Germany’s reputation as an open and welcoming destination for international students continues to grow, even as global trends point towards increased renationalisation and reduced cross-border movement.
The latest figures from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) confirm that student bodies at German universities are more international than ever before.
‘Wissenschaft weltoffen 2025’
Drawing on data from Germany's statistical office and a wide range of sources, the 25th edition of the flagship “Wissenschaft weltoffen 2025” (Science Open to the World 2025) report provides a comprehensive overview of how higher education in Germany is becoming more and more international.
The headline findings are striking: in the 2024/25 winter semester, around 402,100 international students were enrolled at German universities – a six percent increase on the previous year.
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Foreign students now make up 14 percent of all students in Germany, up from just eight percent about a decade ago, in 2013/14.
As the report notes, “The ongoing internationalisation of the German science system seems to defy global renationalisation trends.”
What are foreign students studying in Germany?
Engineering remains the top choice for international students in Germany, with 43 percent of the foreign student body enrolled in the field.
Economics, law, and social sciences are also popular, attracting 25 percent of foreign students.
By contrast, fewer foreign students come to Germany to study subjects such as the humanities or natural sciences.
The report also highlights that most international students are aiming for bachelor’s or master’s degrees, with dropout rates “only slightly higher” than those of German students – 16 percent for bachelor’s and nine percent for master’s, compared to 13 and six percent respectively for Germans.
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Where do foreign students in Germany come from?
Germany’s international student body is remarkably diverse. The largest group comes from Asia and the Pacific (33 percent), followed by North Africa and the Middle East (19 percent), Western Europe (15 percent) and Central and South-eastern Europe (13 percent).
Fewer students arrive from Eastern Europe and Central Asia (eight percent), Sub-Saharan Africa and Latin America (five percent each), and North America (two percent).
India, China and Turkey are among the leading countries of origin.
Why Germany remains a top choice
The report’s project manager, Dr Nicolai Netz of the DZHW, points out that “almost all indicators used to measure the internationalisation of the German higher education and science system are at record highs.”
This includes not only student numbers, but also the presence of international researchers and teachers, the availability of English-language degree programmes and the extent of international university collaborations.
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Germany’s appeal is further underlined by the fact that dropout rates for international students are comparable to those of their German peers, and that the vast majority (93 percent) are degree-seeking rather than short-term exchange students.
The report also notes the growing number of international academics and researchers in Germany, reflecting the country’s attractiveness for global talent at all levels.
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