Applying for a master's in Germany: the short version
There's no central application for master's programmes in Germany. You apply to each programme, either through uni-assist, through the university's own portal, or both (with a VPD). Each programme has its own deadline, and for non-EU applicants it's often months earlier than the famous 15 July.
Key takeaways
- Know your route. Some universities want applications through uni-assist; others, like RWTH, KIT and Stuttgart, use their own portals.[1][2][3]
- Apply early. uni-assist says to apply "at least 8 weeks before the deadline expires"; evaluation usually takes 4 to 6 weeks.[4]
- Deadlines vary a lot. RWTH: 1 March for non-EU applicants to open-admission master's (winter); Hamburg's international master's: 31 March; TUM Informatics: 31 May; KIT: 15 July.[5][6][7][2]
- Have your APS certificate first. uni-assist wants the digitally sealed APS file uploaded unchanged, and KIT asks Indian applicants to enclose it.[8][2] See our APS certificate guide.
- Costs: uni-assist charges €75 for the first programme and €30 for each additional one per semester.[9] Stuttgart charges no application fee.[3]
- Missing documents can't be added after the deadline.[10]
uni-assist, VPD or direct: the three ways to apply
| Route | How it works | Who decides |
|---|---|---|
| uni-assist (forwarding) | You apply and pay in My assist. uni-assist checks your documents against the university's criteria and forwards your application if you meet them.[10] | The university decides on admission.[10] |
| VPD (Vorprüfungsdokumentation) | uni-assist evaluates your documents and issues a VPD, "a certificate … which you submit directly to the university". You then apply in the university's portal and upload it.[11] | The university. uni-assist doesn't forward anything in this route.[10] |
| Direct (university portal) | You apply only in the university's own portal, such as RWTHonline, the KIT portal or Stuttgart's C@MPUS.[1][2][3] | The university. |
Which route do popular universities use?
| University | Route for international master's applicants |
|---|---|
| TUM | Always apply in TUMonline; where a VPD is required, you upload it there[12] |
| RWTH Aachen | RWTHonline; no physical documents by post[1] |
| KIT | KIT online portal, for EU and non-EU applicants[2] |
| University of Stuttgart | C@MPUS, for all applicant groups[3] |
| LMU Munich | Apply to the programme and register with the International Office (via MoveIN for some programmes)[13] |
| University of Mannheim | The university's online application portal[14] |
| TU Dresden | International applicants generally apply via uni-assist, with exceptions by programme[15] |
Before choosing a route, make sure you've chosen the right programmes. Our university shortlist guide shows how.
Application deadlines for masters in Germany
uni-assist gives 15 July (winter) and 15 January (summer) as typical deadlines, and DAAD describes the same periods, but master's programmes may close earlier.[4][16] These are the official dates for international applicants at popular universities:
| University / programme | Winter semester (October start) | Summer semester (April start) |
|---|---|---|
| RWTH Aachen (non-EU applicants, open-admission master's; restricted NC programmes close 15 July) | 1 December – 1 March | 1 June – 1 September[5] |
| University of Hamburg | 15 February – 31 March (international master's programmes); 1 May – 15 June (other master's) | 1 December – 15 January[6] |
| TUM, Informatics M.Sc. (as listed on the programme page) | 1 February – 31 May | 1 October – 30 November[7] |
| University of Mannheim | From 1 April; closes 15 May, 31 May or 15 July depending on the programme | 15 October – 15 November (selected programmes)[14] |
| KIT | 15 July | 15 January[2] |
| LMU Munich (International Office registration; programme deadlines may differ) | 15 July | 15 January[13] |
Programme deadlines can be earlier than the university-wide dates, and some programmes admit only in winter. Always use the date on your programme's page.
Free application planner: work back from your deadline
Your latest dates for every step
Enter your programme's deadline and route. You'll get the latest date for each step, from the dMAT and APS to submitting. uni-assist's 8-week rule is official; the other buffers are what we use with our students.
Need the dMAT? Check who must take it in our dMAT guide. Not sure about your English score? See the IELTS score requirements.
How to apply through uni-assist: step by step
- Check the programme's requirements and routeConfirm on the programme page whether it uses uni-assist, a VPD or its own portal, and note the deadline.
- Scan your documents"The application via uni-assist is fully digital." Upload scans of official documents: ones with a signature and stamp, an automatic-issuance note or a verification code, in their original language.[17][18]
- Upload your APS certificate unchanged"Upload the digitally sealed APS certificate as an unchanged, original file to your MyAssist account." Provisional degree certificates count only if issued by a university or autonomous college.[8]
- Register in My assist and create an application per programmeOne online form for each course; upload your documents to each application.[19] Add your SOP and motivation letter, CV and any letters of recommendation.
- Pay the fees€75 for the first programme and €30 for each additional one in the same semester, by bank transfer or credit card. Some universities pay the fee for their applicants.[9][20]
- Track your statusuni-assist emails you when your result is in My assist.[10] If you meet the criteria, your application goes to the university, which decides.
uni-assist says it doesn't work with commercial agencies, and that some organisations falsely claim to be affiliated with it. Payment requests come only through its own portal.[20]
How the VPD works
- What it is: "A certificate issued by uni-assist which you submit directly to the university when you apply there."[11]
- Who needs one: the university tells you.[11] At TUM, the steps end with uploading the final VPD in TUMonline, and an application via TUMonline is always necessary.[12]
- Timing and validity: processing usually takes 4 to 6 weeks, and a VPD is valid for one year from its date of issue.[11]
- Cost: the same as a standard uni-assist application.[9]
- You submit it yourself: download it from My inbox and upload it to the university before its deadline; uni-assist doesn't forward it.[10]
After admission: accept, enrol, then the visa
- Accept your placeAfter the offer of admission, TUM's first enrolment step is "Accept your study place".[21] Watch the acceptance deadline in your admission letter.
- Apply for enrolment and upload documentsAt RWTH, "All documents must be uploaded as PDF files to RWTHonline", and the university may check originals when you arrive.[22]
- Health insuranceTUM asks you to have your health insurance status digitally confirmed;[21] RWTH says travel health insurance generally isn't enough for enrolment.[22]
- Pay the semester feeAnd tuition where it applies.[21] At TU Dresden the semester contribution is about €360 and is "not a tuition fee".[15] Costs by city are in our cost of studying guide.
- Apply for the visaThe German Missions in India need "your letter of admission from a full-time degree programme in presence at a German university". If conditions remain, they must be noted in the admission letter.[23] Next step: our student visa guide.
Still in your final year? Some universities let you apply before you finish: RWTH says you don't need to have fully completed your bachelor's degree at the time of application.[1]
10 application mistakes that cost Indian students an admission
- Assuming 15 July when the programme closes on 1 March or 31 May.
- Applying in the last week through uni-assist instead of eight weeks before.
- The wrong route: applying only on uni-assist when the university needs a VPD and a portal application.
- No APS certificate at the time of application, or an APS PDF that was edited or renamed.
- A missing document discovered after the deadline, when nothing can be added.
- Unofficial copies: documents without a signature, stamp or verification code.
- Paying an "agent" for uni-assist fees instead of the portal.
- One generic SOP for every programme.
- Too few applications, or ten applications all to top universities.
- Forgetting to accept the place or to send enrolment documents in time.
How Yastudy handles your applications
Applications are where a counsellor saves you the most: the right route for each programme, a dated plan that works back from every deadline, documents checked before you pay any fee, and every portal and uni-assist status tracked until you're admitted.
- Applications are the core of every Germany master's plan: 4 applications reviewed in Essential, up to 10 in Advantage, and unlimited across two intakes in Premium.
- Your APS file checked or filed with you: our APS service. Programme-specific letters: our SOP service.
- Tests on the critical path: IELTS coaching and dMAT preparation.
Let Yastudy do this with you: Germany master’s plans
This step is part of every Yastudy plan for public universities in Germany. Pay online and your counsellor calls you within one working day with a dated plan for APS, the dMAT, tests, applications and the visa.
Essential
For self-starters who want an expert to check every step
- Profile evaluation and grade conversion
- Shortlist of 6 programmes (reach, match, safe)
- Up to 4 university applications reviewed
- APS document check (you file, we check)
- dMAT guidance: whether you need it and how to register
- Motivation letter and CV editing (2 rounds each) and LOR guidance
- Visa file check before you submit
Advantage
Done with you: we file alongside you, with German included
- Everything in Essential, plus:
- Up to 10 university applications
- Full APS filing support
- dMAT registration help and a prep plan with practice sets
- Live German A1 course included (worth ₹14,000)
- Consular Services Portal form filled in with you, plus a mock visa interview
Premium
Two intakes, unlimited applications and support after you land
- Everything in Advantage, plus:
- Unlimited applications across 2 intakes
- Live German A1 + A2 + B1 course included (worth ₹29,500)
- 1:1 dMAT coaching
- Scholarship and education-loan application support
- Arrival support: address registration, bank account, insurance and residence-permit appointment
Secure online payment through Razorpay. All prices in ₹ per student; GST as applicable. Plan terms, including what happens if you change your mind: Terms & Conditions. Third-party fees (APS, dMAT, uni-assist, visa) are not included; see full plan details. Applying only to private universities that work with us? Counselling is free: ask about free counselling.
Applying for masters in Germany: 15 questions Indian students ask
Routes and fees
How do I apply for a master's in Germany from India?
Get your APS certificate, choose your programmes, then apply to each one through uni-assist, the university's own portal, or both with a VPD, depending on the university. After admission, accept your place, enrol and apply for the visa.
What is uni-assist?
A service that checks international applicants' documents for many German universities. It evaluates your documents against each university's criteria and forwards your application if you meet them; the university makes the admission decision.
How much does uni-assist cost?
€75 for the first programme and €30 for each additional programme in the same semester, paid by bank transfer or credit card. A VPD costs the same.
What is a VPD?
A Vorprüfungsdokumentation: a certificate from uni-assist that you upload to the university's own portal when you apply there. It's valid for one year from its date of issue.
Do all German universities use uni-assist?
No. RWTH, KIT and Stuttgart use their own portals; TUM always needs an application in TUMonline, with a VPD where required; TU Dresden generally uses uni-assist for international applicants, with exceptions by programme.
Do German public universities charge an application fee?
Usually only the uni-assist fee, where uni-assist is used. Stuttgart says it charges no application fee, but DAAD notes there is often a fee for the application itself, so check each programme.
Deadlines and timing
What is the deadline for masters in Germany for winter 2027?
It depends on the programme. Typical general deadlines are 15 July for winter and 15 January for summer, but many master's close earlier: RWTH 1 March for non-EU applicants to open-admission programmes, Hamburg's international master's 31 March, TUM Informatics 31 May.
How long does uni-assist take?
Usually 4 to 6 weeks, sometimes longer. uni-assist recommends applying at least 8 weeks before the deadline.
When should I start applying for the winter 2027/28 intake?
Start APS and the dMAT (if you need it) in late 2026, take IELTS by early 2027, and submit from December 2026 to March 2027 for early-deadline programmes, and by May for the rest.
Can I apply before finishing my bachelor's degree?
Often, yes. RWTH says you don't need to have fully completed your bachelor's at the time of application. uni-assist accepts provisional degree certificates from Indian universities or autonomous colleges.
Documents and after admission
Do I need to send certified copies by post?
Usually not. uni-assist applications are fully digital, using scans of official documents, and RWTH asks for no physical documents by post. RWTH, for example, may check your originals when you arrive.
Is the APS certificate required to apply to German universities?
For Indian applicants, almost always. uni-assist asks for the digitally sealed APS certificate, uploaded unchanged, and KIT asks Indian applicants to enclose it.
Can I submit missing documents later?
Only until the application deadline. After the deadline, uni-assist says you can no longer submit documents or make changes.
What happens after I get admission?
Accept your place, apply for enrolment and upload your documents, arrange German health insurance, pay the semester fee, then apply for the visa with your admission letter.
Can Yastudy apply to German universities for me?
We prepare and check everything with you and track every application. Applications are part of our Germany master's plans: 4 reviewed in Essential, up to 10 in Advantage, unlimited in Premium.
About this guide
Who wrote it
The Yastudy Germany Desk: the counsellors who file German master's applications with Indian students every intake, from our Patna, Noida and Bengaluru offices and our team in Freising, Germany.
How we checked the facts
Checked on 11 October 2026 against uni-assist, DAAD, the German Missions in India and the official pages of each university named. Planner buffers other than uni-assist's 8 weeks are our counselling practice.
When we update it
Each December, before the winter application season, and when a university changes its deadlines or route.
Our standards
- We quote deadlines from the university's own page.
- We never promise an admission.
- Spotted something out of date? Email admission@yastudy.com.
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Sources
All checked on 11 October 2026. Where a source has a publication date, it's shown.
- RWTH Aachen University: Master’s application for international applicants (RWTHonline) (Sep 2026)
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology: Application for international master’s students (Oct 2026)
- University of Stuttgart: Application for an international degree programme (C@MPUS)
- uni-assist: Deadlines and processing time (updated 28 Sep 2026)
- RWTH Aachen University: Application and enrollment deadlines (Oct 2026)
- University of Hamburg: Application deadlines and dates
- Technical University of Munich: Informatics M.Sc.: application periods
- uni-assist: Country information: India (APS certificate upload)
- uni-assist: Handling fees (€75 first programme, €30 each additional; same for VPD)
- uni-assist: Status, evaluation, result and admission
- uni-assist: VPD (Vorprüfungsdokumentation)
- Technical University of Munich: Application via uni-assist and the VPD (Jul 2026)
- LMU Munich: Guide to applying for a master’s degree
- University of Mannheim: Application deadlines
- TU Dresden: FAQ for international applicants (May 2025)
- DAAD: Studying in Germany: the application process
- uni-assist: Sending an application (fully digital)
- uni-assist: Educational certificates: official documents
- uni-assist: Apply in 6 steps
- uni-assist: Pay all fees (bank transfer or credit card; warning about unauthorised agencies)
- Technical University of Munich: Enrollment: steps after admission (Jul 2026)
- RWTH Aachen University: Enrollment for international master’s students (Sep 2026)
- German Missions in India: Student visa: information and requirements (16 Feb 2026)
