The APS Interview for Indian Students: What Happens in the Room and How to Prepare

What the APS Is and Why It Exists

The Akademische Prüfstelle (APS) is a German academic credential evaluation institution with offices in New Delhi and Beijing. For Indian students applying to German universities, completing the APS process and obtaining an APS certificate is a mandatory step in the application process — without it, German universities will not consider an application from an Indian applicant.

The APS exists because German universities need to verify the authenticity of Indian academic documents and assess the academic standard of Indian qualifications. Document fraud in international student applications has been a documented problem, and the APS process — which involves both document verification and an in-person interview — is Germany's mechanism for ensuring that the qualifications presented are genuine and that the academic knowledge they represent corresponds to the level the certificates suggest.

Understanding that the APS is simultaneously a verification process and an assessment process is the foundation of effective preparation. Submitting accurate documents is necessary but not sufficient — the interview component assesses your actual academic knowledge, and being unprepared for it can result in a less favourable assessment even if your documents are in perfect order.

The Two-Stage Process: Documents and Interview

The APS process has two distinct stages, and both require preparation.

Stage One: document submission. You submit certified copies of all academic certificates and transcripts from Class 10 onwards, along with the completed APS application form and the applicable processing fee. The APS checks the documents for authenticity — comparing them against records held by the relevant examination boards and universities — and assesses the academic level and content of the qualifications presented. This stage typically takes several weeks.

Stage Two: the interview. After document processing is complete, you are called for an in-person interview at the APS office in New Delhi (the Mumbai consulate refers most applicants to New Delhi for the interview, though this should be confirmed directly with APS as procedures change). The interview is conducted in German, in English, or in both, depending on the language of the programme you intend to study and the language proficiency you have documented. It typically lasts between twenty and forty minutes.

The APS then issues a certificate — the APS-Bescheinigung — that summarises its assessment of your academic qualifications. This certificate is submitted as part of your German university applications and is given significant weight in the admissions process. The certificate does not provide a simple pass/fail — it describes the level and nature of your qualifications in terms that German universities can interpret within their admissions criteria.

What Actually Happens in the APS Interview

The APS interview is not a language test, although language matters. It is an academic knowledge assessment — an attempt to verify that you actually possess the knowledge that your certificates claim you possess.

Interviewers are typically German academics or education specialists with relevant subject-matter expertise. They will ask you questions about the academic content of the subjects you studied, at the level your certificates indicate you studied them. A student who completed a B.Tech in Electronics Engineering should expect questions about electronics, circuits, signals, and related subjects. A student who completed a Bachelor's in Economics should expect questions about economic theory, data analysis, and relevant content areas.

The interview is not designed to be a stress test. Interviewers are trying to establish whether your knowledge is genuine, not to catch you out. Students who have actually studied what their certificates say they studied, and who can discuss their subjects with reasonable fluency, will typically have straightforward interviews.

The interview may also include questions about your reasons for studying in Germany, your plans for the specific programme you have chosen, and your German language preparation if the programme requires German. These are not trick questions — they are an attempt to assess whether your application is coherent and your preparation genuine.

How to Prepare: Subject Knowledge

The most important preparation for the APS interview is reviewing the academic content of your completed degree — particularly the core subjects at the level your certificate represents.

For B.Tech graduates: review the fundamentals of your engineering discipline. For a computer science graduate, this means data structures, algorithms, operating systems, computer networks, and database concepts. For an electronics engineer, circuits, signals, semiconductors, and communication systems. For a mechanical engineer, thermodynamics, fluid mechanics, strength of materials, and machine design. You do not need to review every elective or specialisation — focus on the core subjects that any graduate of your programme should know.

For science graduates (B.Sc.): review the foundational concepts of your major subjects. For physics graduates, mechanics, thermodynamics, electromagnetism, and quantum mechanics at the undergraduate level. For chemistry graduates, organic, inorganic, and physical chemistry fundamentals. For mathematics graduates, calculus, linear algebra, real analysis, and differential equations.

For humanities and social science graduates: review the key concepts, theories, and debates in your major field. For economics graduates, micro and macroeconomics fundamentals, key economic models, and relevant empirical patterns. For political science graduates, political theory, comparative government, and international relations frameworks.

The level required is not exhaustive mastery. It is confident familiarity — the ability to explain a concept clearly, give an example, and discuss why it matters in your field. If you have genuinely studied what your certificate says you studied, this should be achievable with a few weeks of systematic review.

How to Prepare: Practical and Language Dimensions

Beyond subject knowledge, there are practical preparation steps that consistently make a difference.

Know your own academic history in detail. Be prepared to explain what you studied in each year of your degree, what your thesis or final project was about, and what topics you found most interesting or most challenging. Interviewers sometimes ask about specific courses listed on your transcript, and being vague about what a course actually covered is a red flag.

Prepare a clear account of why you want to study in Germany and what programme you are applying to. The question 'Why Germany?' is common in APS interviews. A specific and credible answer — about the specific programme, the research area you want to engage with, or the career direction you are pursuing — is significantly more convincing than a generic response about Germany's engineering reputation.

If your programme requires German language proficiency, be prepared to discuss your German language preparation and demonstrate whatever level of German you have achieved. You do not need to be fluent to answer questions about your language preparation — you need to be honest about where you are and credible about your plan for reaching the required level.

Arrive with your original documents. The APS may ask to see original certificates and transcripts at the interview, even if certified copies have already been submitted. Bring all originals in a organised folder.

The APS process is manageable for students who have genuinely studied what they say they studied and who prepare specifically for the academic content assessment. Anhaya Foundation's advisory service includes APS preparation guidance as part of our full Germany application support. Connect with our team if you are preparing for your APS interview and want guidance on subject review and interview preparation.