German Embassy and DAAD say the new assessment will support university admissions rather than automatically disqualify students with lower scores
Germany has clarified that its newly introduced Digital Master Test (dMAT) will not act as a pass-or-fail barrier for Indian students applying to selected master’s programmes, easing concerns among prospective applicants as the new system is rolled out.
The German Embassy in New Delhi and the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) said the dMAT is designed to provide universities with an additional, standardised measure of an applicant’s academic abilities rather than determine eligibility on its own. Officials stressed that students with lower scores may still receive an Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) certificate if they satisfy all other verification requirements.
The dMAT will become an additional component of the APS documentation process for Indian applicants seeking admission to master’s programmes in engineering, commerce, accounting, finance, economics, business and management from the Summer Semester 2027 onwards. It will not replace the APS certificate or the existing verification of academic documents and degree recognition.
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According to the German authorities, the test has been introduced because grading systems and academic standards vary significantly across India’s higher education institutions
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The dMAT is intended to provide German universities with a comparable academic benchmark while also giving well-prepared students another opportunity to demonstrate their strengths
The computer-based examination will be administered by the Society for Academic Study Preparation and Test Development (g.a.s.t.). The first test is scheduled for 26 September 2026, with results expected to be available from 12 October through the official test portal. Officials said the timeline has been planned to ensure applicants remain on track for Summer Semester 2027 admissions.
Germany has also confirmed that students applying for bachelor’s programmes, applicants outside the specified disciplines, and those who completed or registered for the APS process before the transitional deadline are exempt from the dMAT requirement. Authorities said APS India will continue to monitor the implementation and issue further guidance if required.
