Germany sees record rise in international students

According to recent data from the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), international students now comprise nearly 13% of Germany's total student body.

Indian students form the largest group, with around 49,000 enrollees, followed by China (38,700), Turkey (18,100), Austria (15,400), and Iran (15,200). Syria, previously among the top five, now ranks sixth with 13,400 students.

The highest concentrations of international students are found in North Rhine-Westphalia (78,500 students), followed by Bavaria (61,400) and Berlin (40,800).

Professor Monika Jungbauer-Gans, Scientific Director of the German Center for Higher Education Research and Science Studies, noted that the number of international students in Germany has risen for 15 consecutive years.

"This is a clear sign of the attractiveness of German universities and their study programs, especially the English-language Master's programs. To further increase student numbers, it will be important not to let up in our efforts to improve their academic success in both Bachelor's and Master's programs," she was quoted in a DAAD’s statement.

Currently, about 10% of academic programs in Germany are fully taught in English, a balance that has helped Germany sidestep the criticism faced by countries like the Netherlands, where the increase in English-taught programs has prompted government limitations, according to The Pie News.

A survey by Study in Germany, a portal on studying in Germany, identified three main reasons why the country appeals to foreign students.

First, public universities do not charge tuition fees; students only pay an administrative fee of 150-250 euros (US$160-268) per year. German higher education is also highly rated, with over 500 bachelor’s and master’s programs taught in English. In total, 49 German universities feature in the Times Higher Education global rankings.

Second, the average cost of living for international students in Germany is around 930 euros (US$1,000) per month, which is significantly lower than in the U.K. (US$1,500) or the U.S. (US$1,250).

Finally, after graduation, students have the opportunity to stay and work for up to 18 months with an extended residence permit. Survey results also show that nearly 70% of international students wish to stay in Germany to find employment after graduation.

Kai Sicks, DAAD Secretary-General, emphasizes the importance of DAAD supporting English-taught programs while equally promoting German language learning to enrich students' immersion experience.

"If you ask how successful an international student is in Germany, we very often get the answer that it depends on how well the student is integrated into the university and into society," he told The PIE.

Mastering German, he noted, allows students to engage in everyday interactions, like ordering at a bakery, and helps build connections with local residents.

Germany, Europe’s largest economy, faces a projected shortage of approximately 7 million skilled workers by 2035 due to an aging population, Reuters reported in February.

To address this, DAAD has called on the government, universities, and businesses to double the retention rate of international graduates, aiming to retain about 50,000 students per year by 2030.

In late May, Steffen Kaupp, Deputy Director of the Goethe-Institut Hanoi, reported that the number of Vietnamese students in Germany had reached nearly 7,400, an increase of around 30% compared to the pre-Covid-19 period.

Kaupp said Vietnamese people are very keen on vocational training, with nursing and hospitality being the most popular, accounting for nearly half, followed by engineering.