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Master's & Research · PG Roadmap 2026

Everything you need to study a Master's in Germany
— on a single page.

A step-by-step PG guide for Indian students — from academic eligibility to APS, Anabin, IELTS and the Blocked Account. Curated by OMA Global Academy.

Explore the 6 steps Full Pathway Tools
€0
Public uni tuition
1.0–4.0
German grading
IELTS 6.5
Minimum target
€11,904
Blocked Account / yr
The PG Roadmap

6 steps to your German Master's

Each stage is explained clearly to help you check your eligibility and prepare the right documents.

Step 01

Academic Eligibility

Your degree foundation
  • Recognised degree: Your Bachelor's must be recognised in Germany. Verify your university's status on the Anabin database (look for H+).
  • 4-year degrees (B.Tech / BE): Direct entry to Master's programs. Full access to STEM and professional pathways.
  • 3-year degrees (B.Sc / B.Com / BA): Consecutive Master's in the same subject is possible. Some TU9 universities may ask for additional credit points.
Step 02

Marks & CGPA — The German Grading

How your scores convert
  • Reverse scale: In Germany 1.0 is the highest grade and 4.0 is the pass mark — the opposite of the Indian system.
  • Top universities (TU9): Typically expect 7.5+ CGPA / 70%+ (roughly German grade ~2.5).
  • Modified Bavarian Formula: We use this KMK-approved formula to convert your % into a German grade. Applicants with 50–60% still have options.
Step 03

Language Proficiency

English or German
  • English-taught programs: IELTS 6.5+ (no band below 5.5–6.0) or TOEFL iBT 79–100. German is not mandatory.
  • German-taught programs: C1 level required — TestDaF (TDN 4 in all sections) or DSH-2.
  • Daily life tip: Basic A1/A2 German is very helpful for part-time jobs, banking and your residence permit.
Step 04

Age, Work Experience & Profile

Who can apply
  • No upper age limit: German law sets no maximum age for Master's applicants.
  • Consecutive Master's: No work experience required if you continue in your Bachelor's field.
  • Professional Master's / MBA: Usually 1–2 years of relevant post-graduation experience is required.
Step 05

APS Certificate — Mandatory for India

Document verification
  • What is APS? The Academic Evaluation Centre at the German Embassy, New Delhi verifies the authenticity of your academic documents.
  • Compulsory: For Indian students, the APS certificate is mandatory for both university applications and the student visa.
  • Timeline: It can take 4–8 weeks, so apply 6+ months before your intake. The OMA team handles the entire paperwork for you.
Step 06

Financial Proof — Blocked Account

Funding your studies
  • Tuition fees: €0 at public universities (only a semester contribution of €150–€400) — Germany's biggest advantage.
  • Sperrkonto / Blocked Account: For the visa you must deposit €11,904 / year in a German blocked account. Up to €992 can be withdrawn each month.
  • Provider options: Expatrio, Fintiba, Coracle — OMA students get priority onboarding and the lowest fees.
Important Update

dMAT Requirement for Germany Master's Applicants

APS India has introduced the Digital Master Test (dMAT) as an additional requirement for selected Master's applicants from India. Effective from the Summer Semester 2027 intake onwards.

Exemption Checklist

Tick the boxes that apply to you to find out whether you need to take the dMAT.

What is dMAT?

  • The Digital Master Test (dMAT) is a new standardised academic aptitude test introduced as part of the APS verification process.
  • It measures general academic aptitude — reasoning, analytical thinking, and applied problem-solving — rather than memorised subject knowledge.
  • For the APS process, applicants take the General Academic Module.

Who Needs to Take It?

The dMAT currently applies only to Master's applicants whose bachelor's degree falls under one of these three fields:

  • 1.Engineering (including Computer Science / IT Engineering degrees)
  • 2.Commerce / Accounting / Finance / Economics
  • 3.Business / Management

Not covered: Standalone B.Sc. CS, BCA, IT/Data Science/AI-ML/Cyber Security, B.Sc. Biotechnology, Pharmacy, Architecture, and Agriculture (unless Agricultural Engineering).

Who Is Exempt

Applicants who completed APS online registration or received their APS certificate before 29 June 2026.
Bachelor's applicants (dMAT currently applies only to selected Master's applicants).
Applicants whose previous degree is not in one of the listed fields.

Exemption Rules — Applicant Cases

Exempt

Early APS completers

Rahul registered for APS on 15 Jan 2026 and received his certificate in March. He is applying for Winter 2026 — no dMAT needed.

Exempt

Bachelor's applicants

Priya is applying for a B.Sc. in Computer Science at TU Munich. dMAT only applies to Master's — she is fully exempt.

Exempt

Non-target degree fields

Arjun holds a B.Pharm and wants to do M.Pharm in Germany. Pharmacy is not in the dMAT list — exempt.

Required

Engineering Master's applicant

Sneha has a B.Tech in Civil Engineering and is applying for M.Sc. Structural Engineering for Summer 2027. She must take dMAT.

Required

Commerce → MBA applicant

Karan has a B.Com and wants an MBA at Frankfurt School for Summer 2027. Commerce is a target field — dMAT mandatory.

Required

Business admin → MIM applicant

Neha holds a BBA and is applying for MIM at Mannheim for Summer 2027. Business/Management is covered — dMAT needed.

Process Steps

  1. Select the preferred test centre
  2. Pay the registration fee online
  3. Attend the test at an approved test centre in India (computer-based)
  4. dMAT certificate issued once results are declared

Fees

The dMAT fee is EUR 150 (subject to variation), payable directly during online registration.

Validity

Based on currently available information, the dMAT certificate is intended to remain valid on an ongoing basis once issued.

Test Centres in India

AhmedabadBengaluruBhopalChandigarhChennaiKolkataMananthavadyMumbaiNew DelhiPune

Current dMAT Test Schedule

dMAT Registration is open now & seats are filling fast.

Registration Deadline
10 Sep 2026
Test Date
26 Sep 2026
Results Online
12 Oct 2026

Exam Format

Mode
Computer-based test, conducted in English
Duration
Approximately 3.5 hours (including a break)
Structure
Core Module (cognitive/reasoning) + Subject Module (General Academic Module for APS)
Question Type
All questions are single-choice (MCQ) format
Core Module Covers
Figure sequences, mathematical patterns, general cognitive & reasoning skills
Location
Approved test centres across India

Important Information for Applicants

If your previous degree is in Engineering, Commerce / Finance / Economics, or Business / Management, and you plan to apply for a Master's programme in Germany from the Summer Semester 2027 intake onwards, you should start planning for the dMAT now. Registration, preparation, and obtaining the dMAT certificate all take time. Additionally, if you intend to apply to a German public university, your previous university must be H+ recognised on the Anabin database before proceeding with the application.

Frequently Asked Questions

Quick Reference

Applicant Checklist 2026

Degree Type
Recognised Bachelor's (3 or 4 yrs) matching the Master's discipline
Marks / CGPA
Competitive: 7.5+ CGPA (~German 2.5) · Minimum: 50%+ (~German 4.0)
English Pathway
IELTS 6.5 · TOEFL iBT 79–100
German Pathway
TestDaF TDN 4 · DSH-2 · C1 level
Age Limit
None
Financial Proof
€11,904 / year in a Blocked Account (Sperrkonto)
Mandatory for India
APS Certificate (Embassy, New Delhi)
Important Terminology

Know these 3 terms

Anabin

Anerkennung und Bewertung ausländischer Bildungsnachweise

The German government's official database. Check whether your Indian university holds H+ status — H+ means full recognition.

KMK

Kultusministerkonferenz

The council of education ministers from Germany's 16 states. It decides foreign-degree equivalence through ZAB.

Modified Bavarian Formula

G = 1 + 3 × (Nmax − N) / (Nmax − Nmin)

The standard formula Uni-Assist uses to convert your Indian % / CGPA into the German 1.0–4.0 scale.

Does your profile match a German Master's?

OMA Global Academy's Germany experts will review your CGPA, subject background and language level to suggest the best-fit universities — completely free.

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