Introduction
The APS certificate (Akademische Prüfstelle) holds significant importance for students aspiring to pursue higher studies in Germany. You can read more about the details of APS Certificate here. However, the limited information available about the process conducted by APS authorities can lead to frustration. In this blog, I am sharing the effective strategies I employed to successfully obtain the APS certificate within a span of 2 months. You too can benefit from these insights and increase your chances of acquiring the certificate in a timely manner!
My APS timeline
Following is my APS Timeline
- Documents Submission: 23.01.2023
- Document Receipt at APS Office: 27.01.2023
- University Mailed to APS: 07.02.2023
- Professor Mailed to APS: 10.02.2023
- Documents Submission Again: 02.03.2023
- Documents Receipt at APS Office: 08.03.2023
- APS verification completed mail: 23.03.2023
- APS Certificates Delivery: 27.03.2023
How I got the aps certificate within 2 months
I explored various resources and attempted different methods to inquire about the status, including raising queries and making phone calls. Unfortunately, none of these efforts yielded any results. To stay updated, I consistently followed up with my undergraduate institute to check for any verification mail. Frustrated by the lack of progress, I even reached out to various organizations such as the embassy, DAAD, and Germany student unions, but received no response or assistance. Eventually, I discovered some approaches that led to a positive outcome.
Influence of German University
The involvement of the German university where you have secured admission is a crucial factor in the APS process. If you have a confirmed admission, APS has acknowledged that priority will be given to such students. It is recommended to contact your German university and ask for their assistance in reaching out to APS on your behalf. Some university staff members are helpful and willing to send the mail to APS, while others may not be involved and deny any responsibility.
To tackle this issue, you can try sending emails to various departments of the university. Typically, there is a general admin email address for queries (e.g., studium@tum.de for Technical University of Munich), but they may reject your request. Additionally, you can find department-specific email addresses on the university course webpage, which handle applications and student advisories, and contact them as well.
The email should include your essential details and make a clear reference to the APS requirement. You can use this template if you like!
Greetings!
APS India has informed that they will prioritize the students whose confirmed admission is acknowledged by the university.
It would be of great help if you could support me by sending an Email to APS India, stating that I received a confirmed admission.
Request you to send the message below to info@aps-india.de and CC to <Your Mail ID>*
————————————————————————————————————————–
Subject: Admission Confirmation mail from <University Name> for <Your Name> with Unique token # <Token No.>
Dear Sir/Madam,
This is to inform you that Mr./Mrs. <Your Full Name> has received a confirmed admission at <University Name> to pursue Masters degree in <Branch Name> at for <Summer/Winter> semester <Year>.
You are request to prioritize the APS process of this student. The details are mentioned below for reference:
APS Unique token number is <Token No.>
Full Name of Student: <Your Name>
Email ID of Student: <Your Email ID>
————————————————————————————————————————–
Hopefully, you can persuade your university to send an email to APS.
Inform Indian University to Contact APS
Instead of solely relying on APS for the verification process, it is advisable to take proactive steps by informing your Indian university to send a formal email to APS. This email should include your essential details and make a clear reference to the APS requirement. Feel free to use this template as a reference.
<Subject: Regarding undergraduate institution’s verification for German visa (APS certificate)>
Dear Sir,
I applied to the <University Name> and received confirmed admission to pursue Masters in <Course Name>. However, I must get a certification from APS (the German Embassy in Delhi) for further visa processing. They require a confirmation from one of <Undergraduate Institute Name> professors verifying that I completed my bachelor’s degree at <Undergraduate Institute Name> and that the certificates I sent them are legitimate. Please send the following content to info@aps-india.de, cc’d to me:
————————————————————————————————————————–
Subject: Undergraduate institution verification mail for Unique token # <Token No.>
I have known <Your Name> for four years, from <BTech Start Year> to <BTech Start Year>, during <his/her> undergraduate studies at <Undergraduate Institute Name>, <Undergraduate Institute Place>, as a student of the Department of <Undergraduate Institute Branch>. <He/She> completed <his/her> studies and received a Bachelor of Technology degree on <Bachelors Degree Date>, with a CGPA of <Your CGPA> out of 10.
Hence, you are requested to process <his/her> application (Token number <Token No.>), by considering this Email as the verification from the undergraduate institution.
————————————————————————————————————————–
Resubmit Documents to APS
Once the German and Indian universities have sent their emails to APS, reaching out to APS via email or their website may not yield a response due to the high volume of inquiries they receive daily. Instead, it is recommended to resend the following documents to the APS office:
- Cover Letter (Explaining why you are sending documents again)
- Printout of the email sent by the German university to APS
- Printout of the email sent by the undergraduate institute to APS
- Admission Letter
- All the remaining documents that were sent earlier (Optional, but it is better to send them all again as they won’t have your search for your previously sent documents)
In my experience, this approach proved to be crucial. I received my APS confirmation email approximately 2 weeks after sending these documents. I also shared this method with a friend who received their confirmation within 10 days. It’s definitely worth a try, isn’t it?
Visiting the APS Office
If all other attempts have been unsuccessful and time is running out, visiting the APS office in person can be a viable option. While I cannot confirm if they currently allow visits, it was permitted in the past. If you have the opportunity to meet with APS officials, make sure to communicate the urgency of your situation.
Don’t lose hope
I understand that the APS process can be challenging and frustrating, leaving you uncertain about the timeline. However, it is crucial to remain positive and persistent throughout this journey. Although the general processing time for APS certificates ranges from 3 to 4 months, it is important to note that individual cases may vary. Besides the strategies mentioned here, explore other online resources and forums to gather more insights and approaches from fellow applicants.
Remember that every effort counts, and I wish you the best of luck in obtaining your APS certificate and embarking on your educational journey in Germany.
That’s a wrap! I hope this information was valuable.
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