Who qualifies for the "Students with Specific Qualifications" category in Lagos?
Short answer
"Students with Specific Qualifications" is a booking category in the German Consulate General Lagos portal, and the Lagos FAQ says the old "A-List" now corresponds to it. As listed when we checked, you can use it if you hold a PhD admission letter, a scholarship from German public funds or European supported funds, or a master's admission with a bachelor's degree graded "1. Class" and issued no more than 2 years ago (as the page words it). Everyone else books "Study Regular".
On this page
What is this category?
When you apply for a student visa in Lagos, you choose a category in the online portal, and your appointment booking must be in the correct category. "Students with Specific Qualifications" is one of them.
You may have heard of the "A-List". The Lagos FAQ says the A-List now corresponds to this portal category. It tells A-List students to read the student section of the website to see if they qualify, and to select the correct category when they apply.
Sources for this part2
Who can use the Specific Qualifications category?
The Lagos "University studies" page says applicants who meet one of these criteria can apply under "Study – Specific qualifications". This is how the page read on 29 October 2026:
- A letter of admission for PhD studies.
- A scholarship financed from German public funds or European supported funds, for a study or a PhD in Germany.
- "Holding a bachelor's degree with a grade of 1. Class issued no more than 2 years ago and having been accepted to a master's degree (also a DSH course-related admission to the master's program)".
- "PhD study in Germany", which is also on the page's list.
Sources for this part1
Does a bachelor's degree with "1. Class" qualify for the master's route?
The page doesn't explain what "a grade of 1. Class" means, and we won't guess for you. That is how the page read on 29 October 2026.
Sources for this part1
What if I do not fit, or I booked the wrong category?
The same page says everyone else applies in the other categories, and names "Study Regular".
The consulate says a booking in a wrong category will not be admitted, and you must also book a new, correct appointment. The visa section doesn't change bookings, so you cancel the wrong one and book again. The Lagos FAQ gives the same answer: it cannot make manual corrections.
If you've booked more than one category, the FAQ says to cancel the others yourself to keep the one you want.
I have a scholarship. Is anything different?
Two things apply to scholarship holders, and the wording differs from the Lagos category.
The fees page lists a fee waiver for a national visa for foreign nationals receiving a scholarship from public funds during their stay in Germany. It also covers their spouse or partner and minor children, as long as the funding covers them.
The Responsible Mission page says people living in these states can ask the embassy in Abuja for an interview if their scholarship is paid from public funds: FCT, Niger, Kwara, Kogi, Nassarawa, Benue, Taraba, Plateau, Adamawa, Gombe, Bauchi, Kaduna, Zamfara, Kebbi, Sokoto, Katsina, Kano, Jigawa, Yobe and Borno. You email the embassy to request it. In all other cases, the page says the Consulate General in Lagos is responsible.
Reading the answer is the easy part. Say it out loud.
The officer will ask about this. Answer in your own words, then read what your answer missed. Your first practice interview is free.
Practise saying it out loudPeople also ask
Is the A-List the same as Students with Specific Qualifications?
The Lagos FAQ says the A-List now corresponds to the portal category "Students with Specific Qualifications". It tells you to check the student section of the website to see if you qualify. 2
I booked the wrong category in Lagos. Can the consulate change it?
No. The consulate says incorrect bookings are not changed by the visa section. You cancel the booking and make a new one in the correct category. 32
Do scholarship holders pay the visa fee?
The fees page lists a national visa fee waiver for foreign nationals receiving a scholarship from public funds during their stay in Germany. Check the fees page for the current rules before you pay. 5
Sources
- 1University studiesOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 29 Oct 2026
- 2Frequently Asked QuestionsOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 29 Oct 2026
- 3Booking an appointment for visa purposesOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 29 Oct 2026
- 4Responsible MissionOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 29 Oct 2026
- 5Visa feesOfficialGerman Missions in Nigeria · checked 29 Oct 2026
Official is the embassy or a German government page. Applicant reports are what applicants say happened at their appointment. Secondary is everything else we checked.
General information, not legal advice. VisaRoom isn't connected to any embassy or government, and only the embassy decides on your visa. Something out of date? Tell us.