After the United States, Germany is the second-most popular destination for foreign students and researchers. German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) recent publication states that Germany is the second most important host country for international academics and researchers after the USA. Most international researchers came from India followed by China and Italy.

Germany has set a new record with over 75,000 researchers from all over the world working in Germany. In addition, 380,000 international students were enrolled at German universities.

Almost 80 per cent of international researchers in Germany work at universities – including around 4,000 professors – and around 20 per cent at non-university research institutions. Most international researchers came from India (6,700), China (5,900) and Italy (5,800).

For two years, India has been the key country of origin. The number of Indian students has risen by roughly 138% to some 49,000 in the last five years, up 15% year-on year alone, representing 13% of all international students.

“The latest figures show that Germany is the most important European destination for international academics and researchers, even ahead of the United Kingdom. The rising number of international students is also an extremely positive development for our country, which urgently needs more skilled labour. These trends underline Germany’s attractiveness as a location for science and study, which is based in particular on the high quality of German universities and research institutions and their international integration,” said DAAD President Prof. Dr Joybrato Mukherjee.

With over 75,000 foreign researchers at universities and public research institutions, Germany overtook the United Kingdom in 2021 and further strengthened its position as an attractive science location. Only the USA, with 86,000 international researchers, is ahead of Germany.

International Students in Germany

The number of international students in Germany continues to rise: in the winter semester 2023/24, 379,900 international students were enrolled at German universities, an increase of three per cent compared to the previous year.

International students therefore make up almost 13 per cent of the total student body. The increase in first-year students from abroad is particularly noteworthy: in the 2022 academic year, almost 114,700 began their studies in Germany – also a record.

The most important countries of origin for international students are India with around 49,000 and China with around 38,700 students.

Turkey continues to gain in importance as a country of origin and is now in third place for the first time with around 18,100 students, followed by Austria (15,400) and Iran (15,200). Syria, which has been one of the top five countries of origin since 2019, is now in sixth place (13,400).

Most international students were enrolled at universities in North Rhine-Westphalia, specifically 78,500, followed by Bavaria (61,400) and Berlin (40,800).

“The number of international students at German universities has risen for fifteen years in a row, even during the coronavirus pandemic,” said Prof Dr Monika Jungbauer-Gans, Scientific Director of the DZHW. “This is a clear sign of the attractiveness of German universities and their study programmes, especially the English-language Master’s programmes. 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 programmes.”

Starting September 2024, Germany increased the amount that must be provided as proof of income, from 934 euros per month or 11,208 euros per year to 992 euros per month or 11,904 euros. In addition, you will need to pay for living expenses, books, and housing.

As an international student on a study visa, you are allowed to work while studying. You may work up to 140 full days or 280 half-days per year without prior approval from the Federal Employment Agency. During semester breaks, there are no restrictions on how many hours you can work.

According to UNESCO, around 6.4 million students were enrolled at a university outside their home country in 2021. Since 2011, the number of internationally mobile students has risen by around 2.4 million or almost 60 per cent. The USA is the leading host country for international students, with around 833,000 students from abroad most recently. China is the most important country of origin with around 996,000 students at universities around the world in 2021. Both countries recorded declines due to the pandemic: in 2019, 960,000 international students were enrolled in the USA and 1.1 million Chinese students studied abroad.