A Comprehensive Guide to the APS Certificate
APS Certificate
APS Certificate: Your First Step to German Higher Education
Germany is a popular study abroad destination and studying Germany is a dream for many students around the world. However, since 2022, things have changed drastically. To make this Germany dream a reality, you need the APS Certificate.
APS Certificate is mandatory for graduate and masters programs in Germany from the end of 2022. But what exactly is an APS certification, and why is it so important for studying in Germany? In the following sections we will know more on the APS certification, its application process and why it is essential for certain courses.
Understanding the APS Certificate
The APS Certificate, or the Academic Evaluation Centre Certificate, is a document that verifies the authenticity of your academic qualifications. It is mandatory for students from certain countries who wish to pursue higher education in Germany. The certificate ensures that your academic credentials meet the standards required by German universities. Academic Evaluation Centre or Akademische Prüfstelle (APS) is the authority to issue the APS certificate for the German Government.
Why is it Mandatory for Graduate and Masters Courses?
The APS Certificate is required for graduate and masters courses to ensure that students have the necessary academic background and qualifications as required by German institutions. This is particularly important for courses that have high academic standards and require a strong foundation in the subject matter.
The APS Certification Application Process
The application for APS Certification involves several steps. Here’s a detailed step-by-step guide for you to familiarise the process:
- Gather Required Documents: Collect all necessary documents, including your academic transcripts, degree certificates, and passport copies.
- Online Application: Fill out the application form and submit it along with the required documents to the APS office.
- Pay the Fee: Pay the application fee as specified by the APS office.
- Submit the Application: The printed application form along with the payment receipt and other documents should be submitted to the APS authority.
- Verification and Interview: Some applicants may be required to attend an interview to verify their academic qualifications.
- Receive the Certificate: Once your application is processed and approved, you will receive your APS Certificate.
Required Documents and Their Significance
As the sole purpose of the APS certification is to authenticate your documents, you need to make sure all the relevant documents are included. The documents required for the APS Certificate application are crucial as they provide proof of your academic qualifications. These typically include:
- 10th certificate
- 12th certificate
- Academic transcripts
- Degree certificates
- Passport copies
- Any other relevant documents
Fill Your APS Certificate Application Form
Before proceeding to apply, you will need to be ready with two things as prerequisites.
Make sure you have a scanned copy of your passport size photo which is under 30kb.
Be ready with the verification charge of ₹18,000 in your account, if you are paying it online.
Starting an Account in APS Portal
The application process starts by opening the APS India website application portal at the link.
You need to create an account by providing minimal information like username and setting a new password.
Enter Personal Information including Basic Education
In the next section you will have to enter your personal details first. This includes the passport size photograph you have kept ready. Be extra careful when you enter your email address as it is the only medium of future communication between you and the APS authority. You need to enter details of schooling and any diploma you have done also in this section.
Enter Education Details
In the next section, you have to enter your higher education details, particularly graduation and masters. While entering the education details, you may need to provide your college ID and reference email address. These details will help in faster verification. However, you have to make sure the email address is an official one ending with .edu.in or .ac.in. These details are not mandatory, but in that case you can expect a call back from the verification team to confirm some of your details.
Enter Test Details (for Graduate Candidates only)
The next section is for those who are applying for graduation. Masters applicants can skip this section. In this section you need to enter the marks for your core test and the subject specific test. You also need to enter the details like the field you chose and the time you did it.
Enter Language Details
You have to enter language details in the next section. Here you will see three options, English, German and English & German. Even though language certificates like IELTS and GOETHE are not mandatory for APS certification, GOETHE is mandatory for studying graduation and masters in Germany. So, you may share these details or choose not to share for now. The APS Certificate will be issued if all other requirements are fulfilled.
Payment of APS Certificate Verification Fee
Then we come to the payment section. You can pay online or offline through bank transfer or DD. Choosing to pay online would be better for you in terms of convenience and speed of processing. However, if you choose to go offline, here are the details.
Bank details for transferring the APS Certificate fees in INR is as follows:
Account Name: Embassy of Federal Republic of Germany – Wiss
Account Number: 0946426766
Name of Bank : Kotak Mahindra Bank
IFSC Code : KKBK0000182
Coming to online payment, CCAvenue is the medium of online payment. After entering your billing information, you may choose credit /debit cards, internet banking, UPI or even wallets. Select the one according to your convenience.
After completing the payment, you can login with your username and password to view the payment status in the Payment Details section. Here you can see the payment status as completed. In the Application Download section below it, you can download the application. A print out of this document is required to complete the APS Certificate application process.
Submitting the Application
Once you are done with the payment and online application, take the printout of the application and receipt of the payment. If you paid using UPI or wallets, a screenshot of the payment details with the transaction ID will also do. Sign the application form, attach the payment receipt and documents and send it to the APS India office via post. Remember, direct handing over of the application documents is not entertained.
The postal address of APS India is as follows:
APS India,
Gate No. 3, DLTA Complex,
R.K. Khanna Stadium, 1 Africa Avenue,
110029 New Delhi, India
Verification and Interview
Once you submit the application documents, the verification process starts. Earlier it used to take 4 to 6 weeks to complete. However, recently the verification process has become faster. Several applicants have claimed their APS Certificate verification process has completed within two weeks.
During this verification process some candidates may receive an email from the APS authority asking for additional information or clarification. So, make sure to check your email inbox regularly during the period of verification.
Please be careful not to email the APS authority to their official email address. Wait patiently as the verification process may take up to 6 weeks to complete. Contacting mailing to the APS authority official email address can result in blocking your contact and thereby closing the only medium of communication.
The APS Certificate
After the verification process, you will receive your APS Certificate via registered email. Even though soft copy can work for most of the cases, you should take the print out also. The APS certification is only one of the mandatory requirements to study in Germany. You will also need to work on mandatory requirements such as GOETHE scores, a blocked account and other legal compliances.
Important Tips and Considerations
If you are preparing for APS certification, there are some things to keep in mind.
Start early
Make sure to double-check all the documents
Read and adhere to the instructions
Timeline for APS Certificate Processing
The time taken for the APS Certificate processing can vary. Generally, it used to take a few weeks up to 6. Factors affecting the processing time include the volume of applications and the completeness of your submitted documents.
Exemptions from the APS Certificate
Certain programs and universities may exempt students from the APS Certificate requirement. These exemptions are usually based on specific conditions, such as the type of course or the student’s academic background. It’s essential to check with the university or program you are applying to for any exemptions.