Registration is open for the next two sittings of the dMAT, the aptitude test that is now part of APS documentation for many Indian master's applicants to Germany. Knowing whether you need it, and which date suits your timeline, is the first step

APS India has listed two new dates for the Digital Master Assessment Test (dMAT): January 16, 2027 and March 13, 2027. Registration is open on the g.a.s.t. portal. The test applies to Indian master's applicants in certain fields whose APS applications are for the summer semester 2027 intake or later. APS India's page was last updated on October 29, 2026.

Key Facts at a Glance

• New test dates: Cycle 1 on January 16, 2027 and Cycle 2 on March 13, 2027, according to APS India
• Registration: Open on the g.a.s.t. portal from October 28, 2026, where applicants choose their test date and location
• Application deadlines and results (g.a.s.t. portal): 
  • January 16, 2027 test: apply from October 28, 2026 to January 4, 2027; results on February 8, 2027
  • March 13, 2027 test: apply from October 28, 2026 to March 1, 2027; results on April 5, 2027
• Fee: €150, paid to g.a.s.t. when registering
• Who must take it: Indian master's applicants whose bachelor's degree is in engineering or technology (including B.Tech and B.Eng), commerce and economics (commerce, accounting, finance or economics), or business and management. Mixed or related degrees count if the core curriculum or major falls within commerce, economics, business or management. It applies to APS applications for the summer semester 2027 intake or later
• Who is exempt: Bachelor's applicants; PhD applicants; applicants whose degree is outside the listed fields; participants in officially confirmed exchange, double-degree or university partnership programmes; and applicants who completed APS online registration or sent their APS documents before June 29, 2026, or who already hold an APS certificate
• Where it fits: The dMAT is an additional element of APS documentation. It does not replace APS document verification, and its certificate is reflected on the APS certificate, as reported by The PIE News
• Earlier sitting: The first dMAT in India was held on September 26, 2026

What this means for applicants

For students in the listed fields, the dMAT is now a step that sits before the APS certificate, which Indian students need for a German student visa. That makes the test date part of the application timeline, not an extra to be added at the end.

The two new dates are about eight weeks apart. A student who registers for the January sitting can expect results on February 8, and one who registers for the March sitting can expect results on April 5. Because the APS certificate depends on the dMAT result for applicants who must take it, students should check how these dates fit with the application deadlines of the universities they are applying to. The deadline for each university varies, so there is no single answer.

Students outside the listed fields, and those already exempt, do not need to take the test. Students who are unsure whether their degree counts should check the APS India page or ask before paying the fee, since mixed degrees are judged on their core curriculum.

What you can do

• Check whether your bachelor's degree falls in the engineering, commerce and economics, or business and management groups, and whether any exemption applies to you.
• Work backwards from your target universities' application deadlines to decide which sitting to book, allowing time for results and for the APS certificate.
• Register early on the g.a.s.t. portal, well before the application deadlines of January 4 or March 1, and check the portal again before you book, since details can be updated.
• Prepare for the format and content of the test using official information, and be cautious of any coaching claims that promise results.
• Keep your APS documents ready and consistent with your degree records, since the dMAT is added to, and does not replace, document verification.
• Check APS India's page before you book, since dates and requirements can be updated.

IRS Study Abroad, Kottayam, supports Germany-bound students with APS preparation, document checks and application planning. Our team can help you work out whether you need the dMAT and plan your timeline around it, so your APS certificate is ready when your university applications are due.

Sources: g.a.s.t. dMAT registration portal (exam dates, application deadlines and result dates, as listed on October 31, 2026); APS India, dMAT page (updated October 29, 2026); The PIE News, July 7, 2026.