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Do I have to apply through uni-assist from Nigeria or Ghana, and what does it cost?

By VisaRoom EditorialChecked 29 October 2026For applicants in Lagos and Abuja

Short answer

uni-assist costs EUR 75 for your first course and EUR 30 for each extra course, per semester, when we checked. You do not always have to use it. DAAD says foreign applicants apply to uni-assist, directly to the university, or to the Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung (the German admissions foundation), depending on country, certificate and subject. 13

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On this page
  1. Short answer
  2. Do I have to use uni-assist?
  3. What does uni-assist cost?
  4. What documents does uni-assist ask for from Nigeria?
  5. Do copies and translations need to be certified?
  6. Does uni-assist handle the Studienkolleg, and how do I spot fake agents?
  7. People also ask
  8. Related questions
  9. Sources

Do I have to use uni-assist?

Not always. DAAD says foreign students apply to the Stiftung für Hochschulzulassung (the German admissions foundation), directly to the university, or to uni-assist. Which one depends on your country, your entry certificate and the subject.

DAAD's requirements page says that if you are from a non-EU country, you send your application to uni-assist or to the university you chose. Ask the university's international office which one it wants.

uni-assist says it checks applications from international students for 180 German universities. Check the list of uni-assist universities to see whether your university uses uni-assist.

Sources for this part126

What does uni-assist cost?

uni-assist's Pay & submit page lists two handling fees for each semester, per course you choose.

Apply again for a new semester and you pay again. The page says the uni-assist universities set the handling fees, so check it again before you pay. We last checked it on 29 October 2026.

DAAD's application page gives the same two amounts.

  • EUR 75.00 for your first chosen course of study.
  • EUR 30.00 for each additional chosen course of study.

Sources for this part31

What documents does uni-assist ask for from Nigeria?

uni-assist has a country page for Nigeria. With a WASSC or NECO result, it asks for the two items listed below.

If you studied at a university, send your official transcript of records. It must carry the university's stamp and the registrar's signature. Add the grading system for your programme and year of graduation.

The grading system must show the classification of degrees with the highest possible mark and the lowest pass mark for a bachelor's degree. The page adds that this is often on the back of the transcript or in student handbooks.

The page says that if you meet all requirements, your WASSC qualifies you for the Studienkolleg (preparatory course). The preparatory courses and the Feststellungsprüfung (university qualification exam) usually can only be taken in German, it adds, even if your degree is taught in English.

On the pages we checked, we found no matching country page for Ghana, so this list is for Nigeria only.

  • A copy of your school leaving certificate, issued by WAEC or NECO.
  • A scratch card, or the information on it (card number and PIN), so your results can be checked.

Sources for this part4

Do copies and translations need to be certified?

DAAD says only officially certified copies and translations are accepted in the application process. Certification can be done, for example, by the German embassy in your home country. DAAD's general page says there is a fee for getting a document certified.

DAAD also says some universities accept documents in English and French. Ask your university before you pay for translations.

Sources for this part1

Does uni-assist handle the Studienkolleg, and how do I spot fake agents?

uni-assist says it is not automatically responsible for every application to a uni-assist university. Its own example: it may handle the university course but not the Studienkolleg. Ask the university who takes the Studienkolleg application.

uni-assist also warns about impersonators. It does not work with commercial agencies that place applicants at German universities. Some groups claim to be linked to uni-assist. It says payment requests come only from uni-assist and are paid only through the uni-assist online portal.

Sources for this part56

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.

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People also ask

How long does uni-assist take?

For Studienkolleg applications, uni-assist says you usually get your result within four to six weeks, and to apply ideally at least eight weeks before the deadline. On the pages we checked, we found no time stated for bachelor or master applications. 5

Can someone else pay my uni-assist fee?

uni-assist says another person can transfer the fee for you, but only using your personal IBAN (you request it in your My assist account and it is sent there as a message). 3

Sources

  1. 1Application processOfficialDAAD · checked 29 Oct 2026
  2. 2Requirements overviewOfficialDAAD · checked 29 Oct 2026
  3. 3Pay & submitOfficialuni-assist · checked 29 Oct 2026
  4. 4Details country: NigeriaOfficialuni-assist · checked 29 Oct 2026
  5. 5Studienkolleg – preparatory courseOfficialuni-assist · checked 29 Oct 2026
  6. 6uni-assist start pageOfficialuni-assist · 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.