Documents Required for Germany Universities

Studying in Germany is a dream of many Indian students, given that its public universities are totally free and even after graduation, there are various job opportunities in the country. However, the conversion of this dream into reality goes through a rigorous screening and assessment. To strengthen their grounds, students must work on the documents required for German universities’ admissions. 

There are over 423 state-recognised universities in Germany, and out of these, over 180 accept applications via Uni-assist which is a third-party intermediary agency that accepts applications from these universities’ behalf and verifies the educational and professional qualifications of applicants before sharing these applications with the universities. On the other hand, the rest of the German Universities accept international applications either via their own direct university portals or specialised federal platforms. Whichever is their way of accepting the applications, one thing remains the same and that is - the documents.

Without the right set of documents submitted to support your application, you cannot get through the application screening process. German universities are very particular in what documents they need and in what format they need them. Some students are even asked to get their documents translated if their academic transcripts and other application documents are not in the language that the universities in Germany accept. 

So, read this entire article in which we have compiled the complete list of documents required for universities in Germany and also the format in which they’re desired. And as a special case, we will also discuss about assembling the documents. 

The Complete List of Documents Required for German Universities

The documents required when you apply via Uni-assist or directly via the university’s admission portal are the same. It’s the way you describe your competencies in the SOP & application form and the list of documents you submit in the right format that matter and make you different from other applicants. But many students don’t even pass the application round due to incomplete and incorrect forms of submitted documents. In this section, we will see the complete list of documents required by German universities as per the official website of Uni-assist for international students. We will explain these documents and the right format & language to submit them in the upcoming sections. Thus, the list of documents required for applying to German universities is given below- 

1. All your educational certificates

2. Language Certificates

3. Translations

4. Other Documents

Educational Certificates Required for German Universities

Educational certificates form the basis of your application. Because the German universities evaluate qualifications based on total cumulative years of education and European Credit Transfer (ECTS) equivalents.

German universities require proof that you have completed at least 13 years of school education for admission to undergraduate programs and a minimum of 15 to 16 years of total education for admission to the postgraduate programs. Since India’s standard school system provides 12 years of education, there’s a gap of 1-year of education. Filling this gap is the primary concern for most Indian students going for the UG programs in Germany. So, below we have listed each academic certificate required for German Universities and if there is a lag in your case as an Indian student, then, how you can fulfil it. 

1. For a bachelor’s or Staatsexamen course

Students, like Indian students, who are not prepared linguistically or who have less than 13 years of education, need to attend a Studienkolleg, which is a one-year course that prepares students academically and linguistically for studying in Germany. And post-completing the Studienkolleg, Indian students also do not need to take the language proficiency exams. Indian students who have just graduated from school, also need to submit the fol. Documents:

1. School leaving certificate for all subjects and grades

2. Info on the grading system used in their school

3. JEE Exam scores, if taken

4. APS certificate

According to Uni-assist, your certificates must be official, meaning they bear a signature and stamp from the issuing institution, a reference to their automatic issuance, or a verification code.

Also, Uni-assist needs an official document on your school's or university's grading system, such as the examination regulations. You also need to document your education in detail and additionally, you must upload your digitally sealed APS certificate as an unchanged, original file to your My Assist account.

2. For a master's program

For postgraduate admissions, the total educational requirement rises to 15-16 years, which typically means Indian students need a completed three- or four-year bachelor's degree (on top of 12 years of schooling) to qualify. For this, Uni-assist recommends that documentation should run continuously: starting with your school leaving certificate and continuing through your degree-level transcripts, so the university can see the complete educational pathway. Also, you must always submit your school leaving certificate from after completing class 12th and the certificate proving that you passed your university entrance exam as well.

Language Certificates Required for German Universities

Since most German degree programs are taught in German, and a smaller number are taught in English, every applicant needs to prove proficiency in whichever language their chosen course is taught in. However, some proficiency in German language may still be required. So, because requirements differ by university and course, you must find out from each university of your choice that what proof of proficiency in German is accepted and which level of proficiency is required. Below we will see what proofs of English and German are generally accepted in Germany. 

1. Proof of English Language Proficiency

If you are applying to an English-taught program, Uni-assist accepts a few different categories of proof, such as by means of taking standard English tests or proving that your previous entire education was in English. Here is what all can be accepted:

• English language tests: Internationally recognised proficiency exams like IELTS and TOEFL with minimum scores of 6.5 and 80-100 respectively are required. 

• Cambridge English certificates: The online Cambridge English language certificates - FCE, CAE and CPE are accepted by uni-assist but only a few universities in Germany accept it.

• Proof that English was the language of instruction in Previous Qualifications: If your prior degree was taught in English, Uni-assist allows you to prove this through a degree certificate or transcript of records confirming that English was the language of instruction during your studies - written confirmation from your university to that effect.

2. Proof of German Language Proficiency

For German-taught programs and sometimes even for English-taught ones, you will need to prove German proficiency at the level your chosen university specifies. For that purpose, TestDaF and DSH are usually accepted by universities as proof of proficiency in German. But if you are only beginning to learn German, Uni-assist also recognises documentation that confirms that you have taken, or are currently taking, a language class as a supporting document.

Other Documents German Universities May Require

Beyond educational and language certificates, Uni-assist lists a category of supplementary documents that some universities ask for, depending on course and level you're applying to. These documents are - 

1. Updated CV: Required by some unis., a CV without any omissions, current up to the date of application, listing everything you have done up until now must be presented.

2. Proof of enrolment or exmatriculation: This applies even to students who have already graduated. Uni-assist notes you may have to upload an "Exmatrikulations-Bescheinigung" even if you have completed your studies.

3. Proof of internship or work experience: Certain programs, especially professional or vocational ones, require this. If the original certificate is not in German or English, Uni-assist requires that you upload an additional certified translation into German or English.

4. TestAS scores: This is a standardised aptitude test which assesses and documents your qualification for university studies.

5. GMAT or GRE scores: Usually required for for economics and business courses.

6. Portfolio or work samples: Required for creative and design-oriented programs in the fields of art or architecture.

7. Motivation letter / Statement of Purpose: Not confirmed ny Uni-assist, but many universities in Germany may still ask for this.

Translations of Documents: A Critical Format Requirement

This is one of the most overlooked steps by Indian applicants, and it can single-handedly delay or derail an otherwise strong application. You must upload your education certificates in their original language - accompanied by a translation into German or English and this also applies to the overview of subjects and grades, i.e., your transcript. If your country issues your education certificates in German or English, no translation is needed.

For Indian students, since school and university certificates are usually issued in English already, a separate translation is often unnecessary - but it is worth double-checking that every document, including mark sheets, the grading-scale letter and the APS certificate, is genuinely in English and not partly in a regional language.

However, if you get the need to translate your documents, then only a few responsible sources are allowed to do it like the persons or institutions authorised to make translations under oath or admissible in court, or a department of the issuing school or university authorised to issue such translations. Uni-assist does not accept non-certified translations from standard translation agencies. So, the original and the translated documents must be either certified by the issuing institutions, such as schools, universities, or language schools; the ministry of education in your country of origin; the department of cultural affairs of the embassy of the country in which the certificate was issued; and public authorities and notaries authorised to supply official certifications in your country of origin.

This was all about the documents required for German Universities by Indian students. If you hae any doubts, please feel free to post your queries in the comments section below. Also, if you wish to study in Germany, then you must reach out for Shiksha’s Counselling Services for free.