Digital Master Test (dMAT) for selected Master’s applicants in India
Published on: 29 June 2026 · Last updated: 13 July 2026
APS India would like to inform applicants about the upcoming introduction of the Digital Master Test (dMAT) as an additional element in the APS documentation for selected groups of Master’s applicants in India.
The dMAT is a standardized academic aptitude test for Master’s applicants. It is being introduced step by step as an additional element in the APS documentation for selected applicant groups. This allows APS India and g.a.s.t. to implement the new procedure in a structured manner.
Affected fields
- Engineering
- Commerce / Accounting / Finance / Economics
- Business / Management
First dMAT test date
26 September 2026
Registration starts on 29 June 2026.
Responsibility
The dMAT is administered by g.a.s.t. APS India remains responsible for APS document verification.
Who is affected?
The dMAT will apply to Master’s applicants whose previous degree falls within one of the following fields:
- Engineering
- Commerce / Accounting / Finance / Economics
- Business / Management
The official list of affected study fields is available here:
dMAT – Affected Fields List
For applicants in these fields, the dMAT is a required part of the APS documentation for applications relating to the summer semester 2027 intake and subsequent intakes, unless a transitional exemption applies.
Applicants are exempt from the dMAT requirement if they completed their APS online registration before 29 June 2026 or if they shipped their complete APS application documents before 29 June 2026.
Applicants who have already completed the APS procedure and have received their APS certificate are not required to take the dMAT for that completed APS procedure.
Applicants who completed their APS online registration on or after 29 June 2026 and shipped their APS application documents on or after 29 June 2026 are required to submit a dMAT certificate, provided that their previous degree falls within one of the affected fields and their application relates to the Summer Semester 2027 Master intake or a later Master intake. They may submit their APS application documents before the dMAT certificate is available. APS India can only issue the APS certificate after the required dMAT certificate has been submitted and the dMAT result has been checked against the information provided by g.a.s.t.
Responsibilities
APS India is not responsible for the administration of the dMAT. This task is assigned to the Society for Academic Study Preparation and Test Development – Gesellschaft für Akademische Studienvorbereitung und Testentwicklung e.V. (g.a.s.t.).
Applicants who take the dMAT will receive a separate dMAT certificate issued by g.a.s.t. This certificate will form part of the applicant’s APS documentation, and the dMAT result will be reflected on the APS certificate.
The dMAT is an additional element in the APS documentation. It does not replace APS document verification. APS India will continue to verify the authenticity and formal plausibility of academic documents in accordance with the existing APS procedure.
Recognition and anabin
The dMAT does not replace the formal recognition of a university degree or the assessment of higher education entrance requirements. Applicants are strongly advised to check the status of their previous higher education institution and degree in anabin before registering for the dMAT and before submitting their APS application.
Current schedule
- 29 June 2026 – Registration starts
- 15 September 2026 – Registration deadline
- 26 September 2026 – dMAT test date
- 12 October 2026 – Certificate available online via the test takers’ portal of g.a.s.t.
Test centers
The test will be offered in selected licensed test centers throughout India, including test centers in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Kolkata, Mananthavady, Mumbai, New Delhi and Pune. The final list of test centers will be shown during registration.
Registration, payment, test center booking, technical information and certificate provision will be handled by g.a.s.t.
Further operational details will be published on the dMAT website:
https://www.d-mat.de/en/dmat-in-india/
FAQ – dMAT for Master’s applicants in India
A. Scope and requirement
Who has to take the dMAT?
The dMAT applies to selected groups of Master’s applicants from India whose previous degree falls within one of the following fields:
- Engineering
- Commerce / Accounting / Finance / Economics
- Business / Management
For applicants in these fields, the dMAT is a required part of the APS documentation for applications relating to the summer semester 2027 intake and subsequent intakes.
Which applicants are not affected?
The following applicants are not required to take the dMAT under the current procedure:
- students applying for Bachelor’s programs in Germany
- Bachelor students who have not yet completed at least 5 semesters in a 3-year program or at least 7 semesters in a 4-year program
- PhD applicants
- applicants whose previous degree does not fall within one of the selected fields
- applicants participating in officially confirmed exchange, double-degree or university partnership programs
I studied a related or mixed subject. How do I know whether I am affected?
Some degree programs may fall between different subject areas, for example Engineering Management, Business Analytics, Industrial Engineering, Data Science, Financial Technology or similar interdisciplinary programs.
The final classification will be based on the official list of affected study fields published by APS India. Please refer to the list here:
dMAT – Affected Fields List
If your degree program is listed as one of the affected fields, you are required to take the dMAT for applications relating to the summer semester 2027 intake and subsequent intakes.
Is the dMAT mandatory?
Yes. For applicants in the selected fields, the dMAT is required for APS applications relating to the summer semester 2027 intake and subsequent intakes.
The dMAT certificate is a required part of the APS documentation. Applicants may submit their APS application documents before the dMAT certificate is available. APS India can only complete the APS procedure and issue the APS certificate after the required dMAT certificate has been submitted and the dMAT result has been checked against the information provided by g.a.s.t.
Can I submit my APS documents before taking the dMAT or before receiving the dMAT certificate?
Yes. If the dMAT requirement applies to your applicant group, the dMAT certificate is a required part of your APS documentation. However, applicants for the Summer Semester 2027 Master intake or later Master intakes may submit their APS application documents before the dMAT certificate is available.
APS India may begin the document verification and plausibility check on the basis of the submitted APS documents. This may help avoid delays in cases with tight university application deadlines, since the verification of the other APS documents can already be carried out in advance where possible.
This does not mean that the APS procedure has been completed. The APS certificate can only be issued after the required dMAT certificate has been submitted and the dMAT result has been checked against the information provided by g.a.s.t.
This option applies only to the dMAT certificate. All other required APS application documents must be submitted according to the applicable APS checklist. Applicants must therefore make sure that all required academic qualification documents are included in their initial APS submission. Additional or updated academic qualification documents cannot be submitted later together with the dMAT certificate for the same APS procedure.
The dMAT does not replace the APS document verification process, formal recognition requirements, anabin, or the admission decision of the German higher education institution.
I completed my APS online registration before 29 June 2026, but I have not yet shipped my documents. Do I still need to take the dMAT?
No. Applicants who completed their APS online registration before 29 June 2026 are exempt from the dMAT requirement for that APS procedure.
This exemption applies even if the hardcopy APS application documents are shipped after 29 June 2026.
If a new APS application is submitted at a later stage, the rules applicable at the time of the new application will apply.
I shipped my APS documents before 29 June 2026. Do I still need to take the dMAT?
No. Applicants who shipped their complete APS application documents before 29 June 2026 are exempt from the dMAT requirement for that APS procedure.
This applies even if the APS verification is still ongoing and no APS certificate has been issued yet.
Applicants should be able to provide proof of shipment if requested.
I have already received my APS certificate. Do I still need to take the dMAT?
No. Applicants who have already completed the APS procedure and have received their APS certificate are not required to take the dMAT for that completed APS procedure.
If a new APS application is submitted at a later stage, the rules applicable at the time of the new application will apply.
I am applying for the winter semester 2026/27 Master intake. Do I have to take the dMAT?
The first dMAT certificates will be available from 12 October 2026. The dMAT introduction is therefore intended for applications in connection with the summer semester 2027 Master intake and subsequent intakes.
B. Exemptions
I am applying through an exchange program, double-degree program or university partnership program. Do I have to take the dMAT?
Applicants participating in officially confirmed exchange programs, double-degree programs or university partnership programs are exempt from the dMAT requirement.
Please submit the relevant confirmation from your home institution, the German partner institution or the program coordinator, including your group number, together with your APS documentation.
C. Recognition, anabin and formal eligibility
Does the dMAT certificate replace anabin or the formal recognition of my university degree?
No. The dMAT certificate does not replace anabin, university recognition or the formal assessment of higher education entrance requirements.
A dMAT certificate does not change the recognition status of your previous higher education institution or degree. APS India will continue to assess academic documents and formal eligibility according to the applicable APS procedure.
Applicants are strongly advised to check the status of their previous higher education institution and degree in anabin before registering for the dMAT and before submitting their APS application.
My previous university is listed as H+/- or H- in anabin. Should I still take the dMAT?
A dMAT certificate does not replace the recognition of your previous higher education institution or degree.
If your previous higher education institution is listed as H+/- or H- in anabin, or if the status of your degree is unclear, you should carefully check the relevant anabin information before registering for the dMAT and before submitting your APS application.
Taking the dMAT does not automatically make a degree from an H+/-, H- or otherwise non-recognized institution eligible for APS certification or for admission to a German higher education institution.
Can a good dMAT result compensate for a degree from a non-recognized institution?
No. A dMAT certificate cannot compensate for missing formal recognition of a higher education institution or degree.
The dMAT is an academic aptitude test. It does not establish formal eligibility, does not replace anabin and does not override the recognition requirements applied by APS India or German higher education institutions.
Should I check anabin before registering for the dMAT?
Yes. APS India strongly recommends that applicants check the anabin status of their previous higher education institution and degree before registering for the dMAT.
This is especially important if your institution is listed as H+/-, H-, or if the status of your degree or institution is unclear:
https://anabin.kmk.org/db/institutionen
D. APS procedure and dMAT certificate
Does the dMAT certificate replace the APS verification?
No. APS India will continue to verify the authenticity and formal plausibility of academic documents according to the existing APS procedure.
The dMAT certificate does not replace APS document verification. It is an additional element in the APS documentation process and provides a separate academic test result issued by g.a.s.t.
Does the dMAT certificate replace my university grades?
No. The dMAT certificate does not replace university grades, transcripts or degree certificates.
It provides an additional academic test result and should be understood as one element of the overall application documentation.
Will I automatically be denied an APS certificate if I submit a low dMAT score?
No. The dMAT is not a stand-alone pass/fail test for the APS certificate.
APS India verifies the authenticity and formal plausibility of academic documents. The dMAT certificate provides a required additional academic test result issued by g.a.s.t. and forms part of the APS documentation for the affected applicant groups.
A low dMAT score does not automatically lead to a refusal of the APS certificate. The APS certificate will document the APS verification result and, where applicable, reflect the dMAT result as part of the applicant’s APS documentation.
Does the dMAT score determine whether my APS documentation is complete?
No. The score shown on the dMAT certificate does not determine whether the APS documentation is complete.
If the dMAT requirement applies to your applicant group, the dMAT certificate itself is required. Applicants may submit their APS application documents before the dMAT certificate is available, but APS India can only complete the APS procedure after the required dMAT certificate has been submitted.
The completeness of the APS documentation also depends on the submission of all other documents required under the applicable APS procedure.
Will the dMAT score appear on my APS certificate?
Yes. For applicants who are required to take the dMAT, the dMAT result will be reflected on the APS certificate.
The APS certificate will indicate that the applicant has taken the dMAT and will include the results as indicated by the dMAT certificate issued by g.a.s.t.
The dMAT result is a required additional academic test result within the APS documentation for the affected applicant groups. It does not replace APS document verification and does not replace the admission decision of the German higher education institution.
Who issues the dMAT certificate?
The dMAT certificate is issued by g.a.s.t. APS India does not issue the dMAT certificate.
Website:
www.gast.de
How do I submit my dMAT certificate to APS India?
If the dMAT certificate is already available, applicants who are required to take the dMAT should submit it together with their APS application documents.
If the dMAT certificate is not yet available, applicants may submit their APS application documents first and submit the dMAT certificate later, once it becomes available. This applies only to the dMAT certificate. No additional or updated academic qualification documents can be submitted later together with the dMAT certificate for the same APS procedure.
The dMAT certificate can be downloaded at any time from the test takers’ portal of g.a.s.t. once the results have been published. You will be given access to the test takers’ portal when you register for the dMAT. Please keep your login details safe.
E. Registration, test centers and fees
When can I register for the dMAT?
The current schedule for the first dMAT date in India is as follows:
- 29 June 2026 – Registration starts:
https://www.gast.de/portal/center-search/center-search/dmat/exams/worldwide?lang=en - 15 September 2026 – Registration deadline
- 26 September 2026 – dMAT test date
- 12 October 2026 – Certificates available online
Where can I take the dMAT?
The test will be offered in selected test centers throughout India, including:
- Ahmedabad
- Bengaluru
- Bhopal
- Chandigarh
- Chennai
- Kolkata
- Mananthavady
- Mumbai
- New Delhi
- Pune
The final list of available test centers will be shown during registration.
What should I do if my preferred test center is fully booked?
Test center availability depends on the number of available seats at each location. If your preferred test center is fully booked, you may need to select another available test center.
APS India cannot reserve dMAT test seats. Test center booking is handled by g.a.s.t. on a first come, first served basis.
Who handles registration and payment?
Registration, payment, test center booking, technical information and result provision are handled by g.a.s.t.
APS India is responsible for the APS procedure and document verification. g.a.s.t. is responsible for the administration of the dMAT.
How much does the dMAT cost?
The dMAT test fee is charged by g.a.s.t. The current fee is €150.00 and is payable during registration. Payment details will be shown on the dMAT website during registration.
Can I get a refund if I cannot attend the test?
Yes, under certain conditions. Please refer to the dMAT registration page for the applicable terms and conditions:
www.d-mat.de/en/terms-conditions/
What happens if I am sick or cannot attend on the test day?
Please refer to the information provided during registration and on the dMAT website or contact the g.a.s.t. customer support directly:
kontakt@gast.de
What happens if there is a technical problem during the test?
In case of technical problems, applicants are advised to follow the instructions provided by the test center and g.a.s.t.
F. Use of the dMAT by German universities
Will German universities use my dMAT certificate?
For applicants who are required to take the dMAT, the dMAT certificate will accompany the APS certificate as part of the application documentation.
German higher education institutions decide independently how they assess this information in their admission procedures. The dMAT certificate does not replace the admission decision of the university.
Does a good dMAT result guarantee admission to a German university?
No. Admission decisions are made by the respective German higher education institution. A dMAT certificate does not guarantee admission.
Does a low dMAT result automatically lead to rejection by a German university?
Not automatically. German higher education institutions decide independently how to assess applications.
The dMAT certificate is one element that may be considered together with other academic documents, depending on the university and degree program.
G. Contact and responsibilities
Whom should I contact for APS-related questions?
For questions regarding the APS procedure, document verification, affected applicant groups, exemptions and APS documentation, please contact APS India:
info@aps-india.de
Whom should I contact for dMAT-related questions?
For questions regarding dMAT registration, payment, test center booking, test format, technical requirements, test day procedures and result download, please contact g.a.s.t.:
kontakt@gast.de
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