All About APS Certificate: How I Got My APS Certificate in 3 Weeks - The Ultimate Guide

Welcome aboard, fellow Grad Voyager!

Discover all you need to know about APS Certificate and the process to obtain one for studying in Germany. The Academic Evaluation Centre (Akademische Prüfstelle) at the German Embassy in New Delhi handles APS applications for students. Once successfully approved, the APS certificate confirms the authenticity of your documents and makes you eligible to study in Germany. Since November 2022, the APS certificate has become an important document for aspiring students from India. In this guide, I will share my personal experience of obtaining the APS certificate in just 3 weeks, along with valuable tips and a detailed timeline.

What is APS?

APS stands for "Akademische Prüfstelle" or the Academic Evaluation Centre. It is a crucial requirement for students applying to study in Germany from certain countries, including India. APS India issues the APS certificate (e-certificate), which validates the authenticity of your documents, making you eligible to apply for a German student visa and admission to German universities.

Steps to Obtain APS Certificate:

1.     Start by visiting the APS India website, fill in your details, ensure all details are accurate and pay the Rs 18,000 fee.

(Tip: Remember to use CC Avenue for faster confirmation. Provide your bachelor professor's email id, which will be helpful during verification.)

2.     After successful registration, download the application form from the portal.

3.     Collect all necessary documents for APS verification, including:

·       Student Authorization Letter

·       Passport Size Photo

·       Signed Application Form (Sign at the bottom on all the pages)

·       Fee Transfer Receipt (CCAvenue–you will get it through the mail, print the mail)

·       Passport Information and Address Page (First and last page)

·       Aadhar Card with linked mobile number

·       12th Marks Card and Certificate

·       All Semester Grade Reports/ Marks Cards

·       Degree Certificate/Provisional Degree Certificate/Course Completion Certificate

·       Language Certificates (English and/or German)

Refer to the official checklist HERE. 

Tips for Document Preparation:

o   Take colored photocopies of all documents

o   Use a paper clip to attach the passport-sized photo

o   Arrange documents according to the provided checklist

o   Make photocopies of both sides if any document has information on both sides.

***DO NOT SEND THE ORIGINAL DOCUMENTS***

4.     Send documents to APS India at the specified address using reliable courier services like Bluedart or DHL. Keep track of the courier to ensure safe delivery.

APS Address: Gate No. 3, DLTA Complex, R.K. Khanna Stadium, 1 Africa Avenue, 110029 New Delhi, India

5.     Wait for a Verification Call: Expect a call from APS India's contact number +91 11 6646 5580 (save the number) for verification. Ensure you pick up the call promptly to avoid delays. For more information regarding this click here.

 

Note: Do not call the above number as it will redirect to a voice message, contact APS through contact us on their official website or info@aps-india.de.

What happens when you get a call from APS?

Please make sure to pick up the call from APS India, as not picking up could delay your APS verification process. Once you get the call, a staff member from APS India will ask you to cross-check your details. 

It's crucial to inform your bachelor's professor about the APS verification call. APS India might send an email to your professor for verification purposes, and your professor's prompt response will expedite the process.

After successfully completing the verification call and ensuring all instructions are followed diligently, you can expect to receive the APS e-certificate (click on it and scroll down to see how the APS e-certificate looks) via email the next day.

Now that you have got APS, apply to universities and once you get your admission letter, apply for a visa. (Stay tuned for my upcoming blog post on student visa )

(Tip: If you've already received your university admission letter but are yet to receive the APS certificate, consider contacting the university. The university can send the necessary details to APS India, expediting the process.)

My Experience: Obtaining APS Certificate in 3 Weeks

Here's a timeline of my journey to obtain the APS certificate:

• June 22, 2023: Applied and paid the APS application fee through CCAvenue.
• June 23, 2023: Sent all the required documents via Bluedart, incurring a cost of Rs 500.
• June 26, 2023: The documents reached APS India.
• July 11, 2023: Received the verification call from APS India.
• July 12, 2023: Finally, my APS e-certificate arrived in my inbox.

·       The whole process took 21 days, which amounts to exactly 3 weeks.

To ensure a smooth application process, I acted promptly upon receiving my 8th-semester results. I didn't wait for the provisional degree certificate; instead, I applied for the course completion certificate. With the course completion certificate and my provisional 8th-semester marks card in hand, I applied for the APS certificate on their website and made the payment via CCAvenue.

On June 23rd, I dispatched all the necessary documents to APS India using Bluedart. Meanwhile, I received my university admission letter, and upon their request, I immediately provided my details to the university, which they forwarded to APS India. This proactive approach helped speed up the verification process.

On July 11th, APS India contacted me for verification and asked me to inform my bachelor's professor. Fortunately, my professor promptly replied to the APS email, further expediting the process.

Just one day after the verification call, on July 12th, I received my precious APS e-certificate, officially confirming my eligibility to study in Germany.

Overall, the experience was undoubtedly stressful, but my advice is to follow each step diligently and proactively. If you're in the winter semester and haven't received your university admission letter yet, I highly recommend reaching out to the university to provide your details, which can help expedite the process.

The APS certificate is a vital step for students planning to study in Germany from certain countries. With proper guidance and accurate document preparation, you can successfully obtain your APS certificate and embark on your academic journey in Germany. I hope my experience and tips will help you navigate the APS process smoothly. If you have any questions or need further assistance, feel free to reach out. Good luck with your APS journey!

For more info on Master's in Germany check THIS out.

For more info on How to find the right university check THIS out.

Keep exploring, GradVoyagers. The journey awaits!