An everlasting increase of the international students’ attention to pursue their higher education in Germany has recently been reaffirmed. Given that, an upsurge by 7% has been marked in 2015 compared to the preceding year, according to DAAD and DZHW “Wissenschaft Weltoffen” report on foreign students in Germany.

Such interest of internationals is also noted by their involvement share in the overall number of the student body in Germany, with 321,569 students or 12%.

The list of international students in Germany is led, once more, by Chinese – taking part with 30,259 students or one 1 in 8 foreign students, followed by Indians with 11,655 and Russians with 11,534, as well as Austria with 9,875 and France with 7,305 students.

Generally, Europe sends the highest number of foreign students in Germany leading with 44%, followed by Asia with 38% of the total number.

Speaking of foreign students enrolled in German universities, who took high school education outside of the Germany, the number has been estimated to be 177,949 – an increase of 10,815 students compared to the previous year (2014).

The estimated number of the international Master’s students in the given year (2015) is 61,448 where compared to the previous year (2014) a great increase of 15% has been noticed. Such a great upturn in the number of the international Master’s students is believably provoked by the great number of English-taught Master’s programmes available – around 984.

At the same time, the appraised figure of international bachelor’s students is 47,577, marking a figurative upsurge by 8%, compared to the previous year. This poorer figure of Foreign Bachelor’s compared to Foreign Master’s students is convincingly caused by the low number of the English-taught Bachelor’s programmes available in this study level – about 192.

The bottom most figures of foreign students are assessed to be at universities of applied sciences with 57,909, where 35,319 of them are enrolled in Bachelor’s and15,814 in Master’s studies.

What Makes Germany An Attractive Country To Pursue Education At?

Unquestionably, Germany enjoys an advantageous position in the international education compass, especially because of its highly developed higher education system.

An important part in the promotion of the German Education has played the German Excellence Initiative of the German Ministry of Education and the German Research Foundation, which focused lots of energy and resources towards the development and internationalization of German education and research.

An additional factor to attract international students is plausibly study fee abandonment by German universities, accompanied by symbolic semester and living fees, as well as job opportunities during and after studies.

Why Foreign Students Want To Remain In Germany After Their Studies?

More than a half of 11,000 foreign students, 76% of Russians and 72% of Indians, believe they will rather remain in Germany after finishing their studies, then returning to their home country. On the other hand, 30% of the Brazilians studying in Germany responded they would rather go back home – according to a DAAD survey (2014).

Excellent job and further education opportunities as well as good living standard are the defining factor for the Russian and Indian students to get attracted to remain in Germany and NOT return to their home country following the end of their studies abroad.

Editor’s pick: