Growing numbers of international students are turning to Germany for their study abroad experience. The latest figures from the German Academic Exchange Service show that international students reached a record-high of 307,900 in the 2023/24 academic year, with international students making up 13.2% of the student population. This represents a 3% increase from the previous year and a 15% increase from 2019/20, the academic year prior to the pandemic.
Key sending markets
The largest sending markets were India (49,000 students), China (38,700 students) and Turkey (18,100 students). Other major sending markets include Austria (15,400 students) and Iran (15,200 students). The growth in Indian student numbers has been particularly significant, rising by 138% from 2018/19.
Drivers of growth
Germany’s tuition-free education at public universities for both domestic and international students is likely to be a key drawcard for international students as the global cost of living crisis continues. However, low-cost tuition is not the only driver of growth in international student numbers in Germany.
Student visas and post-study work rights have long been important factors for sending markets such as India when students choose a study-abroad destination. Germany has introduced a number of initiatives to make its labour market more attractive for international students as part of plans to tackle the country’s labour market shortages as the German population ages. In March 2024, Germany increased the number of hours students from non-EU countries can work from 10 to 20 hours per week. Germany also allows students to stay and work in Germany for 18 months after completing their degree.
Student Housing
As international student numbers grow, Germany, like many other major student destinations faces the challenge of meeting the demand for affordable student accommodation. A recent report by University World News states that “the student housing crisis in Germany has now reached dramatic proportions, with some students staying overnight in sleeping bags in university sports halls while others have accepted up to two hours of commuting every day to get to lectures.”
The annual MLP Student Housing report, released in September 2024 in cooperation with the German Economic Institute, notes that in 37 of the 38 university cities examined in the report, rent prices are, on average, 5.1% higher than in 2023. A student apartment of 30 square metres in Munich now costs more than 800 euros per month, including heating, which is far more than the maximum student housing allowance rate of 380 Euros. According to the MLP report, the student housing allowance only covers the rent for a student apartment in the cities of Chemnitz and Magdeburg. The report also highlights that the pressure on the student housing market has been compounded by the fact that housing supply has declined in 29 of 38 university cities assessed in the report, with decreases of more than 20% in some cases.
Analysis by Bonard highlights that Germany has a total provision rate of 12%, with 164,478 non-private PBSA beds and 66,066 private PBSA beds. This is significantly lower than markets such as the UK, where the total provision rate is 29%
