1. What is APS?

APS stands for "Akademische Prüfstelle," a joint institution of the cultural service of the German Embassy and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). This institution is located at the German Embassy in China, Vietnam, and Mongolia only, and plays the role of an examination office that verifies the authenticity of students' educational backgrounds before they can apply to German universities. The APS will evaluate your educational documents and ask you to take an interview in certain cases.

The APS selection process was first applied since January 1, 2007, starting from the winter semester of that year. Today, it's mandatory for Vietnamese, Chinese, and Mongolian students who want to apply for university studies in Germany.

After passing the selection and if the result is positive, qualified students will receive an APS certificate that allows them to apply to German universities.

1.1. Which Students Take the APS?

• Group 1: Students who obtained their secondary school diplomas and were admitted to a university but haven't completed a Bachelor's degree, or those who completed secondary education in their home country and want to study the Bachelor's program in Germany.

• Group 2: All students who obtained a Bachelor's degree in their home country and wish to continue their studies in Germany (for a 2nd Bachelor's program, Master's, or other postgraduate programs).

• Group 3: Students who wish to pursue their studies in artistic fields such as dance, painting, cello, etc.

• Group 4: Foreigners living in Germany with a family reunification visa who wish to pursue university studies must follow the German APS procedure (APS - Deutschland-Verfahren): vietnam.diplo.de.

1.2. When is APS Not Necessary for Students in the Three Countries Mentioned Above?

If your Bachelor's degree is issued by a foreign university, you can skip the APS selection process because APS only evaluates certificates and diplomas issued in Vietnam, China, or Mongolia. However, if you have a Bachelor's degree issued in your home country and another Bachelor's degree or postgraduate degree issued in a third country, the APS exam requirement will be determined by your German university. You need to check with your university whether an APS selection is necessary.

If you hold one of the following scholarships: DAAD scholarship, scholarships from a German government institute or foundation, Ministry of Education scholarship, professional research scholarship agreed in advance between German specialists and the German Embassy or DAAD in your country.

Doctoral candidates who come to Germany to complete their research or thesis.

1.3. What Does APS Evaluate?

The role of APS is to confirm students' academic competence to study at German universities using the following evaluation methods: Examine the authenticity of students' documents for university application. Evaluate a student's academic competence to pursue university studies in Germany. Only for students applying for German postgraduate programs, once they've met all the requirements for postgraduate studies, APS will organize an interview with these students.

1.4. How Much Are APS Fees?

The APS fees can vary depending on the origin of your degree (from Vietnam, China, or Mongolia...) and the purpose of study. You can consult the table below:

For Vietnamese Students:

• Undergraduate program enrollment
• $150 for the first 10 certificates
• $20-$40 for every 10 additional certificates
• Master's or postgraduate program enrollment
• $250 for the first 10 certificates
• $20-$40 for every 10 additional certificates
• Art school enrollment
• $150 for the first 10 certificates
• $20-$40 for every 10 additional certificates

For Chinese Students:

Procedures / Services

Costs (RMB)

• China Procedure (C-Procedure) for Master's or undergraduate students: 2,500 yuan
• Interview or TestAS: 2,500 yuan
• Repeat interview: 2,500 yuan
• Verification: 1,000 yuan
• Sub-certification: 500 yuan
• Students participating in the program (or partnership students) (P-Procedure): 2,000 yuan
• Exchange method for exchange students (A-Method): 2,000 yuan
• Special Procedure (S-Procedure):
• Participants with Gaokao level 2 or above: 2,000 yuan
• With TestAS participation: 2,500 yuan
• Document evaluation method (D-Method) (for doctoral candidates, scholarship holders, or students already in Germany with a family reunification visa): 1,000 yuan
• Artist method (K-Method) (For artists): 1,000 yuan

Explanation

Repeat Interview: refers to candidates who failed during the first or second interview and now wish to book another appointment for the interview.

Re-verification: Re-verification is for candidates who passed the interview in China but need a new APS certificate for the following reasons:

• Change of student status / university entrance qualification after passing the first interview.
• Post-certification of the desired Bachelor's degree. However, not enough semesters required for first-time application (6 in a 4-year study program or 8 in a 5-year study program).

Post-certification: For candidates who passed the APS procedure in China and completed at least 6 semesters of a four-year study program or 8 semesters of a five-year study program, APS certifies the final degree, Bachelor's degree, and last semesters, without requiring another interview.

The above fees don't include visa fees.

For Mongolian Students:

As of March 1, 2019, APS selection fees are as follows:

M - Rule: 500,000 ₮ for the first 10 certificates

M - Directive verification and other procedures: 300,000 ₮ (200,000 ₮ until 28/02/2019)

Price for each additional certificate: 15,000 ₮ (10,000 ₮ until 28/02/2019) (10 certificates can be added)

1.5. Where to Submit an APS Application

Documents can be submitted in person or sent by post to the following address:

In China:

Akademische Prüfstelle

Landmark Tower 2, Büro 0311

8 North Dongsanhuan Road

Chaoyang District

100004 Beijing

Tel.: +86 10 6590 7138

Fax: +86 10 6590 7140

info@aps.org.cn

In Mongolia:

Akademische Prüfstelle

German Embassy Ulan Bator

Strasse der Vereinten Nationen

PF 708

Tel.: +976 99225839

Fax: +976 11323905

aps.ulanbator@gmail.com

In Vietnam:

Akademische Prüfstelle

German Embassy Hanoi

Akademische Prüfstelle

29 Tran Phu

Hanoi

Tel: +84 43 845 38 36/7

Fax: +84 43 843 99 69

ku-101@hano.auswaertiges-amt.de

You may need to fill out certain forms online in advance and attach them to your application.

2. APS Selection Process for Students

2.1. For the Undergraduate Program

This normal APS selection process applies to all students who want to pursue an undergraduate program in Germany but don't yet have a Bachelor's degree (they haven't completed the undergraduate program in their home country).

The normal APS selection process for students of German undergraduate universities will include the 3 steps below:

Step 1: Submit Documents for Evaluation

The required documents and deadlines will depend on the student's home country. You can consult the APS website in your home country to know the required documents.

Step 2: Apply for TestAS

TestAS is a voluntary and standardized test offered in German and English; it examines the cognitive and intellectual abilities of a foreign student by comparing them with those of other foreign students from different countries. German universities may use the TestAS result as an admission condition.

ITB Consulting GmbH in Bonn, accredited by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), is responsible for developing TestAS. On the other hand, the DAAD has entrusted the Society for Academic Study Preparation and Test Development e.V. (g.a.s.t.) and the TestDaF Institute with organizing this test worldwide.

TestAS can be taken in German or English, and the choice of language doesn't affect the test results. For this reason, students are recommended to choose the language they're most proficient in.

The structure of TestAS includes two parts:

• The basic test is a written test that evaluates the general knowledge required for all academic studies. This test lasts 110 minutes.
• The subject-specific test evaluates the student's abilities in particular study fields. This test lasts 150 minutes. The student can choose one of the four subject-specific modules that's suitable for their field of study in Germany. These four modules include:
• Humanities, cultural studies, and social studies
• Engineering
• Mathematics, computer science, and natural sciences
• Economics

TestAS may cost you around €80; these fees can be paid by MasterCard or Visa card. You can register for TestAS on its website and find practice tests there to train.

You need to plan the time to send documents for APS selection and take TestAS right after, because since 2009, TestAS is only administered three times per year. Some additional tests take place only in specific locations. You can find the dates of these tests on the website.

Test results will be published within four weeks of the test date and will be updated on your online account on TestAS. The age or number of times a candidate has taken the test aren't limited, so you can take the test multiple times. The validity period of the TestAS result is unlimited, so you don't need to retake it if you've already obtained a positive result.

For the visa application, you need to present a TestAS and APS certificate.

Step 3: Receiving the APS Certificate

As we've already mentioned above, after the APS selection and if your result is positive, you'll receive 10 APS certificates. The validity period of the APS result is unlimited and could be reissued upon request by candidates with additional fees.

2.2. For Master's Programs or the Second Undergraduate Program

The APS selection process is only applied to students who already hold a Bachelor's degree issued in Vietnam, Mongolia, or China. If your postgraduate degree is issued abroad, you'll find the APS exemption cases above.

The selection process can differ in each of these 3 countries but generally contains 3 steps as follows:

Step 1: Submit Documents for Examination

The required documents and deadlines will depend on the student's home country. You need to consult the APS website in your home country to know the required documents.

Step 2: Interview

This interview is only applied to Master's students. You need to make arrangements to submit your documents well in advance according to the deadlines (see step 1).

The interview appointment will be communicated to you by email and can only be changed if you present an acceptable reason. You need to bring your ID card or passport for the interview. Punctuality is important as you could fail if you arrive late.

The interview will last 15 minutes in English or German, depending on your choice, with content related to your study subject according to your transcript. The purpose of this interview is to evaluate whether your professional knowledge is equivalent to your previous degree. Therefore, you must have adequate vocabulary and understanding of your chosen major subject. A dictionary is available in the interview room, and you're only allowed to bring a calculator, a ruler, or a pen. Other facilities or devices, including digital dictionaries, are prohibited.

If your result is negative, you're allowed to apply and take an interview up to two more times.

Step 3: Receiving the APS Certificate

Same as step 3 of the process for undergraduate students.

2.3. For Artists

If you're a student who wishes to pursue postgraduate studies in fine arts, you also need to go through the APS selection process for artists. However, this process will be easier and without an interview or TestAS.

Your field must be pure art studies such as music, dance, painting, etc. Studies in art education are not considered pure art studies.

The APS selection process for art students can differ in the 3 countries above but generally only contains two steps:

Step 1: Submit Documents for Examination

The required documents and deadlines will depend on the student's home country. You need to consult the APS website in your home country to know the required documents.

Step 2: Receiving the APS Certificate

Same as step 3 of the process for undergraduate students.

2.4. For Chinese Students in Partnership Program (P-Procedure)

The P-Procedure applies to Chinese students recruited by German universities within the framework of university cooperations.

The decision on whether a group will be included in the P-Procedure is made in accordance with the decree of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and will be decided on a case-by-case basis.

The German partner university informs APS informally by email at leitung@aps.org.cn of the planned study program and attaches a copy of the cooperation agreement with the Chinese partner university.

Integration into the APS P-Method can take place if the following conditions are met:

• P-Trial candidates in China are selected by professors from the German university. The professor can only select students in their field of expertise or a related field.

Telephone and video conference interviews with Chinese candidates via Skype or other programs

Video software will be considered.

• The selection process by the German side must not exceed 6 months after receiving students' applications.

• The interviews are in English or German and must be recorded.

A protocol form is available in the download area of the APS website.

APS must be able to capture the technical selection of protocols that should focus on the professional field. Motivation interviews are not accepted.

APS will decide whether or not to cancel the APS plausibility interview. The interview recordings could be presented to APS with the application documents or in advance by email.

The procedure for Chinese students applying the P-Procedure is as follows:

Step 1. Application from the German Partner University:

The German partner university informs APS by email of its cooperation with the Chinese partner university and transmits the list of names of candidates selected for the P-Procedure.

APS then sends the German university a group number for the P-Procedure (P-Nummer).

Step 2. Online Registration:

Students register by indicating the group number they received from the German university; they then need to print the online registration confirmation, sign it in person, and attach it to their applications.

Step 3. Transfer of Application Fees

When transferring the application fees, students must include the P number in their remittance slips.

Step 4. Document Submission:

Applications from Chinese students must be submitted in full.

Documents to be presented are:

• A copy of the cooperation agreement
• Selection protocols for Chinese candidates with details of who, when, and where the selection was conducted and according to which technical criteria
• A list of selected students
• Contact details (address, email, phone number, and fax) of the contact person in China and Germany

Only students selected by the German university can be admitted for the APS P-Procedure.

After the P-Procedure, candidates don't receive an APS certificate. The SPG informs the relevant universities of the examination result by fax.

Students in the P-Procedure who apply for a visa before the expiration of the planned study program in the individual process in China will need:

• Written consent for program completion/deregistration from the German university.
• Proof of deregistration at the local immigration office.

Students who have already participated unsuccessfully in an interview in the individual procedure in China cannot switch to the P-Method. For these candidates, there's the option of taking repeat interviews and, in case of success, will be included in the group with an individual APS certificate, and then apply for a visa with the group.

There are other special cases for APS selection, only for Chinese students, such as medical students or post-doctoral students, scholarship holders, or exchange students. You can visit the APS China website for more information on the requirements and documents needed in these special cases.

If you consider the APS selection as a first step in evaluating your application, it would be easier after. Indeed, with the APS certificate, the university won't doubt the authenticity of your documents or your academic abilities, and admission would therefore be granted more easily.