Documents you need before you apply to a German university

Applying to a German university is mostly careful paperwork. Students who get stuck rarely get stuck on grades. They get stuck on a certificate that was never attested, a transcript that's missing a semester, or a language score that arrives after the deadline. Any one of those can cost you a whole intake.

This checklist covers what to prepare before you submit an application, in the order it makes sense to start. For universities, degree levels and the academic calendar, see our guide to studying in Germany from Pakistan.

Check which route you are on

What you need depends on the degree you're applying for, so settle this first.

Bachelors

A Pakistani Intermediate (HSSC) certificate on its own usually isn't enough for direct admission to a German bachelors. Most students either complete a foundation year at a Studienkolleg, which ends in an assessment exam, or first complete part of a bachelors in Pakistan.

Masters

Most German masters programmes expect a completed bachelors in a closely related subject. A four-year bachelors, giving you 16 years of education, is the safest basis. A two-year BA or BSc often isn't accepted on its own, so check before you spend money on applications.

The DAAD admission database (opens in a new tab) shows how German universities treat qualifications from Pakistan. Look yours up before anything else.

Academic documents

These are the documents every application is built on.

1. Matric and Intermediate certificates and mark sheets, attested by the Inter Board Committee of Chairmen (IBCC).
2. Bachelors degree and transcripts, attested by the Higher Education Commission (HEC). If you're in your final year, ask your university for a transcript of the semesters completed so far. Many programmes let you apply before you graduate and ask for the final degree at enrolment.
3. Module descriptions for your bachelors, if a masters programme asks for them. Some universities use them to check that your previous study matches their entry requirements.

Attestation involves appointments, verification and sometimes courier time, so start it before anything else.

Language certificates

For English-taught programmes, most universities ask for IELTS Academic or TOEFL iBT, and some also accept PTE Academic or the Duolingo English Test. Each programme sets its own minimum, often with a minimum for every section as well as the overall score.

Some universities accept a letter from your Pakistani university confirming that your degree was taught in English. Ask the programme directly before you rely on one.

For German-taught programmes, you'll need proof of German, such as TestDaF or the DSH, at the level the university sets.

Not sure which English test to take? Our comparison of IELTS, TOEFL, PTE and Duolingo explains how to choose.

Application documents

• CV. Keep it short, factual and in reverse chronological order, with the month and year for every entry. Explain gaps in your education or work rather than leaving them blank.
• Motivation letter. Usually one page, written for that specific programme. Say how the course builds on what you've studied and what you plan to do with it. A letter that could be sent to any university reads exactly like one.
• Letters of recommendation, where the programme asks for them. These normally come from professors who taught you.
• Experience letters from employers, on letterhead, with your dates and role. Some non-consecutive masters programmes require professional experience.
• Passport. Check the expiry date now. Renewing a passport takes time, and you'll need it for both the application and the visa.

How applications are submitted

Many German universities receive international applications through uni-assist (opens in a new tab), a service that checks applicants' documents on their behalf. Others use their own online portals. Each programme's page tells you which route it uses, and some universities ask for a preliminary review of your documents through uni-assist before you can apply. Build uni-assist's processing time into your plan.

Don't convert your grades to the German scale yourself. Universities do that conversion, usually with a formula called the modified Bavarian formula, and their result is the one they use.

The APS certificate

Applicants from some countries must have their academic documents verified by the Academic Evaluation Centre (APS) at the German embassy before they apply or request a visa. Check the current rules for applicants from Pakistan on the German Missions in Pakistan (opens in a new tab) website before you start. Requirements like this change, and an old forum post is not a reliable source.

Documents for the visa stage

You won't need these to apply, but they take time to arrange, so plan for them now:

• the admission letter from your university,
• proof that you can pay your living costs, most often a blocked account holding the yearly amount set by the German government, which changes, so check the current figure,
• health insurance for your stay.

At the visa interview, the officer checks that your plans and your documents tell the same story. Here's what visa officers are really asking.

What to start first

1. Look up your qualification in the DAAD admission database.
2. Start IBCC and HEC attestation.
3. Book your language test.
4. Shortlist programmes and note each one's deadline and document list.
5. Write your CV and motivation letter, then adapt the letter for each programme.
6. Apply, and keep a copy of everything you submit.

If you'd like a second pair of eyes on your file, send us your CV and transcripts for a free document assessment. We'll tell you which programmes you qualify for and what's still missing.