Germany Adds dMAT Test to APS Process for Indian Masters Applicants From Summer 2027

APS India rolled out the Digital Master Test (dMAT) on June 29, 2026. The rule hits Indian Master’s applicants targeting Germany’s summer 2027 intake. Bachelor’s degrees in Engineering, Commerce, Finance, Economics or Business trigger the requirement. The €150 test adds to existing APS documents, not replacing them.

• Indian Master’s applicants for summer 2027 face the new APS rule. It applies only to Bachelor’s degrees in Engineering, Commerce or Business fields.
• The dMAT costs €150, or ₹16,376 at ₹109 per Euro (July 2026). The 3.5-hour computer test runs on September 26, 2026.
• Applicants registered with APS before June 29, 2026 are exempt. Exchange and partnership-programme students also skip the dMAT, per g.a.s.t.

The dMAT is administered by g.a.s.t., the German body behind TestDaF. APS India remains the verifier of academic records. The Core Module tests general cognitive skills across three subtests. The Subject Module currently offers one General Academic paper. All items are single-choice questions in English.

Also Read: APS Certificate Germany

Who Must Take the dMAT for Summer 2027

The dMAT does not apply to every Indian Master’s applicant. Bachelor’s degrees in three subject clusters trigger the new requirement. Applicants outside these clusters continue on the standard APS route.

Applicants must weave dMAT registration into their APS timeline. The g.a.s.t. portal handles the test booking, not APS India. The APS certificate will then reference the dMAT score. This layers on top of the Germany 70 percent rule already tightening the pipeline.

dMAT Test Format and 3.5 Hour Duration

The dMAT runs as a computer-based single-choice test. It has two modules stacked in one sitting. Total test time is 3.5 hours with one break between modules.

• Core Module: Three subtests measuring general cognitive and analytical skills.
• Subject Module: One General Academic paper testing applied problem solving.
• Test language: English for all subject modules and instructions.

The exam pattern favours transfer skills over memorised facts. Questions carry a single correct answer. All results feed into one certificate issued by the dMAT board.

dMAT Registration Dates and Fee for Indian Applicants

The 2026 test cycle runs on a fixed schedule. Missing any window pushes the applicant to the next cycle. That risks the entire summer 2027 admission.

The next dMAT cycle will follow later in 2027. Applicants who miss September 26 cannot apply for summer 2027. Most German universities close their intake before the following test date.

dMAT Test Centres Across India

The g.a.s.t. body operates ten Indian test centres this cycle. Centre selection happens during registration.

• New Delhi
• Mumbai
• Bengaluru
• Chennai
• Kolkata
• Pune
• Ahmedabad
• Bhopal
• Chandigarh
• Mananthavady

Applicants outside these ten cities must travel to the nearest venue. There is no online remote-proctoring option for the dMAT. Test centre availability may cap per city, so early registration secures a preferred slot.

How Do Indian Students Register for the dMAT?

Registration runs entirely through the g.a.s.t. portal at d-mat.de. APS India does not handle the booking. The steps below apply to all Indian applicants.

1. Confirm your Bachelor’s field falls under Engineering, Commerce or Business.
2. Open the registration page at d-mat.de/en/registration.
3. Complete the form before September 15, 2026.
4. Pay the €150 fee online in Euros.
5. Select a test centre from the ten Indian cities.
6. Download the admit ticket ahead of the test date.
7. Sit the test on September 26, 2026.
8. Collect your certificate on October 12, 2026.
9. Submit the dMAT certificate along with APS documents.

Applicants without an APS registration should complete APS enrolment first. The dMAT certificate feeds into the APS file, not the reverse. Read the full how to apply to German universities guide for the wider admission sequence.

Indian applicants targeting summer 2027 in Germany now have a fixed window. The September 15, 2026 registration deadline is the first hard checkpoint. Miss it, and the entire APS file stays incomplete. Summer 2027 admission offers open only once at each German university.

Action Plan for Indian Masters Applicants

1. Check if your Bachelor’s field triggers dMAT (Engineering, Commerce, Finance, Economics, Business, Management).
2. Register on d-mat.de before September 15, 2026.
3. Pay the €150 fee (₹16,376) online.
4. Pick a test centre from the ten Indian cities.
5. Prepare for the 3.5-hour single-choice computer test.
6. Sit the dMAT on September 26, 2026.
7. Collect the certificate on October 12, 2026 and file it with APS.