Anyone who wishes to apply to a German university with a foreign high school or college degree will need, at some universities, a Preliminary Audit Documentation—VPD for short – from uni-assist. This is not an admission letter, but rather the result of a preliminary review of the submitted academic records.
Quick Answer: uni-assist issues a VPD for certain universities. Among other things, it shows which transcripts have been reviewed, how uni-assist has evaluated them, and how the grade is classified within the German grading system. The VPD is valid for one year after issuance. Once you receive it, you must use it to apply directly to your university within the application deadline.
What does VPD stand for?
VPD stands for Preliminary Review Documentation.
It is prepared by uni-assist on behalf of certain universities when they use the so-called VPD procedure for international applicants.
The VPD contains, in particular, information regarding:
- which educational credentials were submitted to uni-assist,
- how uni-assist evaluates these transcripts and
- how uni-assist classifies this grade within the German grading system.
The VPD is therefore primarily a formal preliminary review of your foreign educational credentials.
Is the VPD a form of admission to a degree program?
No.
A VPD is not a letter of admission and does not guarantee a spot in a program.
Once uni-assist has issued the VPD, you must use it to apply directly to the university of your choice in accordance with that institution's guidelines.
Only the university decides whether a student is actually admitted to the desired degree program.
Who needs a VPD?
Not every international college application requires a VPD.
Whether the VPD procedure applies to you depends, in particular, on:
- the university of your choice,
- Your applicant status,
- Your educational credentials and
- the application guidelines of the respective college or university
from.
The university provides information on which applicants need a VPD and which documents must be uploaded to uni-assist for this purpose.
VPD or a standard uni-assist application—what's the difference?
This difference is particularly important.
Standard uni-assist Application Process
Under the standard procedure, uni-assist reviews the application and, if the requirements are met, forwards it to the relevant university.
The university then decides whether to admit the applicant.
VPD Process
In the VPD process, however, uni-assist first issues the preliminary review documentation.
After that, you'll need to take the initiative and submit your actual application directly to the university.
The VPD application submitted to uni-assist does not, therefore, replace the application to the university.
How can I find out if my college requires a VPD?
The most reliable source of information is the website of the college or university of your choice.
The following should be reviewed there:
- whether a VPD is required,
- for which groups of applicants it is required,
- which documents must be submitted to uni-assist,
- what the deadline is for applying to college later, and
- which additional documents are required directly from the university.
Information about the application process can also be found in the list of uni-assist universities.
How do you apply for a VPD through uni-assist?
If your university requires a VPD, the application is submitted via My Assist provided.
The basic procedure is as follows:
- Create a My Assist account or use an existing account.
- Submit an online application to the college of your choice.
- Upload all required educational documents.
- If applicable, upload accepted German or English translations.
- Submit the online application in full, in accordance with the guidelines.
- Wait for the review by uni-assist.
- Download the VPD from the My Assist inbox after it has been approved.
- Submit the VPD directly to the university by the deadline.
Do I have to choose a degree program when applying to the VPD?
uni-assist prepares the VPD specifically for the desired institution of higher education.
According to the latest information from uni-assist, you will not specify which major or majors you wish to apply for until you submit your application directly to the university at a later date.
It is therefore especially important to submit the VPD application to the correct university.
Is a VPD valid for multiple universities?
The VPD is provided by uni-assist specifically for a particular college or university created.
A VPD issued for University A should therefore not automatically be considered a VPD for University B.
If you wish to apply to multiple colleges, each of which requires a VPD, you must check their specific requirements separately.
How long does it take to process a VPD?
uni-assist typically estimates a processing time of about four to six weeks as of the date the online application is received.
The actual processing time may depend, in particular, on the current volume of applications.
That is why an application for a VPD should be filed as early as possible.
When should I apply for VPD?
uni-assist notes that a VPD can generally be applied for at any time.
However, the application deadline set by your college is what matters most.
By the end of this deadline, you must have submitted the completed VPD, along with the other required application materials, directly to the university.
Since uni-assist typically needs several weeks to review an application, submitting one shortly before the university’s deadline is therefore risky.
How long is a VPD valid?
According to the latest information from uni-assist, the VPD is valid from the date of issuance Valid for one year.
The validity period is independent of which semester was selected when submitting the application in My Assist.
Before using it later, however, you should check to see if the university has since published different application requirements.
Where can I find my completed VPD?
As soon as uni-assist has completed the review and issued the VPD, you will be notified by email.
The VPD will then be listed in your My assist Account under „My Inbox“ Available for download.
You should then save the document and upload it to the university's application portal in accordance with its guidelines.
What is included in a VPD?
According to information from uni-assist, the VPD includes, in particular:
- the educational certificates submitted,
- the evaluation of these transcripts by uni-assist and
- the classification of the grade within the German grading system.
The VPD thus documents the results of the preliminary review, but does not replace the university's subsequent admission examinations.
What should I do after I receive the VPD?
Once the VPD has been received, the second important part of the process begins.
You must now apply directly to the university.
Typically, this means:
- Download VPD from My Assist.
- Open the university's application portal.
- Select the degree program you want.
- Enter your personal information.
- Upload the VPD.
- Upload any additional documents required by the university.
- Submit your complete application before the university deadline.
The university determines which additional documents are required.
Do I have to send the VPD directly to the university?
Yes. uni-assist explicitly states that applicants must submit the VPD to the university themselves as part of the VPD process.
The VPD must be uploaded along with the other application materials in accordance with the university's guidelines.
uni-assist does not handle this second step of the application process for you.
What happens if the VPD is late?
The university's application deadline is the determining factor.
If the university requires that the VPD be submitted by the end of its application deadline, it must be submitted on time.
If the VPD is not received until after the university application deadline has passed, this may mean that it is no longer possible to apply for that semester.
For this reason, uni-assist recommends submitting the VPD application as early as possible.
What documents do I need for the VPD?
The exact list of documents is determined by the respective university or is based on uni-assist's requirements for your educational path.
For example, the following are often relevant:
- High school diploma,
- Complete overview of courses and grades,
- university entrance exam, if applicable,
- academic transcripts, if applicable,
- Bachelor's degree certificate for applications to graduate programs,
- Transcript of Records,
- Diploma Supplement,
- Language Proficiency Certificates and
- Additional country-specific documents.
It is particularly important to follow the country-specific guidelines provided by uni-assist.
Do the transcripts have to be uploaded in their entirety?
Yes. Educational transcripts should be submitted in full.
According to the general uni-assist standards, these include, in particular:
- Diploma,
- Subject and Grade Overview,
- relevant attachments and
- Front and back, if both sides are labeled.
Missing pages may prevent the documents from being reviewed in their entirety.
Do I need a translation for the VPD?
If your educational documents were not issued in German or English, you will generally need to submit a German or English translation to uni-assist.
This also applies to subject and grade reports.
The translation does not replace the document in the original language.
Therefore, both the original language and the required translation must always be uploaded.
Does an English report card still need to be translated?
Not automatically.
If your transcripts were officially issued in English or German in your country of origin, uni-assist does not require an additional translation in accordance with its general standards.
Exceptions may apply based on the relevant country-specific information.
Who is authorized to translate documents for the VPD?
In accordance with its general standards, uni-assist accepts translations of the following educational documents:
- Individuals or institutions authorized to provide certified or court-approved translations, or
- an authorized department at the issuing school or college.
Translations provided by a general translation agency without the appropriate authorization will not be accepted under the general uni-assist standards.
Here, too, the country-specific guidelines may include additional requirements.
Why should I review the country-specific information?
The requirements for educational documents are not the same in every country.
Depending on where the degree was earned, the following may also be required, for example:
- College entrance exams,
- Diploma Supplements,
- certain certificates of enrollment,
- Proof of accreditation,
- specific grade reports or
- Special Types of Translation.
Therefore, in addition to the general requirements, you should always check the relevant country-specific guidelines.
Can I submit any missing documents later?
Missing documents can generally still be uploaded to uni-assist as long as the relevant application deadline has not passed.
However, documents submitted later must be reviewed again.
This may result in additional processing time.
This is particularly critical in the case of a VPD, because the completed VPD must then be submitted to the university in a timely manner.
What happens if the documents are incomplete?
If uni-assist determines during the review that required documents are missing, this will be noted in the review results.
Any missing documents should then be submitted as soon as possible via My Assist.
Since documents submitted after the deadline must be processed again, you should not apply for a VPD just before the application deadline.
VPD for Bachelor's and Master's Programs
A college or university may use the VPD process for different groups of applicants.
Whether you need a VPD for a bachelor's or master's application is determined by the respective university.
Possible documents for a bachelor's degree
- High School Diploma
- Subject and Grade Overview
- university entrance exam, if applicable
- any prior college or university studies, if applicable
- Additional country-specific documentation
Possible Documents for a Master's Degree
- Bachelor's Degree Certificate
- Transcript of Records
- Diploma Supplement, if applicable
- Additional academic credentials
The university may also request additional documents that are not part of the actual VPD exam.
VPD and Grade Conversion
An important part of the VPD is the conversion of foreign grades into the German grading system.
This evaluation is conducted by uni-assist.
A translation of the transcript, however, generally does not involve any independent technical conversion of the foreign grade into a German grade.
Translation and evaluation are therefore two separate steps.
Can StartDE translate my transcripts for the VPD?
If an accepted German or English translation is required for your VPD application, StartDE can arrange for professional translations or certified translations that meet the necessary requirements.
Examples of typical educational documents include:
- High school diplomas,
- Subject and Grade Summaries,
- Bachelor's degrees,
- Master's degrees,
- Diplomas,
- Transcript of Records,
- Diploma Supplements and
- Additional academic transcripts.
You can submit your request directly through our website Interpreting & Translation Services at StartDE place.
What should I include in a translation request?
- Complete and clearly legible scans of all documents,
- all relevant front and back pages,
- Source language,
- Desired target language,
- Payment reference: „VPD / uni-assist,“,
- if applicable, country-specific information or university guidelines,
- Desired completion date and
- For non-Latin scripts, the spelling of the name as it appears in the passport, if applicable.
Express Translation for a VPD Application
As the application deadline approaches, you may need a translation done quickly.
Depending on the order, StartDE may consider expedited processing.
Depending on the document, language pair, length, and availability, a The certified translation will be completed the same day.
Important: A quick translation does not shorten the processing time at uni-assist. You should therefore still allow sufficient lead time for the VPD.
Translation as a PDF for My Assist
Once the translation is complete, a PDF version or a scan of the translation can be provided initially.
This allows the required documents to be uploaded digitally to My assist in accordance with the current guidelines.
Whether the university later requires additional or physical documents depends on its own requirements.
Received a physical copy via DHL
Upon request, a hard copy of a translation can also be provided via DHL be shipped.
In particularly urgent cases, express delivery may also be an option, depending on the appropriate DHL service.
The actual delivery time depends on the shipping service you choose and the delivery address.
Common Mistakes When Filing a VPD Application
- Apply for a VPD just a few days before the college application deadline
- Confusing a VPD with a notice of approval
- Forgot to submit the actual college application after receiving the VPD
- Applying for a VPD for the Wrong College
- Upload only the translation, not the original-language certificate
- Submit incomplete course and grade reports
- Forgot to label the backs
- Use translations that have not been accepted
- Do not check country-specific notes
- assume that a VPD automatically applies to every college or university
VPD Checklist Before Submitting the Application
- Does my college actually require a VPD?
- To which group of applicants does this process apply?
- When is the university's application deadline?
- Have I set aside enough time for the uni-assist exam?
- Are my transcripts complete?
- Are all subject and grade reports available?
- Have I reviewed the country-specific information?
- Are the documents available in their original language?
- Do I also need a German or English translation?
- Does the translation meet the uni-assist requirements?
- Did I also upload the relevant back pages and attachments?
- Do I know how the application process works when applying directly to the college later on?
Conclusion: The VPD is only the first part of the college application process
The preliminary review documentation provided by uni-assist makes it easier for certain universities to evaluate international academic credentials.
It contains information about the submitted transcripts, their evaluation, and the corresponding grade in the German grading system.
However, it is especially important that: A VPD is not a license. Once you receive the VPD, you must apply directly to the university yourself within the applicable deadline.
Since processing typically takes several weeks, the application should be submitted well in advance. At the same time, academic transcripts, translations, country-specific information, and university deadlines should be thoroughly reviewed—ideally before submitting the application.
Do you need a professional or certified translation of your transcripts for a VPD application? Please send StartDE your complete documents, along with the source language, target language, and intended use, via our website Professional Translations at StartDE.
Official Information About the VPD
Frequently Asked Questions About the VPD from uni-assist
What is a VPD from uni-assist?
The preliminary review documentation contains information on which transcripts were submitted, how uni-assist evaluates them, and how the grade is converted to the German grading system. uni-assist.de
Is a VPD a notice of approval?
No. Once you receive the VPD, you must apply directly to the university. The university decides on admission.
How long does VPD last?
uni-assist typically estimates four to six weeks from the date the online application is received. uni-assist.de
How long is a VPD valid?
The VPD is valid for one year from the date of issuance, regardless of the semester selected when submitting the application in My Assist. uni-assist.de
Does the VPD apply to every college or university?
uni-assist issues the VPD specifically for the desired institution of higher education. When applying to multiple institutions, applicants should therefore check the respective VPD requirements separately. uni-assist.de
Do I need to have my transcripts translated for the VPD?
Documents that were not officially issued in German or English generally require a German or English translation when submitted to uni-assist. Country-specific guidelines may contain special rules. uni-assist.de
Is the translation sufficient without the original document?
No. uni-assist generally requires academic transcripts in their original language, along with the required translation. uni-assist.de
What should I do after I receive the VPD?
Download the VPD from My Assist and submit it, along with the other required documents, directly to the university by the application deadline. uni-assist.de
