Do I need the dMAT?

Who needs the dMAT?

The Digital Master Test (dMAT) is an extra part of the APS documentation for selected Master’s applicants from India. It is run by g.a.s.t. APS India still checks your documents. The test is required when your previous degree is in an affected field and your application is for the summer semester 2027 intake or a later one, unless an exemption applies.

Who is not affected

• Students applying for Bachelor’s programmes in Germany.
• Bachelor’s students who have not yet completed at least 5 semesters in a 3-year programme or at least 7 semesters in a 4-year programme.
• PhD applicants.
• Applicants whose previous degree does not fall within one of the selected fields.
• Applicants in officially confirmed exchange, double-degree or university partnership programmes.
• Applicants who completed their APS online registration, or shipped their complete APS documents, before 29 June 2026.
• Applicants who already hold their APS certificate for that completed APS procedure.

Source: APS India dMAT page and FAQ. This checker asks about your level, intake, APS status and exchange programme. It does not ask about the semesters you have completed, so check that rule yourself if you are still in your Bachelor’s.

The three affected field groups

APS India’s list (Version 1.0, 29 June 2026) names three groups. The list is guidance and is not exhaustive.

• Engineering

  129 entries on the list. B.E., B.Tech and similar degrees, where the official branch is an Engineering field.

• Commerce / Accounting / Finance / Economics

  75 entries on the list. Including B.Com, accounting, finance, banking, taxation and economics degrees.

• Business / Management

  41 entries on the list. Including BBA, BBM, BMS, marketing, HR and operations degrees.

Degrees people often confuse

These are APS India’s own words for the common borderline cases.

B.Tech / Bachelor of Technology

Covered only if the official branch or specialisation is clearly Engineering, e.g. Mechanical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science and Engineering or Electronics and Communication Engineering. B.Tech alone is not used to include all Technology fields.

Computer / IT-related fields

Computer Science and Engineering, Computer Engineering, Information Science and Engineering and Information Technology and Engineering are covered. Standalone Computer Science, BCA, Computer Applications, IT, AI, Data Science or Cyber Security are not automatically covered unless the official title is classified by APS India as Engineering, Commerce, Finance, Economics, Business or Management.

Biotechnology-related fields

Biotechnology Engineering, Biochemical Engineering, Biomedical Engineering and Bioengineering are covered. B.Sc. Biotechnology, B.Sc. Medical Biotechnology, Microbiology and Life Sciences are not automatically covered.

Food / Textile-related fields

Food Engineering, Food Engineering and Technology and Textile Engineering are covered where the official title is clearly an Engineering degree. Food Technology, Food Processing Technology and Textile Technology are not automatically covered unless the official title is clearly an Engineering degree.

Economics

Economics is included because the dMAT field group is intended to cover economic sciences. This includes B.A. Economics, B.Sc. Economics, Economics Honours, Applied Economics, Business Economics, Financial Economics and related Economics degrees.

B.Com / BBA with specialisations

A B.Com or BBA specialisation may fall within the dMAT requirement if the official degree is awarded as Commerce, Business, Finance, Economics or Management. This does not confirm formal recognition of the degree or the specialisation.

Sector-specific management fields

Fields such as Hotel Management, Hospitality Management, Tourism Management, Aviation Management, Healthcare Management, Hospital Administration, Construction Management, Infrastructure Management and similar fields are not classified by the word Management alone. See section 5.

Degree title, duration and field do not match

Where the degree title, duration and field appear inconsistent with applicable degree specifications, APS India will assess the case separately. The dMAT requirement does not override formal recognition requirements.

Frequently asked questions

Who has to take the dMAT?

APS India says the dMAT applies to Master’s applicants from India whose previous degree falls within Engineering, Commerce / Accounting / Finance / Economics, or Business / Management. It is a required part of the APS documentation for applications relating to the summer semester 2027 intake and later intakes, unless a transitional exemption applies.

Is a B.Sc. Computer Science or BCA degree covered?

Not automatically. APS India’s list says standalone Computer Science, BCA, Computer Applications, IT, AI, Data Science or Cyber Security are not automatically covered unless the official title is classified by APS India as Engineering, Commerce, Finance, Economics, Business or Management. Computer Science and Engineering is covered.

My certificate says B.Tech in Computer Science or Information Technology, without the word Engineering. Do I need the dMAT?

It depends on how APS India classifies your degree. Its list says B.Tech is covered only if the official branch or specialisation is clearly Engineering, such as Computer Science and Engineering, and that B.Tech alone is not used to include all Technology fields. Standalone Information Technology and Computer Science without an Engineering designation are listed as not automatically covered. Check the exact wording on your certificate and ask APS India if it is unclear.

I hold more than one degree, for example a B.Tech and an MBA. Which one counts?

APS India’s list refers to your previous degree, major, honours subject, branch or specialisation, and does not say which degree decides when you hold several. Check each degree here. If any of them is in an affected field, ask APS India before you assume the dMAT does not apply.

Is there a pass mark, and can a low score stop my APS certificate or visa?

There is no pass mark. APS India says a low dMAT score does not automatically lead to a refusal of the APS certificate, and g.a.s.t., which runs the test, says taking the dMAT is sufficient for the visa application. Each German university decides how it uses the result.

When is the next dMAT and what does it cost?

The first test was held on 26 September 2026. g.a.s.t. says the next date is planned for the first quarter of 2027 and has not published it yet. APS India gives the fee as EUR 150, paid to g.a.s.t. at registration. You may take the test as many times as you wish.

Does the dMAT replace the GRE or GATE?

No. They are separate. Some German programmes ask for a GRE or GATE score under their own admission rules, and g.a.s.t. says each university decides for itself whether and how it considers the dMAT.

Does the dMAT replace anabin or formal recognition of my degree?

No. APS India says the dMAT does not replace the formal recognition of a university degree, the APS document check or the admission decision of a German university.