No APS required for Brazilian students
Brazilian qualifications are directly accepted
Unlike students from India, China, or Vietnam, Brazilians do not need an APS (Akademische Prüfstelle) certificate. Your Brazilian academic credentials — ENEM, secondary school leaving certificate, licenciatura, or bacharelado — are submitted directly to the German university or to uni-assist. There is no separate verification process to complete before applying. Most Brazilian 4-year bacharelado degrees are accepted for master's program entry; 3-year licenciatura degrees may require an equivalency review at some universities — confirm with each institution individually.
Typical documents required for a German university application
- Secondary school diploma (Ensino Médio certificate and transcripts)
- University degree certificate (bacharelado or licenciatura) and all semester transcripts
- Certified translations into German or English (sworn translator — tradutor juramentado)
- Proof of language proficiency: IELTS/TOEFL for English-taught programs; TestDaF/DSH/Goethe C1 for German-taught
- Letter of motivation (usually 1–2 pages)
- CV in European format (Europass template is standard)
- Two academic reference letters (required for most master's)
- Passport copy
- Portfolio or work samples (required for design, architecture, fine arts programs)
Direct application vs uni-assist
Understanding the two application routes
German universities fall into two categories for international applications. Many — especially technical universities (TU) and state universities — accept direct applications through their own portals. About 170 universities use uni-assist (uni-assist.de), a central processing service. You upload your documents to uni-assist (fee: ~€75 first application, ~€30 each additional), and they forward a verified application to each university. Check the admissions page of each target university to determine which route applies.
Brazilian qualification equivalency — general guidance
| Bachelor's (bacharelado, 4 years) | Widely recognized for master's entry across Germany |
|---|---|
| Licenciatura (3 years) | May require equivalency review; confirm with each university; some may request additional coursework |
| Tecnólogo (2–3 years) | Not typically equivalent to a full bachelor's; may require Studienkolleg or additional modules |
| Master's degree (mestrado) | Accepted for PhD programs; verify with supervisor |
| ENEM scores | Not directly used for German university admission; secondary school diploma is the relevant credential |
| Language of application | Portuguese documents accepted with certified German or English translation |
Application timeline for a winter semester start (October)
- October–December (year before): research programs, identify universities, request reference letters
- January–March: prepare and certify documents, obtain certified translations
- April–July: submit applications (most deadlines 15 July for international students)
- August–September: receive offers, accept, begin visa application
- October: arrive in Germany, enrol, register at Einwohnermeldeamt
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