If you plan a Master’s in Germany, you already know the APS certificate: the check of your Indian academic documents that the German embassy expects with a student visa application. In 2026, APS India added a new element to that check, the dMAT. This post explains what it is and what it means for your timeline.
What is the dMAT?
The dMAT (Digitaler Mastertest) is a computer-based test of study aptitude for Master’s applicants. It is run by g.a.s.t., the German society that also runs TestDaF, and was developed with German universities and the support of the DAAD. You take it at a g.a.s.t. test centre.
It has two parts. The Core Module has three subtests that measure reasoning: Figure Sequences, Mathematical Equations and Latin Squares. The Subject Module for Indian applicants is the General Academic Module, with single-choice questions on short academic texts in English. The whole sitting lasts about three and a half hours with a break between the modules.
Who has to take it?
APS India states that the dMAT is required for APS applications that relate to the summer semester 2027 intake and later, for Master’s applicants in the fields it lists. You do not need it if:
- you already hold an APS certificate;
- you registered online with APS India or posted your documents before 29 June 2026;
- you are applying for a Bachelor’s or a PhD, or your subject is not on the APS list;
- you join an officially confirmed exchange, double-degree or partnership programme.
The first dMAT certificates are not meant for the winter semester 2026/27 intake.
Fee, centres and dates
Seats are allocated first come, first served, and APS India cannot reserve a seat for you. Book as soon as registration opens for the sitting you need.
How the result is used
Your certificate shows a dMAT score from 0 to 200 for each module, where 100 is the average, plus a percentile rank and a total score. It does not expire. The dMAT result is printed on your APS certificate, and APS India issues the APS certificate only after it has received and checked your dMAT certificate. APS India also states that a low score does not on its own lead to a refusal of the APS certificate. Universities decide for themselves how to use the score, and some, such as RWTH Aachen and the University of Göttingen, use subject modules for particular programmes.
How to plan your timeline
- Pick your intake. For the winter semester 2027/28, most applications open between December and spring, so aim for the January or March 2027 sitting.
- Register for the dMAT early. You may submit your APS documents before the dMAT certificate is ready, but you cannot add other academic documents to the same APS procedure later, so send a complete file.
- Prepare for six to eight weeks. The Core subtests reward a fixed method more than raw speed. Learn one routine per subtest, then practise under time pressure.
- Keep the visa in view. APS, the blocked account and the visa appointment all take weeks. Do not let the dMAT become the step that delays them.
Our free dMAT mock test has timed Core and Academic practice, worked solutions and an 8-week plan. It is an independent practice tool, so also work through the official preparation material on d-mat.de.
Quick answers
Is the dMAT mandatory for Indian students?
For APS applications relating to the summer semester 2027 intake and later, APS India requires the dMAT for Master’s applicants in the fields it lists. Applicants who already hold an APS certificate or registered before 29 June 2026 are exempt, as are Bachelor’s and PhD applicants.
How much does the dMAT cost?
The fee is €150, paid to g.a.s.t. during registration.
What is a good dMAT score?
There is no pass mark. Scores run from 0 to 200 per module with an average of 100, and each university decides how to use them. APS India states that a low score does not by itself lead to refusal of the APS certificate.
