Indian students in Germany surge 15% despite higher income proof requirement

Germany is one of the most important destination countries worldwide and is the most popular non-English-speaking country to study in. According to DAAD estimates, around 405,000 international students are currently studying in Germany. With around 50,000 students, Indians make up the largest group of international students at German universities.

The German Interior Ministry released figures showing that around 63,000 study-related visas were granted in 2021. According to Schengen News, the government issued 90,000 student permits in 2024, three years later.

According to a recent DAAD survey, around 65 per cent of students intending to graduate plan to stay in the country.

Most German universities do not charge tuition fees, but international students significantly contribute more to society than Germany invests in their studies and beyond.

In fact, international students contribute around eight times more to the revenue of public budgets in the long term than the state invests in them annually, despite German universities not charging tuition fees. These are the findings of a study conducted by the German Economic Institute (IW) on behalf of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

Approximately 80,000 international students who began their studies to graduate in 2022 paid almost 15.5 billion euros more in taxes and duties throughout their lives than they receive in benefits from the German state.

According to the IW study, investing in international students pays off for Germany after just a few years: If 40 per cent of a cohort remain in the country after graduation, their taxes and contributions will cover the costs of higher education just three years after graduation.

If the retention rate remains stable, each new cohort of international students brings in 15.5 billion euros more in taxes and duties for the public budget than the state has to spend over their lifetime.

Even with a retention rate of only 30 per cent, income would exceed expenditure by 7.4 billion euros in the long term. If 50 per cent of a cohort were to remain in Germany in the long term, the surplus would even amount to 26 billion euros.

The IW study is the first to comprehensively analyse the economic contribution of international students from the start of their studies to retirement.

The overall economic and fiscal effects are analysed on the basis of three retention scenarios: In the first scenario, 500 out of 1,000 students stay in Germany after graduation, of which 375 remain in the country until the end of their lives.

With a medium retention rate, 400 students stay for ten years and 200 for the long term. In the variant with a lower retention rate, 300 students remain in Germany for ten years and 75 permanently. According to the OECD, the current retention rate in Germany is 45 per cent.

Despite this, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has responded to persistently high cost pressure in Germany and around the world. In order to meet the challenges, the DAAD is cutting 13 scholarships and university internationalisation programmes. Around 2,500 scholarships will be cancelled each year.

The number of Indian students studying in Germany has increased by 15.1% in the last year, per the latest figures released by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany. During the 2023-2024 Winter Semester, 49483 Indian students studied in Germany.

Indians make up the largest group of international students at German universities. Most of them study engineering, which accounts for 60% of their enrollment. Law, management, and social studies follow with 21%. Mathematics and natural sciences represent 13%, while other subjects make up 5%. Overall, engineering remains the first choice for Indian students pursuing career options in Germany.

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.

Universities of Technology (TU) and regular universities both focus on research and provide a range of courses and doctoral degrees. Conversely, practice-oriented universities of applied sciences concentrate on design, engineering, business administration, and social sciences. These universities provide chances for cooperative supervision of master’s theses, enabling professors and businesses to mentor students. They also have strong industry contacts.

Depending on the subject, a bachelor’s degree in Germany might last anywhere from three to four years. The type of school-leaving certificate you possess or the board of the school you attend will determine your path to earning a bachelor’s degree in Germany. Among other fields, Germany offers bachelor’s degrees in business, engineering, medical, humanities and social sciences, and the arts. Depending on the university, the courses start in the summer or winter term.