Who this guide is for
Use this guide when your chosen German university directs your applicant category to uni-assist. Begin on the university's admissions page for the exact programme and semester. A university's use of uni-assist does not mean every applicant follows the same procedure.
- Record the qualification country and whether you apply for bachelor's, master's or a preparatory route.
- Check whether the university calls for a standard application or preliminary review documentation, known as VPD.
- Save the official instructions alongside your deadline record.
What a VPD actually contains
uni-assist describes a VPD as a review of submitted educational certificates, their evaluation and the German grade assessment. It is issued for a chosen university. You then apply directly to that university with the VPD and the rest of the required application.
- Request the VPD for the correct university in My assist.
- Check every detail when the issued document appears in your inbox.
- Complete the separate university submission before its deadline.
- Keep a receipt for each stage; receiving the VPD alone is not the final university application.
Plan backward from the final deadline
uni-assist currently gives a usual VPD processing estimate of four to six weeks and says the document is valid for one year from issue. Neither statement removes the university's submission deadline. Leave room for missing information and corrections.
- Set an internal target earlier than the official final date.
- Place document collection and any required academic verification before that target.
- Check whether your university has an explicit rule for a VPD still in processing; do not assume one exists.
- Confirm that a previously issued VPD is acceptable for your present application and institution.
An example: TU Berlin's current route
TU Berlin says foreign-primary-degree master's applicants need a VPD specifically for TU Berlin from Summer 2026 onward. This also covers its stated route for applicants about to graduate using an ECTS certificate. The VPD is mandatory for the application, followed by the tuPORT submission. The page permits only one master's admission application per semester, even after rejection. Those with a German primary degree follow its direct route.
Prepare and track the submission
uni-assist's general workflow covers requirements, planning, documents, the online application, evaluation fees and tracking. Use the country-specific document guidance as well as the university checklist.
- Check the final award, full subject/grade record and required grading-system evidence.
- Upload original-language documents with acceptable translations where required.
- Verify whether further programme documents belong in My assist or in the university portal.
- Pay the stated evaluation charge through the official route and save confirmation.
- Review the evaluation message and respond within the applicable deadline.
Final checks and unknowns
Before marking an application complete, ask whether the programme, applicant category, intake, documents, payment and final submission all match. Checked 20 September 2026: programme deadlines, exceptions, fees and individual processing times have not been established by this guide. Reopen the current instructions when reusing an old checklist, because application systems can change.
Official sources
Check the current programme call before submitting. The links below were used to prepare this guide; a prior-cycle call does not confirm the deadline for your intended intake.
- uni-assist — VPD purpose, processing and validity ↗www.uni-assist.de
- uni-assist — application workflow ↗www.uni-assist.de
- uni-assist — document preparation ↗www.uni-assist.de
- TU Berlin — foreign-primary-degree master's route ↗www.tu.berlin