dMAT for Indian Students 2026: New APS Test Requirement

Starting with the summer semester 2027 intake, some Indian Master's applicants must now clear a brand-new test — the dMAT (digital Master Assessment Test) — before they can submit their APS documents. It does not replace APS; it becomes an extra certificate that travels with your APS application. If your bachelor's is in engineering, commerce, finance, economics, business, or management, this almost certainly affects you.

This guide explains exactly what the dMAT is, who must take it (and who is exempt), the 2026 registration timeline, the €150 fee, the full exam format with real sample questions, scoring, and how it slots into your APS document checklist — written for the 177+ Indian students Ankit has guided through the Germany application process.

💡 Not sure if the dMAT applies to your profile? Ask Ankit on WhatsApp for a 2-minute eligibility check — or read our Complete APS Guide first if you haven't started APS yet.

Last reviewed: 29 June 2026. The dMAT is a newly introduced requirement and details may change. Always confirm against the official sources: aps-india.de/dmat and d-mat.de/en.

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dMAT Quick Reference (2026)

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What Is the dMAT and What Changed in 2026?

The dMAT (digital Master Assessment Test) is a new, standardised academic aptitude test for international students applying to Master's degree programmes in Germany. It was developed by g.a.s.t. — the same organisation behind the TestDaF German-language exam — in close collaboration with German universities, and is evaluated centrally at the TestDaF Institute in Bochum.

Its purpose is to allow a fair comparison of applicants across different national education systems. Because grading scales and curricula differ so much between countries, German universities wanted an objective, standardised signal of study aptitude. The test format is based on internationally recognised standards for psychodiagnostic tests, so it is designed to be reliable and objective.

What's new for Indian students

Until now, Indian Master's applicants needed only the APS certificate (academic document verification) before applying for a visa. From the summer semester 2027 intake, APS India has added the dMAT as an additional required element of the APS documentation for selected Master's applicants.

The key facts to internalise:

• APS India does not conduct the dMAT and does not issue the dMAT certificate. You register separately with g.a.s.t.
• You must take the dMAT before submitting your APS documents, then submit the dMAT certificate together with your APS application packet.
• The dMAT result will appear on your APS certificate as part of the documentation.

⚠️ The dMAT does NOT guarantee admission and does NOT replace anything. It does not replace APS document verification, formal degree recognition (anabin), university admission requirements, or the German university's final admission decision. A low score also does not automatically deny your APS certificate — German universities independently decide how to weigh it.

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Who Needs the dMAT? (And Who Is Exempt)

This is the single most important question, because the requirement is narrow and specific. Two conditions must both be true.

You need the dMAT if BOTH apply:

1. Your previous degree (the bachelor's you're applying with) falls in one of these fields:
   • Engineering
   • Commerce / Accounting / Finance / Economics
   • Business / Management
2. Your application is for the summer semester 2027 intake or a subsequent intake.

APS India publishes the authoritative list of affected fields — always check it before assuming: dMAT Affected Fields List (PDF).

You are EXEMPT from the dMAT if:

💡 Winter 2026/27 applicants: you are NOT affected. The first certificates are only issued on 12 October 2026, so the dMAT requirement begins with summer 2027. If you're targeting winter 2026/27, focus on your APS certificate and university deadlines instead.

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dMAT 2026 Timeline and Deadlines

The first dMAT cycle for India follows this schedule. Because the test is offered on fixed dates (not on demand), missing the registration window means waiting for the next cycle — which can push your entire APS-then-visa timeline back by months.

Plan backwards from your university deadline. Summer semester 2027 application deadlines mostly fall between December 2026 and January 2027, and your APS packet (with the dMAT certificate attached) must be verified before that. With the dMAT certificate landing on 12 October and APS verification taking 4–8 weeks, this cycle is timed tightly — register early.

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How Much Does the dMAT Cost?

The dMAT fee is €150, paid to g.a.s.t. during online registration. This is separate from and in addition to the APS processing fee of ₹18,000 (which is non-refundable once paid).

So if the dMAT applies to you, budget for both — roughly ₹18,000 + €150 before any courier, notarisation, or translation costs.

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How to Register for the dMAT

Registration is handled entirely through the official g.a.s.t. portal — not through APS India.

1. Check your institution's recognition first. Before paying anything, verify your university's status in the anabin database: anabin.kmk.org/db/institutionen. The dMAT cannot compensate for a non-recognised institution.
2. Go to the registration portal: www.d-mat.de/en/registration.
3. Choose your test centre from the 10 Indian cities and the 26 September 2026 test date.
4. Pay the €150 fee to g.a.s.t. during registration.
5. Complete the booking before the 15 September 2026 deadline.
6. Sit the test, then download your certificate from 12 October 2026 and include it in your APS document packet.

💡 Registering for the dMAT and APS in the same window is a lot to coordinate. Ankit helps Mentor Pack students sequence APS, dMAT, uni-assist, and visa so nothing slips. Book a consultation on WhatsApp →

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dMAT Exam Format: Complete Breakdown

The dMAT is taken digitally at a g.a.s.t.-appointed test centre. Every answer is single-choice, the test language is English, and you may not take any notes during the exam — no scratch paper, no calculator. The whole session runs about 3.5 hours at the centre.

The test has two parts:

Core Module — 3 subtests

The Core Module measures general cognitive abilities relevant to a German Master's. It has three subtests, and in the exam each one gives you 20 items in 25 minutes. Speed and accuracy both matter — if you don't know an answer, the official advice is to guess.

1. Figure Sequences (20 series / 25 minutes) You see a series of square grids (matrices). A figure changes its position, colour, and/or orientation from one matrix to the next according to fixed rules. Your job is to continue the logic and pick the next two matrices.

The rules a figure can follow include:

• Change colour
• Rotate around its own axis
• Move vertically, horizontally, or diagonally
• Accelerate by x + 1 — e.g. move 1 step from matrix 1→2, then 2 steps from 2→3, then 3 steps, and so on
• Figures cannot disappear, overlap, or leave the grid — at a boundary they either bounce off or travel along the edge

2. Mathematical Equations (20 systems / 25 minutes) You solve a small system of equations so that every equation holds. Each letter is an integer between 1 and 20, and there is exactly one valid solution per letter.

Worked example (from the official prep materials): A + 2 = B B = 6 From the second equation, B = 6. Substitute into the first: A + 2 = 6, so A = 6 − 2 = 4. Answer: A = 4.

Sample task (low difficulty): 7 + A = 14 and B − 3 = A → A = 7, B = 10 Sample task (high difficulty): A − B + C − D = 2, 10 × B = C, 5 × B = A, 11 + B = D

3. Latin Squares (20 tasks / 25 minutes) You see a 5×5 grid. Each of the five letters (A–E) may appear only once in each row and each column (like a letter-based Sudoku). Some cells are filled; you must decide which letter belongs in the cell marked with a "?". Sometimes you need to mentally fill other cells first.

Worked example: if a column already contains D, A, C, and E, then the "?" in that column must be B — it's the only letter missing.

Subject Module — 90 minutes

The Subject Module is knowledge-based. Each task combines a typical subject-related problem (the "input") with corresponding single-choice questions. It tests the subject knowledge from your bachelor's studies plus your ability to apply it — not memorised trivia.

The subject modules are programme-specific. Current examples include:

• Computer Science (general)
• Chemistry / Physics / Computer Science / Electrical Engineering / Mechanical Engineering — for M.Sc. Battery Science and Technology in Engineering at RWTH Aachen University (basic tasks across all five fields + advanced tasks in your chosen field)
• Data Science — at Georg-August University Göttingen

The exact subject modules available depend on the programmes you're applying to, so check the official dMAT site for the current list.

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How the dMAT Is Scored

Your result shows two numbers:

• dMAT Score — on a 0 to 200 scale, where the mean is 100. This is comparable across all modules.
• Percentile Rank — how you performed relative to other test takers.

Scores are valid indefinitely — they never expire, just like the APS certificate. Importantly, there is no fixed pass/fail line: a low dMAT score does not automatically cause APS denial or university rejection. Each German university independently decides how to assess your dMAT certificate alongside your grades, SOP, and the rest of your application.

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Free Official dMAT Preparation Resources

g.a.s.t. publishes free preparatory materials with sample tasks, full solutions, and solving strategies, plus short instructional videos showing how the digital test works. The detailed instructions for each task type are only in these prep materials — in the exam itself you'll see just brief reminders, so prepare thoroughly beforehand.

How to prepare efficiently:

• Work through the Figure Sequences, Mathematical Equations, and Latin Squares exercises without taking notes, because you can't take notes in the real exam.
• The core-module subtests reward pattern speed — practise until you can solve a 5×5 Latin Square or a 2–3 equation system in under a minute.
• For the Subject Module, revise your core bachelor's fundamentals (the same fundamentals that help with an APS interview), and download the prep PDF that matches your target programme's subject.
• Watch the official videos once to get familiar with the digital interface before test day.

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How the dMAT Fits Into Your APS Document Packet

If the dMAT applies to you, the dMAT certificate becomes item-on-the-list in your APS submission. Here's the current APS document checklist for Bachelor's/Master's applicants, with the dMAT highlighted:

The full APS process — registration, the ₹18,000 fee, document dispatch, verification, and the interview (if requested) — is unchanged. For the complete walkthrough, see our Complete APS Guide for Indian Students.

💡 Mentor Pack includes a full APS document review before you dispatch — now covering whether the dMAT applies to you and how to sequence it. 200+ APS packets reviewed. Book on WhatsApp → — ₹29,999 / 6 months, 7-day money-back guarantee.

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Common dMAT Mistakes to Avoid

1. Assuming it applies to you when it doesn't (or vice versa). The requirement is narrow — only specific bachelor's fields + summer 2027 or later. Check the affected fields list before paying €150.
2. Missing the registration window. The test runs on fixed dates. Miss the 15 September 2026 deadline and you wait for the next cycle, which can derail your APS-then-visa timeline.
3. Treating it as a pass/fail gate. There's no fixed cut-off — but a stronger score still helps competitive programmes, so prepare properly.
4. Taking the test before checking anabin. If your institution isn't recognised, the dMAT can't fix that. Verify recognition first.
5. Ignoring the free official prep. The detailed task instructions exist only in the prep materials — don't walk in cold to a no-notes, timed test.
6. Forgetting it's a separate fee and separate body. dMAT (€150, g.a.s.t.) is independent of APS (₹18,000). Budget and register for both.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)

1. Is the dMAT mandatory for all Indian students? No. It applies only to Master's applicants whose bachelor's is in Engineering, Commerce/Accounting/Finance/Economics, or Business/Management, and who are applying for the summer 2027 intake or later. Bachelor's and PhD applicants, unaffected fields, and exchange/double-degree participants are exempt.

2. Does the dMAT replace the APS certificate? No. The dMAT is an additional document submitted with your APS application. APS still does its normal document verification, and the dMAT result appears on your APS certificate.

3. How much does the dMAT cost? €150, paid to g.a.s.t. at registration. This is separate from the ₹18,000 APS processing fee.

4. When can I take the dMAT in 2026? The first cycle's test date is 26 September 2026. Registration opens 29 June 2026 and closes 15 September 2026; certificates are available from 12 October 2026.

5. Where can I take the dMAT in India? At g.a.s.t. test centres in Ahmedabad, Bengaluru, Bhopal, Chandigarh, Chennai, Kolkata, Mananthavady, Mumbai, New Delhi, and Pune.

6. What does the dMAT test, and in what language? Two modules in English: a Core Module (Figure Sequences, Mathematical Equations, Latin Squares — general aptitude) and a Subject Module (your bachelor's subject knowledge applied to problems). All questions are single-choice; no notes allowed; ~3.5 hours total.

7. Is there a passing score? There is no fixed pass/fail line. You receive a dMAT score (0–200, mean 100) and a percentile. German universities decide independently how to weigh it — a low score doesn't automatically deny your APS or admission.

8. How long is the dMAT certificate valid? Indefinitely. Like the APS certificate, dMAT scores never expire.

9. Can I retake the dMAT? The test is offered on fixed cycles. If you want to improve your score, you would register for a later test date. Check d-mat.de/en for upcoming dates and any retake rules.

10. I'm applying for winter 2026/27 — do I need the dMAT? No. Certificates aren't issued until 12 October 2026, so winter 2026/27 is not affected. The requirement starts with summer semester 2027.

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Why Work With Think Mile on Your APS + dMAT?

The dMAT is brand new, and getting the sequencing right — anabin check → dMAT registration → test → APS submission → uni-assist → visa — is exactly where timelines slip. After guiding 177+ Indian students through the Germany process, Ankit has seen every bottleneck and knows how to keep your application on schedule.

Mentor Pack — ₹29,999 / 6 months includes:

• Personal APS document review (including whether the dMAT applies to you)
• dMAT and APS timeline sequencing for your target intake
• SOP and LOR review (2 rounds each)
• University shortlist review
• Unlimited visa Q&A throughout your process
• 7-day money-back guarantee — full refund if you request within 7 days, no questions asked

Premium Package — ₹80,000 covers everything end-to-end, including application submission and visa support. Full refund if no admission is received.

Next steps after sorting your dMAT and APS:

• AI University Finder — build a shortlist based on your CGPA and background
• Complete APS Guide for Indian Students — the full APS walkthrough
• Complete Uni-Assist Guide — how applications are processed
• German University Application Deadlines 2026–27 — plan your timeline

💡 177+ Indian students have navigated APS with Ankit's guidance — and the dMAT is the newest piece of that puzzle. The Mentor Pack (₹29,999 / 6 months) includes personal document review, timeline planning, SOP feedback, and unlimited visa Q&A. 7-day money-back guarantee. Book on WhatsApp →

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Source note: This article was reviewed against the official APS India dMAT page, the dMAT website (g.a.s.t.), the official g.a.s.t. dMAT preparatory materials, and the APS India "Information Leaflet for Individual Procedure — Students with Bachelor / Master Degree" (valid as of June 2026). Key official facts reflected here: the dMAT is administered by g.a.s.t. (not APS India), the fee is €150, the first 2026 cycle runs 29 June–26 September with certificates on 12 October, and the requirement applies to selected Master's applicants for the summer 2027 intake and later.