Germany’s Rising International Students Drive New Record in 2025
Germany’s rising international students are shaping another record year. New data from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) shows steady growth once again. In the 2024/25 winter semester, more than 402,000 international students enrolled in German universities. This marks a 6% increase from the previous academic year. As a result, Germany crossed the long-expected 400,000-student milestone earlier than predicted.
A December 2024 survey supported this trend. In that snapshot of 200 universities, 90% reported stable or rising enrolments. This steady rise also led to an impressive 116,600 new starters, which DAAD recorded as the highest intake so far.
Germany’s Growing Appeal
Germany continues to welcome global learners while other countries tighten their student policies. Australia, the United States, the UK, and Canada have all adopted more restrictive approaches. However, Germany is moving in the opposite direction. It is attracting more master’s and doctoral candidates each year.
Dr. Marcus Beiner from the DZHW says this momentum benefits the entire higher education system. He highlights the sharp increase in international staff and stronger support structures at universities. In addition, almost all higher education institutions now operate an International Office. Many institutions also offer English-language programmes, which continue to grow.
By summer 2025, German universities offered nearly 2,400 English-language degrees. Around 420 were bachelor’s programmes, while 1,930 were at the master’s level. Therefore, Germany remains a highly accessible choice for international learners.
Student Origins and Fields of Study
India leads with 59,000 students, far ahead of China’s 38,600. The Asia-Pacific region represents the largest share of enrolments. Africa also plays a key role, contributing more than a quarter of all international students.
Most learners choose engineering (43%) or economics, law, and social sciences (25%). Germany’s master’s and doctoral programmes also remain attractive, with international students making up 26% and 28% of these groups.
