International enrolments in German higher education rise again for a new record

Germany received more international students than ever in the winter semester of 2022/23: 367,578, up 5% compared with the total in 2021/22, according to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). This marks the fifth consecutive year of growth.

As many first-time international students were in Germany in the 2022/23 winter semester as before the pandemic in 2019: 117,900. Of Germany’s total student population, international students make up 12%, rising to 23% in master’s programmes (compared with 7% in bachelor’s programmes).

Top countries and regions

The overall increase in international student enrolments in 2022/23 was driven by India, which has now replaced China as the top source country for German universities and which now accounts for 12% of all international students in the country. Chinese enrolments declined for the second consecutive year.

The top five source countries for Germany in 2022/23 were:

1. India: 42,578
2. China: 39,137
3. Syria: 15,563
4. Austria: 14,762
5. Turkey: 14,732

There are many more Ukrainian students as well, up 43% since 2021/22 for a total of around 9,100.

The top sending regions were Asia/Pacific (32%), North Africa and Middle East (19%), and Western Europe (17%). The fastest growing region for Germany is North Africa and the Middle East: +58% in the past five years.

International students drawn to scientific programmes

More than 4 in 10 foreign students in Germany are pursuing engineering programmes. Germany is clearly a top destination for science-minded students, not least because of the Applied Science universities in the country. Enrolments in those institutions have risen by 140% over the past decade, compared with 64% for more generally oriented universities.

Education and immigration goals clearly linked

DAAD commissioned a study from the OECD to measure how the country is doing relative to 15 other countries at retaining the international students educated at its universities. That study found that 45% of international students remain in Germany 10 years after graduation to work. Only Canada was competitive on this count, with 44% of students educated in Canada still working in the country 10 years after completing their studies.

For additional information, please see:

• “Three-quarters of international students in Germany say the country was their first choice”
• “Peak body calls for strategy to double Germany’s retention of international students by 2030”