Do I need to do APS for both my bachelor's and master's degrees in Germany?
It depends on where you earned your degrees, not on your nationality. If your bachelor's came from India, China, or Vietnam, you need one APS certificate covering your entire academic trail for your master's application, but if it was earned elsewhere, you are exempt, and PhD applicants never need APS.
Whether you need an APS certificate for both degrees depends entirely on where you earned them, not on how many degrees you hold. You only need this verification if your relevant qualifications came from a country where the APS procedure is mandatory, such as India, China, or Vietnam.
APS Requirement by Scenario
| Scenario | APS Required? | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Bachelor's and Master's both from India, China, or Vietnam | Yes, once | A single comprehensive APS verification covers your school marks and bachelor's transcripts for your master's application |
| Bachelor's from India, China, or Vietnam, Master's elsewhere | Yes | APS verifies your bachelor's-level entrance qualification regardless of where you study next |
| Bachelor's earned outside India, China, or Vietnam | No | The requirement follows the country of your degree, not your nationality |
| Applying directly for a PhD | No | APS is not required for doctoral applicants, regardless of origin |
Important Points to Remember
- An old APS certificate from a previous bachelor's application cannot be reused for your master's, since verification is tied to the specific degree level.
- Students who already hold a degree from a recognized German university are typically exempt from APS.
- The requirement is based on where you studied, so an Indian citizen who did their bachelor's in the UK or an EU country is exempt.
My Advice
Start your APS application the moment you shortlist German master's programs, since the verification process and interview scheduling can take several weeks and it needs to be done well before most application deadlines.
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