Who needs to take the dMAT exam for a German Master's application in 2026-27?

The dMAT applies to you only if all of the following are true at once. If even one does not apply, you likely fall into one of the exemption categories instead, so it is worth checking every condition rather than stopping at the first.

The five conditions that trigger the dMAT

You must be applying for a Master's program (not Bachelor's or PhD); your target intake must be Summer Semester 2027 or later, since Winter 2026/27 is not affected; your undergraduate degree must fall under Engineering, Commerce/Accounting/Finance/Economics, or Business/Management; your APS process must have started on or after 29 June 2026; and you must not be on an officially confirmed exchange, double-degree, or university-partnership program.

Why you should check all five together

If any one of these does not apply to you, you likely fall into one of the exemption categories. The conditions work together, so a single mismatch, such as an earlier APS start date or a Winter intake, can take you out of the requirement entirely.

My Advice

Run through these five conditions in order, not in isolation. Students consistently focus on the field question alone and forget to check their intake and APS start date, which are just as decisive. Five minutes spent checking all five conditions now saves weeks of confusion later.