(GERMANY) Germany has posted its highest ever number of international students, with around 402,000 foreign students and doctoral candidates enrolled in universities in the 2024–2025 academic year, a 6 percent rise, the DAAD said in its Wissenschaft weltoffen 2025 report released in early December 2025 — setting a new European benchmark.
The jump comes as more families weigh where a degree can also open a work permit and, later, a residence path. University cities from Berlin to Aachen have reported fuller lecture halls, while student housing markets tighten, especially for newcomers arriving for the winter semester after visa approvals and flights settle.
Costs and financial pull
DAAD’s data points to money as the first pull. Most public universities charge no tuition and ask only administrative fees of €150–€250 per semester.
The report cites average living costs of about €930 per month, a figure that keeps Germany cheaper than many rivals even before students factor in scholarships.
- Semester contribution: typically €150–€250
- Average living costs: €930 per month
- Many students rely on family support, scholarships, or paid research assistant posts where available.
Language and study options
Language has become less of a barrier. By summer 2025, German universities offered nearly 2,400 accredited English‑taught programs, including:
- 420 bachelor’s programs
- 1,930 master’s programs
Recruiters say the growth lets applicants start in English and add German skills over time for internships, part‑time jobs, and lab work.
Immigration and post-graduation prospects
Immigration rules after graduation are a major draw. International graduates may stay up to 18 months to look for work, a period that often decides whether study turns into a career move.
The German Foreign Office explains student visa rules and documents at its official guide: https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/visa-service/buergerservice/faq/studium/606700
Lawyers note the 18‑month window does not guarantee employment, but it allows time to interview and meet employer demands. Graduates who find a qualifying position can then apply for residence status linked to skilled work if salary and qualification rules are met.
Labour market connections and targets
The German push to attract students is tied to labour market needs:
- Projected 7 million unfilled skilled jobs by 2035 due to an aging population.
- DAAD aims to retain 50,000 international graduates each year by 2030.
DAAD links campus recruitment to nationwide demand in engineering, tech, healthcare, and applied sciences.
Who is coming — country and regional breakdown
Students from India now lead the intake, with nearly 59,000 enrolled — a 20 percent year‑on‑year rise that has reshaped classrooms and student associations. Other key numbers:
| Country / Region | Approx. enrolments |
|---|---|
| India | ~59,000 |
| China | ~38,600 |
| Turkey, Iran, Austria | 16,000–20,000 each |
| Asia‑Pacific (share) | 33% of enrolments overall |
Education agents say choices reflect tougher options elsewhere: the United States enrolls more international students overall, but applicants worry about visa backlogs and the F‑1 OPT → H‑1B pipeline. Canada has tightened study permit approvals, and the UK and Australia have increased scrutiny.
Preferred subjects and research impact
Subjects linked to industry dominate Germany’s intake:
- Engineering and technical disciplines: 43% of international enrolments
- Economics, law, social sciences: 25%
- At master’s and doctoral level, foreign students and researchers represent 26–28%, keeping many labs running through winter terms.
DAAD estimates international researchers make up 26–28% of advanced cohorts, which matters for grant competition and research progress in areas like robotics, renewable energy, and medical devices.
New enrolments and undergraduate base
The report counted 116,600 new international enrollments in 2024–2025, adding to a base that includes about 270,000 undergraduates among the total.
Universities report the pace challenges student services — from registration desks to residence permits — but also brings local spending and semester contributions that provide institutions with fresh fee income.
Housing, administration, and local pressures
City officials in several university towns say the numbers land in a tight housing market, pushing more students into shared flats and longer commutes. Student unions have urged local governments to speed dormitory construction.
DAAD has warned that affordability can slip if rents rise faster than stipends and part‑time wages. Universities note paperwork can lag behind demand: appointments for registration, health insurance checks, and local residence documents are often needed soon after arrival. Delays can complicate opening bank accounts or starting part‑time work.
Views from researchers and advisers
Dr. Marcus Beiner, Scientific Director of the Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW), said the rise “benefits Germany’s higher education sector and establishes it as a global scientific hub.” He emphasized that research groups depend on international talent.
Analysis by VisaVerge.com suggests the record in Germany will reshape how migrants plan careers — especially those who once defaulted to North America. Advisers say applicants now compare not only ranking tables, but also the odds of obtaining a work contract after graduation and securing a longer residence permit.
How families and applicants are responding
For Indian families, consultants in Mumbai and Bengaluru report a shift: Canada permit refusals and higher U.S. costs have pushed students to consider Germany earlier. They point to:
- Predictable fees
- More English options
- The clear 18‑month search window after graduation
Prospective applicants are starting earlier because popular programs fill quickly and visa appointments can take time. Universities advise students to budget for the semester contribution (€150–€250) and for landlord deposits. Even in English programs, daily life often requires German from day one.
Immigration advisers say the record numbers are changing their business: some clients who once prepared only for the F‑1 route now keep a German application open as a hedge. The DAAD report provides data families use to compare options.
Policy implications and future outlook
The growth fits a policymaking pattern that links education to labour supply. Officials have urged companies to hire graduates trained in Germany rather than recruit from abroad.
- DAAD retention target: 50,000 graduates/year by 2030
- Employers in areas of need broadly support the goal
For some students, Germany is also a gateway to wider European mobility through jobs with multinational firms or research networks. Education planners say that makes Germany’s visa and residence procedures part of Europe’s competition for talent, and they caution that integration takes longer outside major international cities.
Benchmarks and alternative estimates
DAAD’s Wissenschaft weltoffen 2025 report is the most recent count for the winter semester and is the benchmark universities cite when planning staff, courses and demand. Other tallies using different methods give slightly different numbers — an OECD estimate has been cited at 423,000 — but the DAAD figure of 402,000 remains the operational reference for many institutions.
Key takeaways
- Record enrolment: ~402,000 international students in 2024–2025 (+6%).
- Affordability: No tuition at most public universities; €150–€250 semester fees; €930 average monthly living cost.
- Work prospects: 18‑month job‑search visa after graduation; pathway to skilled‑worker residence permits.
- Strategic goal: DAAD aims to retain 50,000 international graduates/year by 2030.
- Challenges: Housing, administrative capacity, and integration outside big cities.
Whether the surge continues will depend on how Germany handles capacity strains while keeping the promise of access. University leaders press for more housing and faster local administration, and employers want smoother hiring for graduates. Today, Wissenschaft weltoffen 2025 puts Germany at the center of a race for skills.
The DAAD’s Wissenschaft weltoffen 2025 reports about 402,000 international students in Germany for 2024–2025, up 6%. Factors include minimal tuition at public universities, semester fees of €150–€250, average living costs around €930, and roughly 2,400 English‑taught programs. Graduates have an 18‑month window to seek employment, supporting a DAAD retention target of 50,000 graduates per year by 2030. The influx eases some labor needs but creates housing and administrative pressures in university towns.
