Applying to a German public university starts with two checks: does your certificate give access to the programme, and which channel does the university use for international applicants? Most often it is uni-assist, the service that evaluates foreign documents for 180 German universities. It charges $85 (€75) for the first programme and $34 (€30) for each additional one per semester, and advises applying at least eight weeks before the deadline. Typical deadlines are 15 July for the winter semester and 15 January for summer, but many programmes, master's degrees and Studienkollegs close earlier. The university always makes the admission decision; uni-assist only evaluates your documents.
This guide covers the application channels, uni-assist step by step, documents and translations, VPD and hochschulstart, and what to do after an offer. For a broader overview of universities and budgets, see studying in Germany.
Which channel should you use?
Before opening an account, check the programme page to see which channel the university uses. It determines your deadlines and who submits what.
| Channel | How it works | Where you meet it |
|---|---|---|
| uni-assist, standard procedure | You apply and upload documents in My assist; uni-assist checks them against the university's criteria and forwards positive applications | Most bachelor's programmes, some master's programmes, many Studienkollegs |
| uni-assist, VPD procedure | uni-assist issues a preliminary review (Vorprüfungsdokumentation); you then apply to the university yourself with the VPD | Some universities, more often for master's programmes |
| hochschulstart (DoSV) + uni-assist or the university | You register on hochschulstart.de, receive a BID and BAN, and enter them in your application | Popular bachelor's programmes with local admission limits |
| Direct to the university | Through the university's own portal | Universities outside uni-assist and many private universities |
Medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine and pharmacy follow a separate rule: non-EU applicants who are not treated as Germans apply directly to universities, which may allocate these places once a year with a single deadline of 15 January.
Note that uni-assist publicly states it does not cooperate with commercial agencies and that official information is only available on uni-assist.de and university websites. An agency can help you check requirements and prepare documents, but you submit the application from your own account.
What should you check before paying?
- Does your certificate give direct access? Most 11-year school certificates from the former Soviet region require a Studienkolleg or a first year at a home university — see our bachelor's in Germany guide. For master's programmes, the university compares the content of your bachelor's with its requirements.
- Which language and level? German-taught bachelor's programmes usually require DSH-2 or an equivalent (TestDaF 4 in all sections, telc C1 Hochschule and others). All uni-assist member universities accept TestDaF, Goethe-Institut certificates and the DSD; IELTS and TOEFL results are verified online.
- What is this programme's deadline? It may depend on the degree level, your citizenship, the country of your certificates and whether places are restricted.
How do you apply through uni-assist?
| Step | What to do | When |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | List programmes and check each one's channel, deadline and requirements | 6–12 months ahead |
| 2 | Prepare scans of originals and certified translations; take the language exam | 3–6 months ahead |
| 3 | Register in My assist, complete the form and select programmes | Once the university opens applications |
| 4 | Pay $85 (€75) for the first programme and $34 (€30) for each additional one in the same semester | Right after selecting programmes |
| 5 | Upload documents once to "My documents" for all applications | At least 8 weeks before the deadline |
| 6 | Track the status and add missing documents | Before the university's deadline |
| 7 | Receive the result: uni-assist forwards positive applications to the university | Usually after 4–6 weeks |
| 8 | Wait for the university's decision (Zulassungsbescheid or rejection) | On the university's schedule |
Rules that save time and money:
- Fees are per programme. A bachelor's programme, a Studienkolleg and a preparatory German course each count separately, and you pay again in a new semester. Fees are not refunded after a negative result. Some universities pay the fee for applicants; My assist shows this in your selection list.
- Upload documents once. The upload area is shared by all applications. To send a different motivation letter to one university, put the university and programme name in bold at the top.
- Missing documents can be added only before the university's deadline.
- Processing time starts when you submit the online form, not when you upload documents.
On 21 September 2026, uni-assist listed 2–3 weeks of processing for documents from Central and Eastern Europe and from Asia. That reflects current workload, not a guarantee; before the 15 July and 15 January deadlines, plan on the standard 4–6 weeks.
Which documents and translations are needed?
The university sets the exact list, but a typical bachelor's file looks like this:
| Document | Requirements |
|---|---|
| School certificate and grade transcript | Scan of the official document (signed and stamped) in the original language plus a German or English translation |
| Academic transcript for a completed first year (if applicable) | Issued after the academic year ends. Russian transcripts from 2016 must show credit units; if fewer than 60 per year, add the programme regulations |
| Pupil's personal file (Kazakhstan, certificates from 2015–2018) | Proof of 11 years of schooling |
| Language certificate | German and/or English as required |
| Passport, CV, motivation letter | If the programme requires them |
uni-assist accepts translations by sworn translators or by the issuing school or university if it is authorised to translate. For Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan, a local notary must also certify the translator's signature and identity, even for agency translations. Upload complete, legible PDF scans.
uni-assist works with scans of official documents: signed and stamped, marked as automatically issued, or carrying a verification code. Paper certified copies, an apostille or originals may be requested later by the university at enrolment; the admission letter and the university's Immatrikulation rules say so.
How does a VPD differ from a normal application?
A VPD is not an application but an evaluation: which documents you submitted, how uni-assist rated them and what your grade is on the German scale.
- You request a VPD for a specific university in My assist.
- After 4–6 weeks the VPD appears in "My Inbox".
- You upload it to your application on the university's portal before its deadline.
A VPD is valid for one year from issue, but only for the university it was issued for. A common mistake is assuming the university has received your application once the VPD arrives — it has not.
When do you need hochschulstart and DoSV?
Many universities allocate places on popular bachelor's programmes through DoSV, the dialogue-oriented procedure run by hochschulstart.de:
- Register on hochschulstart.de to get a BID (applicant ID) and BAN (authentication number).
- Apply via uni-assist or the university and enter your BID and BAN.
- Rank your programmes in your hochschulstart account.
- Accept an offer; all other offers are then withdrawn automatically.
The DoSV deadline for winter 2026/27 was 15 July 2026 and for summer 2026 it was 15 January 2026; hochschulstart has not yet published summer 2027 dates. hochschulstart also warns that universities may set earlier deadlines for documents.
When should you apply for winter and summer intakes?
| Item | Winter semester (starts 1 October) | Summer semester (starts 1 April) |
|---|---|---|
| Common bachelor's deadline via uni-assist | 15 July | 15 January |
| Example: University of Hamburg bachelor's 2026/27 | 1 June – 15 July 2026 | — |
| Latest date to apply under uni-assist's "8 weeks" advice | Around 20 May | Around 20 November |
| Studienkolleg Mittelhessen applications | 1 March – 15 April | 1 September – 15 October |
| Medicine and other centrally allocated subjects for non-EU applicants | Universities may set a single 15 January deadline | — |
| Semester fee payment on first enrolment (TUM example) | By 15 September | By 15 March |
Master's degrees, English-taught programmes and Studienkollegs often close earlier, and some programmes start only in winter. Studienkolleg admission and entrance tests are covered in our Studienkolleg guide.
What happens after you receive an offer?
- Accept the place in the university portal or on hochschulstart and meet the enrolment (Immatrikulation) deadline.
- Prove your funds. For a student visa the consulate expects $1,130 (€992) per month, or $13,520 (€11,904) per year, usually in a blocked account. For payment routes from Russia, see how to pay for studies abroad from Russia.
- Arrange health insurance; proof is needed for enrolment and the visa.
- Apply for the national visa. The fee is $85 (€75), or $43 (€37.50) for minors. A Schengen visa cannot be converted in Germany.
- Pay the semester contribution and any tuition. At TUM, first-time enrolment payments must arrive by 15 September for winter and 15 March for summer. Amounts by university are in our free education guide.
- Look for housing in parallel with the visa, or earlier. Studierendenwerk Hamburg, for example, advises looking into housing before you are admitted and gives no waiting-time estimate for a hall place.
If you need to travel for a test or interview before you have an offer, apply for a prospective-student visa; the consulate expects proof of at least $1,240 (€1,091) per month.
How much does the application stage cost?
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| uni-assist | $85 (€75) + $34 (€30) per additional programme | Per semester, non-refundable |
| DSH language exam | $0–285 (€0–250) | Depends on the university; external candidates in Hamburg pay $170 (€150) |
| Certified translations | Translator and notary rates | For Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan the translator's signature must be notarised |
| National visa | $85 (€75) | $43 (€37.50) for minors |
| Proof of funds | $13,520 (€11,904) per year | Your own living money, not a fee |
Common mistakes
- Assuming 15 July applies everywhere. Studienkollegs, master's and English-taught programmes often close earlier.
- Treating uni-assist as the admissions office. It evaluates documents; the university decides.
- Confusing a VPD with an application. You still have to apply on the university's portal.
- Sending plain translations. Documents from Russia, Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan need a notarised translator's signature.
- Applying to many programmes "just in case". Each costs $34–86, with no refund.
- Forgetting the BID and BAN for DoSV programmes.
FAQ
No. It depends on the university and programme: some accept direct applications, some require a VPD, some require hochschulstart registration. The programme page tells you which.
$85 (€75) for the first programme per semester and $34 (€30) for each additional one, for both the standard and VPD procedures, with no refund after rejection.
Usually 4–6 weeks from submitting the online form. On 21 September 2026 uni-assist listed 2–3 weeks for Eastern Europe and Asia. The university's decision follows on its own schedule.
Many universities let you submit missing documents, but only before their deadline. If a document arrives later, the application usually moves to the next intake.
A uni-assist application uses scans of official documents and certified translations. Whether you need an apostille, certified copies or originals at enrolment is up to the university; the admission letter and its Immatrikulation rules say so.
At bachelor's level English-taught options are limited, and a Studienkolleg requires German. At master's level there are many more English-taught programmes.
Under a service contract we check eligibility and programme requirements, build a shortlist, and help prepare documents, translations and the visa file. You submit from your own account; the university decides on admission and the German embassy on the visa.
Sources
- uni-assist: about the service (180 member universities) — checked 23.09.2026
- uni-assist: deadlines and processing time — checked 23.09.2026 (data as of 21.09.2026)
- uni-assist: handling fees — checked 23.09.2026
- uni-assist: VPD, hochschulstart (DoSV), bachelor's — checked 23.09.2026
- uni-assist: uploading documents, educational certificates, translations, language certificates — checked 23.09.2026
- uni-assist country notes: Russia, Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan — checked 23.09.2026
- hochschulstart: international applicants and dates — checked 23.09.2026
- University of Hamburg: bachelor's deadlines 2026/27 and DSH and TestDaF — checked 23.09.2026
- Studienkolleg Mittelhessen: dates and visa — checked 23.09.2026
- TUM: semester fees and payment deadlines — checked 23.09.2026
- Studierendenwerk Hamburg: student halls — checked 23.09.2026
- German mission: proof of funds and visa fees — checked 23.09.2026
- Exchange rate: ECB, 29.09.2026, €1 = $1.1355
Next steps
- Bachelor's in Germany for International Students: Entry Routes, Language, Deadlines and Costs
- Studienkolleg in Germany: Who Needs It, How to Get In and What the FSP Exam Gives You
- Free University Education in Germany for International Students: Where Tuition Is Zero and What You Still Pay
- Studying in Germany for international applicants
- How to Pay for Studies Abroad from Russia: What Works in 2026
- Blocked Account in Germany 2026: Amount, Opening Steps and Alternatives
