Uni-assist Explained: VPD, Fees & Application Process for Indian Students
Updated July 2026 · By Sagar S. Patil, living in Germany since 2019
Uni-assist is the central application portal that evaluates international students' documents for 170+ German universities. Indian applicants typically pay €75 for the first application and €30 for each additional one per semester. Processing takes 4–6 weeks, so submit at least 6 weeks before your university's deadline, for winter intake, that means early June, not July 14.
Uni-assist (and VPD): a non-profit that checks whether your Indian qualifications meet German entry requirements. Some universities want a full application through uni-assist; others only want its VPD (Vorprüfungsdokumentation), a preliminary evaluation certificate you then upload to the university's own portal.
Step-by-step process
- 1
Check whether your university uses uni-assist
Look on the university's admissions page: 'apply via uni-assist', 'VPD required', or direct application. TU9 members differ. RWTH wants VPD, TUM has its own portal.
- 2
Create your My assist account
One account handles all applications. Fill your educational history once, carefully, it's reused everywhere.
- 3
Upload documents
APS certificate, 10th/12th marksheets, degree + transcripts, IELTS/TOEFL, passport. Certified copies by post only if a university explicitly demands paper.
- 4
Select courses and pay
€75 first + €30 each additional application in the same semester. Pay by card; applications stay 'in progress' until payment clears.
- 5
Track and respond fast
Uni-assist emails if documents are missing, respond within days, not weeks. Once evaluated, your application (or VPD) is forwarded and you apply onward if VPD-route.
Costs
| Item | Amount | Note |
|---|---|---|
| First application / VPD | €75 | Per semester |
| Each additional application | €30 | Same semester |
| Certified copies + postage | ₹1,000–3,000 | Only if paper documents demanded |
Who needs this / eligibility
- Anyone with non-German school/degree qualifications applying to a uni-assist member university
- VPD route: required by many universities (e.g., RWTH, many TUs) even when you apply on their own portal
- Not needed at universities with fully direct admissions (e.g., TUM), always verify per university
Common mistakes to avoid
✗ Submitting in the deadline week
Uni-assist needs 4–6 weeks. A July 10 submission for a July 15 deadline fails. For winter intake, submit by early June.
✗ Assuming every university uses uni-assist
TUM, Stuttgart (some courses), and others take direct applications. Paying uni-assist for them wastes €75 and weeks.
✗ One combined PDF for everything
Upload each document as its own file, named clearly. Merged PDFs trigger 'missing document' emails.
✗ Ignoring the VPD validity
A VPD is typically valid for one year. Reusing an old one for a new intake can get you rejected on a technicality.
Frequently asked questions
What is the uni-assist fee for Indian students in 2026?
€75 for the first application in a semester and €30 for each additional one. A VPD request costs the same €75.
How long does uni-assist take?
4–6 weeks for evaluation. During deadline season it runs at the top of that range, submit at least 6 weeks early.
What is a VPD?
Vorprüfungsdokumentation, a preliminary review certificate stating your Indian grades converted to the German system. Some universities want you to apply on their portal with the VPD attached.
Do I need APS before uni-assist?
Yes for most universities, the APS certificate is part of the standard Indian document set uni-assist expects.
Can uni-assist reject me?
Uni-assist doesn't admit or reject on merit, it verifies eligibility. If it finds you formally ineligible for a course, the application isn't forwarded, and it explains why.
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