Last updated: By Kumar Ashish, German Campus
If you want to study in Germany with a foreign school or university certificate, there is a good chance you will meet uni-assist. Many German universities let uni-assist check international applications before they decide. The process is simple once you understand it, but small mistakes cost students whole semesters every year. Here is the complete step-by-step guide for 2026.
Quick answer
- uni-assist checks your documents for many German universities. It does not admit you; the university does.
- Fees per semester: €75 for the first application and €30 for each additional one.
- You apply online in the My assist portal, upload your documents and pay there.
- Apply at least 6 to 8 weeks before the deadline. Processing takes longer close to deadlines.
- Applicants from India, China and Vietnam need an APS certificate.
What is uni-assist?
uni-assist is a service organisation used by around 170 German universities. It checks whether your foreign certificates qualify you for studies in Germany, converts your grades and forwards complete applications to the universities. The final admission decision is always made by the university.
Not every university uses uni-assist, and some use it only for certain programmes. Always check the application page of your programme first.
Standard application or VPD?
| Standard application | VPD (preliminary review documentation) | |
|---|---|---|
| What happens | uni-assist checks your documents and forwards your application to the university | uni-assist checks your documents and gives you a VPD document |
| Your next step | Wait for the university’s decision | Apply directly at the university and upload your VPD there |
| Cost | €75 first, €30 each additional | Same fees as a standard application |
Your university’s website tells you which one it requires. If it says “VPD”, you apply twice: first at uni-assist for the VPD, then at the university.
Step by step: how to apply via uni-assist
- Check your programme. On the university website, find the deadline, whether it uses uni-assist or VPD, the language requirements and any special documents such as a CV, motivation letter or GRE.
- Get your APS certificate if you are from India, China or Vietnam. Plan several weeks for this. Our APS guide explains how.
- Prepare your documents: school leaving certificate, university degree and transcripts (if applicable), language certificates, passport copy and any programme-specific documents. Documents not in German or English need certified translations.
- Create your My assist account on the uni-assist website and fill in your personal data exactly as in your passport.
- Choose your programmes and the correct semester.
- Upload clear scans of all documents in colour and in full. Only send paper copies if uni-assist or the university asks for them.
- Pay the fees by credit card, online transfer or bank transfer in My assist. Your application is only processed after payment.
- Submit before the deadline and keep your confirmation.
- Check My assist regularly. If documents are missing, uni-assist sends a request with a deadline. Missing it can end your application.
- Wait for the university. After a positive check, the university decides and sends you an admission or rejection.
Keep all your deadlines and documents in one place with our free application planner.
Deadlines: when to apply
Each university sets its own deadlines. For many programmes, the deadline for the winter semester is 15 July and for the summer semester 15 January, but many master’s programmes close much earlier, sometimes in spring. Because uni-assist needs time to check your documents, submit at least six to eight weeks before the deadline.
uni-assist or direct application?
| Via uni-assist | Direct application | |
|---|---|---|
| Who checks your documents | uni-assist | The university itself |
| Fees | €75 first, €30 each additional per semester | Often free, some universities charge their own fee |
| Grade conversion | Done by uni-assist | Done by the university |
| Typical for | Many universities with many international applicants | Universities with their own online application portals |
Common mistakes that cost students a semester
- Applying for the wrong semester or the wrong programme version.
- Waiting until the last week before the deadline.
- Uploading blurry, cropped or incomplete scans.
- Forgetting the APS certificate or the language certificate.
- Different spellings of your name on different documents without explanation.
- Not reading messages in My assist and missing the deadline for missing documents.
- Thinking uni-assist’s confirmation is an admission. Only the university admits you.
After admission: your next steps
- Accept your place and enrol within the deadline in the admission letter.
- Open your blocked account. Use our blocked account calculator to plan the amount.
- Book your visa appointment as early as possible and prepare with our visa interview coach.
- Start looking for accommodation, and learn to spot fake offers in our guide to rental scams in Germany.
Frequently asked questions
How much does uni-assist cost in 2026?
€75 for the first application per semester and €30 for each additional application in the same semester. The fees apply to standard and VPD applications.
How long does uni-assist take?
It depends on the time of year. Close to deadlines it can take several weeks, so submit at least six to eight weeks early and check My assist regularly.
Do I need certified copies for uni-assist?
Usually you upload scans in My assist. Send certified paper copies only if uni-assist or your university asks for them. Documents in other languages than German or English need certified translations.
Does uni-assist decide my admission?
No. uni-assist only checks your documents. The admission decision is always made by the university.
Do Indian students need APS for uni-assist?
Yes. Applicants with Indian certificates need an APS certificate to apply to German universities and for the student visa.
Last checked: November 2026. Fees and procedures can change, so always check uni-assist and your university’s website before applying.
Related guides and free tools
- Application planner
- APS certificate guide
- Language certificate requirements
- Free German level test
- Why student visas get rejected
Was this guide helpful?
Thank you! Your feedback helps us keep this guide accurate.
