International PhD Programme for Agricultural Economics, Bioeconomy and Sustainable Food Systems (IPPAE)

What you would need to do

In the order you must act, not the order things get published. Some steps depend on your nationality — tell us where you are from and this list gets sharper.

1. APS certificate (Akademische Prüfstelle) — IndiaVerification of academic documents issued by Indian institutions. Required for the German student visa. It does NOT replace a university's admission decision, and it can run in parallel with university applications. · by 2027-08-03Academic Evaluation Centre India (APS India) ↗
2. Submit your applicationBefore you applyApplications close on 2027-08-31 · by 2027-08-31Justus Liebig University Giessen ↗
3. APS India minimum Class XII score of 70%Before you applyA hard academic floor applied at COUNTRY level, outside any university's own criteria. A student holding a university offer can still be refused the APS certificate, and therefore the visa. Announced 23 February 2026, effective Winter Semester 2026/27.Academic Evaluation Centre India (APS India) ↗
4. dMAT (Digital Master Test) — required for some Master's fieldsBefore you applyStandardised academic aptitude test run by APS India with g.a.s.t. Required as part of APS documentation for Master's applicants whose PREVIOUS degree is in Engineering; Commerce, Accounting, Finance or Economics; or Business and Management. Applies from the s · EUR 150APS India with g.a.s.t. ↗
5. German language proficiency (institution-set level)No national minimum level. The recognised EXAMS are standardised nationally (TestDaF and DSH), but the required level and any waiver are set by each institution.Individual higher education institutions; exams standardised nationally ↗
6. Proof of financial resources (Finanzierungsnachweis / Sperrkonto)Applicants must prove funds for one year, commonly by depositing into a blocked account (Sperrkonto). Blocks the visa, not the university application. · EUR 11,904Federal Foreign Office / DAAD Study in Germany ↗
7. Health insurance (compulsory)Proof of health insurance is demanded at BOTH university enrolment and residence-permit application.DAAD Study in Germany ↗
8. Anmeldung (residence registration)Every international student moving to Germany must register at the residents' registration office, usually within one week. The written confirmation is needed to obtain the residence permit.Einwohnermeldeamt / Bürgeramt, then Ausländerbehörde for the permit ↗

Cost

tuition — EUR 0 per year (international students)DAAD International Programmes: International PhD Programme for Agricultural Economics, Bioeconomy and Sustainable Food Systems (IPPAE) at Justus Liebig University Giessen — tuition fees as published: 'No tuition fees'Checked 2026-08-16 · daad.de

Entry requirements

• languageDAAD programme detail for International PhD Programme for Agricultural Economics, Bioeconomy and Sustainable Food Systems (IPPAE) at Justus Liebig University Giessen — english language requirement as published: C1 required, please provide an official language certificate, e.g.: UNIcert® English: UNIcert® III IELTS Academic: 7 TOEFL iBT (before 2026): 95 Reading: 24 Listening: 22 Speaking: 25 Writing: 24
• otherDAAD programme detail for International PhD Programme for Agricultural Economics, Bioeconomy and Sustainable Food Systems (IPPAE) at Justus Liebig University Giessen — academic admission requirements as published: Outstanding MSc or MA in agricultural economics, economics, environmental sciences or rural development, obtained not more than six years prior to the application. Candidates are expected to have relevant work experience, such as at least two years of work experience as a researcher at an institute of higher education or at a research institute in their home country. Preference is given to candidates whose employers offer a reintegration guarantee. Before beginning the PhD work, candidates must: pass a German language course exam pass the coursework exam in agricultural economics within the first year of the programme include a research proposal on a relevant topic in their hom