International students now have more study abroad destinations to choose from than ever before. While the ‘Big Four’ remain popular with many students,1 each of these Anglophone destinations has experienced softened student demand due to affordability concerns, visa challenges, and shifting student preferences. But because global student mobility remains high, this has created a major opportunity for alternative study abroad destinations to capture student interest.
One destination that has seen a steady rise in international student popularity over the past decade is Germany. And, earlier this year, ApplyBoard announced the addition of Germany as our newest destination option for students, unlocking student pathways across continental Europe.
With Germany projected to reach a new all-time high for international student populations in 2024/25,2 it’s an opportune time to take a closer look at Germany’s higher education landscape. Today, we’ll look back at the past decade of German international education, break down Germany’s top student populations, and highlight what international students are studying in Germany, and more.
Key Insights at a Glance
- Germany’s international student population is projected to reach 405,000 in 2024/25, rising 7% from 2023/24 and continuing a decade of sustained growth.
- Over 40% of international students in Germany studied Engineering in 2022/23,3 making it the most popular field of study.
- Increased demand for graduate studies is driving higher international student enrollment. Over the past five years, the number of international Master’s students in Germany rose by nearly 40%.4
- Germany’s international student body is highly diverse, with no single international student population accounting for more than 13% of all international students in 2023/24.
A Decade of Sustained Growth for German International Education
Germany has experienced steady and sustained growth as a study abroad destination over the past decade. In fact, other than the years impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany has hosted around 15,000 more international students every year since 2015/16. During this time, Germany has become the third most popular destination for international students in Europe and the sixth most popular destination globally5:
2024/25 is on track to be another banner year for international education in Germany. According to recent projections from DAAD,6 Germany’s international student population will exceed 400,000 for the first time, representing nearly 7% growth from 2023/24 and the largest year-over-year gain since 2021/22.
A primary cause of this consistent growth is affordability. Living in Germany is typically 20% to 40% cheaper than living in the US, and most German public universities offer tuition-free programmes for international students. With the cost of living continuing to rise around the world, and affordability central to many future students’ plans, German institutions have a distinct recruitment advantage.
This stable and consistent expansion suggests continued gains in the coming years. If current growth rates persist, Germany could surpass France as the second-most popular European destination for international students before 2030.
ApplyBoard is proud to partner with over 15 top academic institutions in Germany, including Schiller International University and the University of Europe for Applied Sciences.
Top Student Populations for German Higher Education
Achieving persistent international student population growth is often contingent on several major factors. Government policies, media sentiment, affordability, and visa processes can all shift student preferences. But, another key factor can be a leading indicator for long-term growth: diversity of student populations.
In 2023/24, no one student population accounted for more than 13% of all international students in Germany. In fact, the top ten international student populations combined only represented around half of all international students in that year:
As with many major study abroad destinations, students from India and China comprised the largest student cohorts in Germany in 2023/24. However, German institutions also welcomed growing numbers of students from across Europe, Western Asia, and Southern Asia. In fact, most of Germany’s top international student populations saw consistent growth over the past five years.
Taking a closer look at the top two student populations, there is a stark contrast in Indian and Chinese student flows in the last five years. While there were more than twice as many Chinese students compared to Indian students in Germany in 2018/19, current trends show this pattern may reverse in the next three years:
Indian students surpassed Chinese students as the top international student group in Germany in 2022/23. Since 2018/19, the number of Indian students enrolled at German institutions has increased by almost 140%. By contrast, the number of Chinese students actually declined by 3% over the same period. This is a pattern we’ve seen across major destinations in recent years, as Indian students have become the largest international student population worldwide.
It’s worth noting that this trend has reversed in some destination countries over the past year. In Canada, the implementation of international student caps in 2024 led to a more than 50% drop in study permit approvals for Indian students. And, in the UK, policy discussions under the previous Sunak government also led to weakened Indian student demand last year. These shifts, and similar challenges for Indian students across the Big Four, create an opportunity for German institutions to attract Indian students considering a wider range of study abroad destinations.
Emerging Student Populations That are Diversifying German Campuses
Beyond these two major student cohorts, German institutions have seen growth across a wide variety of established and emerging student populations. Many of Germany’s fastest-growing student populations come from the Middle East and North Africa (MENA), comprising seven of the top 15 student populations in 2023/24. Among these MENA student groups, Egypt has seen the strongest growth rate since 2018/19, rising by nearly 150% over the last five years. Student volumes from Türkiye also more than doubled over that same five year period, making Turkish students the third-largest student population in Germany last year.
Iranian and Pakistani student populations have also grown in Germany in recent years, with each expanding by around 75% since 2018/19. If these growth rates continue through 2030, Iranian students will surpass Austrians as the fourth largest international student population in Germany, and Pakistan could climb into the top seven student populations. Other growing student groups, including those from Syria and Ukraine, have been buoyed by Germany’s robust refugee support systems, which have helped students continue their study abroad plans in spite of ongoing wars and geopolitical tensions.
Rising Demand for Master’s Degrees in Germany
In addition to changes in Germany’s top student populations over the past few years, Germany has also experienced a notable shift in student preferences when it comes to study levels.
In 2018/19, there were as many international students in Germany pursuing bachelor’s degrees as there were Master’s students. Since then, both student cohorts have grown, but the number of new international students for each level of study are on diverging paths:
From 2018/19 to 2022/23,7 the total number of international bachelor’s students in Germany rose by nearly 17%, compared to almost 40% growth for Master’s level studies. Yet, in terms of first-year international student figures, new bachelor’s students actually declined by over 10% during this period. By contrast, new Master’s student populations rose by 30%.
Doctoral level programs also experienced growing demand from 2018/19 to 2022/23. Although total doctoral student populations are much smaller overall, they still grew by approximately 11% over this time. Combined, graduate level studies accounted for close to 52% of all international students in Germany in 2022/23. Given overall growth trends across international education in Germany in 2023/24 and 2024/25, we expect that this rising demand for graduate level studies will remain steady for years to come.
Our recent ApplyBoard Student Pulse Surveys have shown rising demand for graduate studies across all destinations, with Master’s degrees being the top choice among all survey respondents since Spring 2024.
Top Fields of Study for International Students in Germany
As our recent Student Pulse Survey showed, international students are increasingly aligning their study and career interests with global labour market needs. It’s no surprise then that the growing demand for graduate studies in Germany is underpinned by a strong interest in STEM fields and social sciences, including legal and economic studies:
In 2022/23,8 over 40% of international students in Germany were enrolled in engineering programmes. Collectively, STEM programmes accounted for nearly 60% of all international enrollments, creating a strong ecosystem for research and innovation across German campuses. This STEM focus aligns well with many of the top in-demand professions in Germany. The German government has cited that roles in health care, renewable energy, IT, and digital technologies are in particular demand, and international students are well-suited to fill these skilled worker labour gaps.
Programmes in law, economics, and social sciences also attract many international students to Germany. This field, which includes business programs, accounted for a significant cohort of Germany’s international student population in 2022/23 (around 23%). Germany’s robust economy, which ranks behind only the United States and China, as well as its central position within the European Union means there is always a need for educated workers in a variety of sectors, including roles for business graduates.
International graduates in Germany can apply for an extended residence permit, allowing them to work in any field for up to 18 months after graduation. And, once they secure a job, they can apply for an EU Blue Card which may last up to four years.
Germany’s International Education Sector Poised for Long-Term Growth
Germany’s international education sector is in a strong position to maintain its existing growth trajectory through to 2030. The affordability of both studying and living in Germany continues to serve as a significant draw for international students, particularly in light of rising living costs in other major destination countries. Germany’s increasingly diverse campuses contribute to a more globally connected student experience, an aspect that can be especially appealing to students exploring options beyond the Big Four.
As the demand for graduate studies continues to surge—especially in high-demand fields like engineering, IT, and healthcare—Germany stands to benefit from an influx of academic talent. And, this high level of graduate students will likely help fuel economic growth across Germany and the European Union. Recent studies have shown not only that most international students in Germany plan to stay in the country post-graduation, but also that many international students remain in Germany long-term, providing ongoing economic contributions to the Germany economy.
Aligning programme offerings, as well as career support, to drive post-graduation success will be critical in an increasingly competitive international education ecosystem. German institutions looking to promote their programmes to international students should highlight the labour market’s need for skilled graduates, ensuring prospective students are aware of post-study work opportunities and processes.
For Germany’s international education sector, the next five years will likely come with new records of international student enrolment and increased global student interest. Taking advantage of this opportunity will require cross-collaboration on promoting Germany as a top destination, and highlighting the unique benefits of a high-quality education in the EU. For personalized insights and strategies to maximize your institution’s potential, reach out to your Partner Relations Manager or contact ApplyBoard’s Partner Relations team at schoolpartnerships@applyboard.com.
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FOOTNOTES:
1. ‘Big Four’ refers to the top four English-language study abroad destinations of Australia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States.
2. All data in this article is courtesy of Deutscher Akademischer Austauschdienst (DAAD) and Statistisches Bundesamt, unless otherwise noted. Data is based on international student enrollment at German institutions during the winter semester of each year, spanning October to March. For example, the 2023/24 winter semester began October 1, 2023 and ended March 31, 2024.
3. More recent field of study data not currently available.
4. For the purposes of this article, “year” refers to the same period as outlined in footnote 2 above.
5. According to IIE’s 2024 Project Atlas report.
6. DAAD is an association of German institutions of higher education and their student bodies, and the world’s largest funding organisation for the international exchange of students and researchers.
7. 2023/24 data by study level for international students in Germany not currently available.
8. 2023/24 data by field of study for international students in Germany not currently available.
