The Digital Master Test (dMAT) is a 3.5-hour computer-based academic aptitude exam for Indian students applying to specific Master's degree programmes in Germany from the Summer 2027 intake onwards.
Here are the key highlights of the dMAT exam:
dMAT Particulars
dMAT Details
Full Form
Digital Master Test
Duration
3.5 hours
Mode
Computer-based exam
Who needs it?
Eligible Indian students applying for specific Master's programmes in Germany
Applicable intake
Summer 2027 onwards
Test Modules
Core Module and Subject Module, which is the General Academic Module
Exam Fee
€150 (approximately ₹15,900)
In the sections below, you will find detailed information about the dMAT exam, including its eligibility, dates, fees, test centres, exam pattern, registration process, preparation, results and the APS verification steps to follow.
Who Needs to Take the dMAT in 2026?
The Digital Master Test (dMAT), administered by g.a.s.t., is required for Indian graduates applying for a Master's programme in Germany for the Summer Semester 2027 intake or later, if their previous degree falls under the fields covered by the dMAT requirement.
This mainly includes students with a Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Commerce, Finance, Economics, Business or Management. So, for example, a student with a B.Tech in Computer Science or a B.Com in Finance may need to take the dMAT before completing the APS process.
dMAT Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible for the dMAT entrance exam, you generally need to meet these requirements:
Eligibility Requirement
What it means
Nationality
You should be an Indian applicant with an undergraduate degree applying to study in Germany.
Degree level
You should hold a Bachelor's degree or equivalent qualification when applying for a Master's programme.
Academic field
Engineering, Commerce, Finance, Economics, Business or Management
Study destination
You should be applying for a Master's programme at a German university.
Intake
The requirement applies to eligible applicants for the Summer Semester 2027 intake and later.
The academic field is one of the main points to check.
Engineering covers areas such as Mechanical Engineering, Electrical Engineering, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Information Technology and Industrial Engineering.
The Commerce, Finance and Economics group includes courses such as B.Com, Accounting, Economics and Finance, while Business and Management can include degrees such as BBA and related management programmes.
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Who May Not Need to Take the dMAT?
Not every Indian student applying to Germany needs to take the test. You may be exempt if:
You registered your APS profile or shipped your complete APS documents before June 29, 2026, or already have an APS certificate.
You are applying for a Bachelor's or PhD programme instead of a Master's programme.
You are applying through an exchange or double-degree programme covered by the applicable exemption.
Your previous degree is in a field outside the academic areas covered by the dMAT requirement.
You are applying for the Winter 2026 intake, which falls outside the Summer Semester 2027 and later requirement.
If your degree falls somewhere between two fields, do not rely only on the course name. Check the official dMAT eligibility information before registering, especially for interdisciplinary programmes such as Business Analytics, Engineering Management or related courses.
When Can You Take the dMAT in 2026?
The 2026 dMAT cycle is mainly relevant to students planning for the Summer Semester 2027 intake or later.
You need to complete the test within the given timeline and keep enough time between the exam and your university or APS application steps.
If you are planning to take the dMAT in 2026, do not wait until the last few days to register. Give yourself some time to complete the registration, check your details and choose an available test centre.
Once the exam is over, the online certificate becomes available from October 12, 2026.
What If You Miss the September 2026 Test?
The September 2026 test is the first dMAT administration in India. g.a.s.t. has stated that the next test after 26 September 2026 is planned for the first quarter of 2027, with the exact date to be announced on the dMAT website.
So, if you are applying for a later intake, check the latest dMAT schedule before planning your registration. Test dates and registration deadlines can change for each exam cycle.
The dMAT exam fee is €150 (approximately ₹15,900) for applicants taking the test in India. The fee is paid online through the g.a.s.t. registration process.
If you also need to complete APS verification, keep that cost separate from your dMAT payment. The two fees are paid for different parts of the Germany application process.
Total dMAT Cost
Amount (EUR/INR)
dMAT Exam Fee
€150 (approx. ₹15,900)
APS Verification Fee
₹18,000
Combined Cost
Approx. ₹33,900
So, if both requirements apply to you, you should plan for around ₹33,900 in total for the dMAT and APS verification.
Note: The final INR amount for the dMAT can vary slightly depending on the exchange rate and any bank or card charges.
The dMAT is conducted at licensed test centres across India, with centres currently listed across 10 cities.
If you are choosing a centre, check the available location and contact details before booking, especially if you plan to travel to another city for the exam.
Here is a quick look at the available dMAT test centres:
City
Test Centre Name
Contact Details
Ahmedabad, Gujarat
Medhavi Skills University
+91 9031637077
Bengaluru, Karnataka
Study Feeds
+91 99588 40779 / +91 92121 21739
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Bhopal Study Feeds
+91 99588 40779
Chandigarh
Eduployment Success Partners Pvt. Ltd.
atin.garg@eduployment.in
Chennai, Tamil Nadu
Study Feeds Chennai
+91 99588 40779
Kolkata, West Bengal
Hiralal Mazumdar Memorial College for Women
+91 99588 40779
Mananthavady, Kerala
Norbert's Academy
+91 7907077311
Mumbai, Maharashtra
Eduployment
atin.garg@eduployment.in
New Delhi, Delhi
Study Feeds German Education Consultants
+91 99588 40779 / +91 9911687779
Pune, Maharashtra
Pune Study Feeds
+91 99588 40779
Note: Centre availability and venue details can change. For some locations, the final venue may be mentioned on the admission ticket, so check your ticket and the latest official information before travelling.
Centres are also available in Berlin, Germany, and Kathmandu, Nepal.
For complete addresses and detailed centre information, you can refer to ourdMAT Test Centres in India page.
dMAT Exam Syllabus and Pattern
The dMAT exam is divided into two main modules:
Core Module: Tests your reasoning, logical thinking and problem-solving skills.
Subject Module (General Academic Module): Tests your knowledge and understanding of your academic field.
The two modules are scored separately, and their scores are combined to give your overall dMAT score.
dMAT Exam Sections
The Core Module includes Figure Sequences, Mathematical Equations and Latin Squares, which test logical thinking, pattern recognition and problem-solving.
The Subject Module (General Academic Module) tests your knowledge and understanding of your academic field, and its content depends on the subject you take.
dMAT Exam Pattern
The Core Module has 60 tasks in total, divided equally across its three subtests. Each subtest has its own 25-minute time limit.
Figure Sequences: 20 tasks, 25 minutes
Mathematical Equations: 20 tasks, 25 minutes
Latin Squares: 20 tasks, 25 minutes
Core Module total: 60 tasks, 75 minutes
An additional 15 minutes is provided for preparation, bringing the total time to 90 minutes.
The 25-minute limit applies separately to each subtest. Any time left after one subtest cannot be carried forward to the next.
For the Subject Module (General Academic Module), the test duration is 90 minutes. The number and type of tasks depend on the subject module you choose, so check the relevant syllabus before planning your preparation.
You can register for the dMAT online through the g.a.s.t. Test Taker Portal. The process includes creating your candidate profile, selecting a physical test centre in India and paying the €150 (approximately ₹15,900)exam fee.
The dMAT certificate must be submitted with your APS application. You can submit your APS documents before the dMAT certificate is available, but APS India issues the final APS certificate only after the dMAT certificate has been submitted and checked.
Steps to Register for dMAT
Here is what you need to do:
1. Create your g.a.s.t. Profile: Visit the official g.a.s.t. Test Taker Portal and create your online candidate profile.
2. Enter your details: Fill in the required personal and academic information carefully. Make sure your details match your official documents.
3. Select a test centre: Choose an available physical dMAT test centre in India. Check the centre location before confirming your selection, especially if you need to travel for the exam.
4. Pay the exam fee: Complete the online payment of the €150 (approx. ₹15,900) dMAT exam fee to proceed with your registration.
5. Check your registration details: Review your personal information, academic details and selected test centre before submitting the registration.
6. Appear for the dMAT: Attend the exam at your selected test centre on the scheduled date.
7. Download your dMAT certificate: After the exam and result processing, your dMAT certificate becomes available online. You can then use it for the applicable APS India verification process.
Documents Required for Registration
Keep these documents ready before you begin your dMAT registration:
Check the latest requirements on the official g.a.s.t. Test Taker Portal before registering, as document requirements may be updated for a new test cycle.
How to Prepare for the dMAT?
The dMAT is easier to prepare for when you first get comfortable with the question types and then build your speed through regular practice. Start with the official videos and sample questions before moving to timed practice.
A simple preparation approach is to:
Understand the question types first: Learn what each Core Module task asks you to do before starting timed practice.
Start with official sample questions: Try a few questions without a timer and focus on understanding how they work.
Review your mistakes: Do not just check the right answer. Look at what you missed and why.
Bring in the timer gradually: Once you are comfortable with the questions, practise within the time available for each section.
Practise your Subject Module (General Academic Module): Revise the concepts and topics related to your academic field.
Focus on accuracy and speed: Work on questions that take you longer and practise similar ones again.
Official dMAT Preparation Material
The official dMAT resources can help you understand the test format and get started with practice.
Your dMAT result is published in the g.a.s.t. participant portal, where you can also download your official dMAT certificate. For the first dMAT test in India, held on September 26, 2026, results and certificates are scheduled to be available from October 12, 2026.
The certificate reports your performance through two measures: the dMAT score and percentile rank. You receive a separate dMAT score for the Core Module and Subject Module.
How Are the dMAT Sections Scored?
The dMAT score is based on the number of correct answers and is converted to a scale of 0 to 200, with 100 as the average.
The Core Module and Subject Module each receive a separate score and your overall dMAT score is the two module scores added together.
Understanding Your dMAT Percentile
Your percentile rank shows how your result compares with other dMAT participants. It represents the percentage of participants who achieved a lower or equal result.
For example, a 70th percentile means that 70% of participants scored lower than or equal to you, while 30% scored higher. The percentile is based on participants across test centres and test dates.
APS Verification Steps to Follow After dMAT
You do not need to wait for your dMAT result to start the APS verification process. According to the APS India guidelines, eligible students can begin their APS application, complete the online registration and send their physical documents while their dMAT result is still pending.
The dMAT certificate can be submitted digitally once it becomes available. This means you can work on your APS process alongside your dMAT timeline instead of waiting for the result before starting.
How to Complete APS Verification Alongside dMAT?
Here is how the process works:
Register online with APS India: Complete your APS registration and provide the required details.
Pay the APS processing fee: The APS verification fee is ₹18,000, which is separate from the dMAT exam fee.
Submit your physical documents: Prepare the required colour copies and courier the physical document bundle to the APS India office in New Delhi.
Take the dMAT and wait for your certificate: You can complete the dMAT while your APS verification is in progress. There is no need to hold your APS application until the dMAT result is released.
Submit your dMAT certificate digitally: Once your dMAT certificate is available, submit the digital certificate as required by APS India to complete the verification process.
Indian applicants please note: The dMAT exam fee and APS processing fee are separate payments. Starting your APS application early can also help you avoid waiting for the dMAT result before beginning the document verification process.
Conclusion
For students who need to take the dMAT, planning the exam alongside the Germany application is important. You can start the APS verification process without waiting for your dMAT result, so both processes can move forward at the same time. Once your dMAT certificate is available, it can be submitted as required during the APS process.
Keeping your exam date, registration deadline, preparation time and APS document submission in mind can help you plan the application more smoothly. It is also worth checking the latest official updates before registering, as exam dates, test centres and application requirements may change with each cycle.
The dMAT is compulsory for selected Indian Master’s applicants whose previous degree falls under affected fields such as Engineering, Commerce, Finance, Economics, Business or Management, for applications from the Summer Semester 2027 onwards, unless an exemption applies.
2. Is the dMAT exam tough?
The difficulty of the dMAT can vary because it includes questions from different academic and analytical areas. Official sample questions are designed to familiarise students with possible task types, but their difficulty may differ from the actual test.
3. Who needs to take the dMAT exam?
The dMAT applies to selected Indian students applying for Master’s programmes in Germany whose previous degree falls within the affected fields. These currently include Engineering, Commerce, Accounting, Finance, Economics, Business and Management.
4. Is the dMAT exam required for MBA programmes in Germany?
The dMAT exam for MBA applicants may be required if the applicant is an Indian student and their previous degree falls under the academic fields covered by the dMAT requirement. Check the specific programme and current eligibility rules before registering.
5. Can I apply to German universities without taking the dMAT?
The dMAT is part of the APS documentation for applicants covered by the current requirement. However, German universities independently decide their admission requirements. The dMAT does not replace the university’s own admission process or decision.
6. How many times can I take the dMAT exam?
You can take the dMAT more than once. According to the official dMAT FAQ, there is no stated limit on the number of attempts, so you may take the test as many times as you wish.
7. Is there negative marking in the dMAT exam?
The official dMAT information describes the test score as a conversion of the number of correct answers to a score between 0 and 200.
8. What is a good dMAT score?
There is no single dMAT score that guarantees admission. The certificate reports a score from 0 to 200, with 100 as the average. A score above 100 can indicate performance above the average, but what counts as a competitive result depends on the university and programme.
9. How long is the dMAT certificate valid?
The dMAT certificate is generally valid indefinitely. However, if you submit it directly to a German university, that institution may have its own rules about how long it accepts the result for admission purposes.
10. Can I start my APS application before receiving my dMAT result?
Yes. Applicants covered by the dMAT requirement can submit their APS application documents before the dMAT certificate is available. However, APS India can issue the final APS certificate only after the required dMAT certificate is submitted and checked.
11. What happens if I miss the dMAT exam date?
If you do not attend the test after the registration deadline, you generally cannot claim a refund and no dMAT certificate will be issued for that registration. You will need to check the next available test date and registration deadline.
upGrad Abroad Editorial Team |5055 articles published
We are a dedicated team of study-abroad experts, ensuring intensive research and comprehensive information in each of our blogs. With every piece written, we aim at simplifying the overseas education ...
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