What is uni-assist?
uni-assist is a service that checks international educational certificates and assesses application documents, including any extra conditions the university sets. The basic flow, given as uni-assist's 6 steps, is as follows.
What matters here is that uni-assist does not decide who is admitted. In the standard procedure, an application that meets the conditions after uni-assist's check is sent to the university, and the university makes the final admission decision.
- Check the application requirements of your university and programme
- Check the application period and deadline
- Prepare the required documents
- Apply online in My assist
- Pay the fee
- Check the review status in My assist
What is the difference between the standard procedure and the VPD?
| Item | Standard procedure | VPD procedure |
|---|---|---|
| First step | Submit your application in My assist | Apply for the VPD in My assist |
| uni-assist's role | Checks documents and, if the conditions are met, sends them to the university electronically | Assesses your education and issues the VPD |
| Application to the university | Sent by uni-assist | You apply yourself, with the VPD, through the application system the university specifies |
| Admission decision | The university | The university |
VPD stands for Vorprüfungsdokumentation, a preliminary review document issued by uni-assist. According to the VPD page, it is valid for one year from its date of issue. In the VPD procedure, the application to the university is not finished when uni-assist issues the VPD. You must submit the VPD you obtain before the university's application deadline, so applying just before the deadline may be too late.
How much does uni-assist cost?
- First course
- 75 euros
- Each additional course in the same semester
- 30 euros
The uni-assist handling fees page gives the amounts above as of October 2026. For example, applying for 3 courses in the same semester costs 75 euros + 30 euros + 30 euros, a total of 135 euros. The basic fee structure is the same for the standard procedure and the VPD procedure.
Some universities pay uni-assist's fee themselves, so the applicant does not pay. A note may be shown on the My assist selection screen.
How many weeks before should I apply?
The uni-assist deadlines and processing time page recommends applying, if possible, at least 8 weeks before the university's deadline. A normal result takes about 4 to 6 weeks. In the processing times updated on 28 September 2026, educational documents from Asia, North America and Oceania were given as 4 to 5 weeks.
Processing times do vary, though. With the VPD, a direct application to the university still remains after you obtain it, so you need to allow even more time.
15 July and 15 January are not everyone's deadlines
In applications to German universities, you often see 15 July for winter semester starts and 15 January for summer semester starts. But uni-assist itself states that these dates are used for many courses, not all.
Earlier deadlines may be set for the Studienkolleg, master's courses and certain popular programmes. So Petra Tutors recommends not thinking that 15 July is fine, but treating the deadline written on your chosen university's and programme's official page as the final standard.
Documents needed when applying from a school in Japan
In the uni-assist guidance for Japan, the following are mainly given for applying with a Japanese high school qualification. Additional documents may be required depending on where you apply.
- High school diploma, including an overview of subjects and grades
- Results of the Common Test for University Admission, if you have them
- University diplomas and transcripts, if you have studied at a university
Educational certificates issued in Japanese need a translation into German or English in addition to the original. According to the translations page, it accepts certified translations by sworn translators or similar, and translations by a department of the issuing school or university that is authorised to translate. Non-certified translations from standard translation agencies are not accepted.
What do you do in My assist?
My assist is uni-assist's online application portal. After creating an account, you enter your educational background, search for universities and courses, and upload the documents required. You can also manage applications for several semesters, upload documents, submit TestAS results and check the status of your application.
Rather than uploading the same document more times than necessary, giving files clear English or German names makes them easier to check.
Common mistakes
| Common misunderstanding | In fact |
|---|---|
| Thinking you have applied once you have the VPD | In the VPD procedure, a step remains after obtaining the VPD: applying directly to the university |
| Thinking 15 July or 15 January is every university's deadline | These two are common dates, but the deadline of each university and programme takes priority |
| Submitting to uni-assist just before the deadline | You are left without time to correct any missing documents. Applying at least 8 weeks ahead is recommended |
| Thinking uni-assist decides admission | uni-assist assesses your education and documents, but the university makes the final admission decision |
| Uploading only Japanese documents | Prepare Japanese educational certificates as the original together with a certified English or German translation |
Checklist before you apply
Summary
What matters most when using uni-assist is not only whether to use it but which of the standard procedure, the VPD and a direct application your university and programme specify.
As of October 2026, uni-assist's basic fee is 75 euros for the first course and 30 euros for each additional course in the same semester. A normal review takes about 4 to 6 weeks, but uni-assist recommends applying at least 8 weeks before the deadline. With the VPD in particular, a direct application to the university is needed after you obtain it. It is safest to allow plenty of time and to check both the university's official page and uni-assist as you go.
For preparing applications to universities abroad more broadly, SAT exam structure and benefits and similar articles are also a useful reference.
