Unnecessary Emails: Sending multiple emails can lead to your email being blocked, complicating your application process.

Additional Information for APS Certification in Germany

1. 1. Document Verification: Candidates must get their academic documents verified by APS India before applying to German universities.
   2. Guidelines: Refer to the APS India website for detailed guidelines and ensure all documents are in legible A4-sized color photocopies.
   3. Interview Process: Undergraduate applicants may be required to appear for an interview, conducted in English or German, focusing on their academic history and achievements.
   4. Digital Certificates: Since April 2023, APS certificates are issued digitally and are valid for three years. Paper certificates issued before this date are still valid.

Information needed for further verification for APS certificate

They can ask for any of the following options available for the verification of their APS certificate:

1. 1. If the individual has access to an active student portal for their diploma, bachelor’s, or master’s program at their University or College, we request them to provide the link and their login credentials.
   2. Alternatively, if their results are accessible online on their University’s or College’s website, we request them to provide the link and the credentials used to check the results.
   3. The requester suggests checking if the diploma, bachelor’s, or master’s University is available on DigiLocker. In that case, after fetching the degree in the DigiLocker account, they should share the issued degree/marksheet PDF downloaded from the DigiLocker profile.It’s important to note that you should not upload documents on DigiLocker but fetch them from there. Guidance on how to fetch documents using DigiLocker can be found in this link: [How to Fetch Documents using DigiLocker? – Blog DigiLocker].
   4. If none of the above options are available, the requester asks for an official email ID of the diploma, bachelor’s, or master’s University/College. This email should be from an official domain (not Gmail, Yahoo, Rediff mails, etc.) and could be from any official representative such as a professor, HOD, principal, registrar, or the university/college mail ID.

Please note: If the individual is a studienkolleg applicant with only 12th grade as their highest educational qualification. They request reply to the email with the names of their 10th and 12th grade Boards, along with their passing years respectively. They will request further information if needed.

Additionally, if the individual has taken tests such as IELTS, TOEFL, Goethe Zertifikat (B1-C1), Test AS, or Test Daf, they are asked to provide login details for their respective portals. It’s emphasized that these tests are optional as mentioned on the website.

By following these steps carefully and ensuring all requirements are met, you can smoothly obtain your APS certificate and move forward with your educational plans in Germany. The requester states that only when the individual can provide any of the above options for the verification of their educational documents, they would be able to proceed with the APS certificate verification.

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