Market intelligence for international student recruitment from ICEF
9th Jan 2025

Germany projected to exceed 400,000 international students in 2024/25

Short on time? Here are the highlights:
  • Germany is reporting strong foreign enrolment growth this year, with student numbers in the 2024/25 winter semester projected to be up by nearly 10% year-over-year
  • Growth in commencements is correspondingly strong this year, with notable increases in the number of new graduate students in particular

The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has released the findings of a December 2024 snapshot survey of 200 German universities. Based on those survey responses, DAAD projects that foreign enrolment in German higher education will reach 405,000 in the 2024/25 winter semester. That represents a nearly 10% increase year-over-year, and the greatest annual growth of the past decade.

The responding universities collectively account for 70% of Germany's international enrolment, and DAAD summarises the survey data as follows: "Around 90% of universities report a stable or rising number of newly enrolled international students. Over half of the universities surveyed reported rising numbers, with a third reporting a sharp increase (10% or more). A further third reported no change, while a good 10% of universities reported a decline."

The German agency notes that commencements were also up this year, by 7% overall and with notable gains in graduate student numbers in particular.

When asked to name the most important hurdles for foreign students in Germany, survey respondents said that visa policy and visa processing was the number one issue (83% of responding universities). This was closely followed by the availability of affordable housing (75%) and costs of study/costs of living in Germany (69%). "We urgently need more affordable accommodation for students from Germany and for international students," said DAAD President Dr Joybrato Mukherjee. "This is also essential for the continued success of Germany as a centre of business and innovation."

The need for expanded career supports and work opportunities for international students also came through in the survey results. As Dr Mukherjee explains: "German universities are demonstrably very attractive for international students. In times of an increasingly noticeable shortage of skilled workers, we should do more in science, business, and society to open up career prospects in Germany for young people who come here from all over the world to study."

Even so, the German government, in collaboration with higher education institutions around the country, has introduced new labour force transition supports for foreign students within the past year. Those initiatives include a funding commitment of up to €120 million through 2028 in order to smooth the transition to work for foreign graduates.

Most recently, the government has also moved to double the number of hours per week that foreign students are allowed to work during their studies.

DAAD will report in more detail on the final 2024/25 foreign enrolment data for Germany later this year.

For additional background, please see:

Most Recent

  • UK’s stiffening compliance regime already having an impact on international student recruitment Read More
  • Search data highlights surge in student interest in Asian and Middle Eastern destinations at mid-year Read More
  • Australia raises enrolment limits for 2025/26 but are they reachable? Read More

Most Popular

  • Which countries will contribute the most to global student mobility in 2030? Read More
  • Research shows link between study abroad and poverty alleviation  Read More
  • Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe Read More

Because you found this article interesting

UK’s stiffening compliance regime already having an impact on international student recruitment It would be fair to say that compliance is top of mind for international educators in the United...
Read more
Search data highlights surge in student interest in Asian and Middle Eastern destinations at mid-year Aggregated search data from Keystone Education Group reveals a distinct spike in student interest in destinations across the...
Read more
Australia raises enrolment limits for 2025/26 but are they reachable? A joint 4 August 2025 media release from the Ministers for Education, Home Affairs, Immigration and Citizenship, and...
Read more
US: International commencements could drop by 30-40% this September A new analysis from NAFSA and the research consultancy JB International projects that international student commencements in the...
Read more
Nearly 30 Canadian language programmes closed in Q1, marking the “sharpest decline in the sector’s history” The peak body for Canada’s language training sector is sounding the alarm. Languages Canada reports that more than...
Read more
Recruiting in Taiwan: An established student market adapting to demographic change Fast Facts Population: 23.4 million Youth population: 9.8% aged 15–24, but the population is ageing Youth unemployment rate:...
Read more
Australia’s central bank highlights importance of international students to national economy The Reserve Bank of Australia, the country’s central bank, has released a special bulletin on the economic impact...
Read more
Measuring the impacts of the first full year of Canada’s foreign student enrolment cap In January 2024, Canada’s immigration ministry (Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada, or IRCC) announced a two-year cap on...
Read more
What are you looking for?
Quick Links