The APS Interview: What to Expect, and Who Gets Called

Most Indian applicants never sit an APS interview at all. The Akademische Pruefstelle clears the large majority on documents alone, and the certificate simply arrives. But if you are still completing your Bachelor's in India, you may be called to New Delhi for a short interview, and until you clear it the certificate does not issue. It is not an exam of how clever you are. It is a check that the degree on your transcript is genuinely yours. Here is who gets called, what happens in the room, and how to walk in ready.

Who actually gets called

The interview is discretionary, not universal. For most applicants the review is document-only and no interview ever happens. The group most likely to be called is applicants who are still pursuing a Bachelor's in India and have not yet finished it. Class 12 school-leavers and applicants who already hold a completed Bachelor's or Master's are seldom called, because a finished degree leaves less to confirm in person. APS keeps the discretion to call anyone whose file needs clarifying, so treat a possible interview as something to be ready for rather than something to count out. Whether you are a Bachelor or Master applicant changes more than the odds here: the level split also decides which extra test and which second gate apply to you.

What the interview actually checks

It is an authenticity check, not a knowledge test. Before you even sit down, staff compare each original document against the scans you uploaded, so carry your passport and every original academic record with you. The questions then stay close to your own paperwork: the subjects you studied, your coursework, and your thesis or final project. There are no trick questions and no personal questions. You pick English or German when you register online, and you answer in that language. The applicants who stumble are almost never the weak students; they are the ones who cannot narrate their own degree from memory.

The logistics that trip people up

There is a single APS office in India, inside the German Embassy grounds in Chanakyapuri, New Delhi. If you live in Mumbai, Chennai, or anywhere outside Delhi, the interview means travel and at least one night's stay, so budget it into both your timeline and your costs. You are told the date and location by email or phone, usually 10 to 14 days ahead. Once you accept a slot it cannot be rescheduled, so keep the window open. Arrive early, expect about 20 minutes, and note there is no extra charge beyond the INR 18,000 fee you already paid.

What clearing it triggers, and what failing it costs

Pass, and the digital certificate follows within roughly two weeks. Fail, and the most common reason is narrow: an applicant who could not explain a specific course listed on their own transcript. You can generally apply again, but a rejection can carry a waiting period before the next attempt, and the fee is non-refundable, so a second try is a second payment. One line is absolute: if any document is found altered or falsified, it is treated as fake, and that bars you from every current and future APS process. The interview rewards honesty and preparation and punishes shortcuts.

bay.in provides structured information on German study and residence pathways for general orientation. It is not legal advice and does not constitute Rechtsberatung within the meaning of the Rechtsdienstleistungsgesetz (RDG). Interview practice is set by APS India and decided case by case. For binding guidance on your situation, consult APS India or a qualified adviser.