Germany is now home to a total of 370,000 international students (as of 2022-23) and is growing in popularity. This is a special achievement for a non-English-speaking country.
The country is known for its excellent universities and offers a total of 19,000 study programs to choose from. In recent years, many universities have added a large number of English-taught study programs to their offerings, making Germany attractive to international students.
There are 2.9 million students in Germany. The higher education system is divided into two sectors in terms of funding. There are a total of 400 universities, most of which are state universities that charge no or very low tuition fees and receive their funding from the States.
Due to Germany’s federal structure, education in Germany is a matter for the individual states and is not controlled centrally at the federal level, similar to Canada. This means that only the 16 states are authorised to pass their own laws on education policy issues.
There are also over 110 private, state-recognised universities that charge tuition fees to both EU and international students.
The development of the private higher education market in Germany has been a success story. Last year, there were 343,000 private students – and the trend is rising. In comparison, there were 270,000 in 2019. Private universities play a pivotal role in the development of the German higher education market. The growth is mainly driven by international students at private universities and dual study programs. In fact, the higher education market would not be growing without the private sector.
Germany, like many Western societies, is suffering greatly from demographic change and its impact on the economy. Society is getting older and there are fewer and fewer skilled workers and skilled professionals. Germany did not officially define itself as a country of immigration until the end of 2019, although the German economy has been dependent on the immigration of guest workers since the early 1960s. The success of the German economy and industry would never have been possible without immigrants.
Angela Merkel’s 4th government first prepared a Skilled Immigration Act, and the current government of Olaf Scholz has completed the turnaround in immigration policy by strategically approaching the immigration topic as a key to success in keeping the German economy growing. The New Skilled Immigration Act serves as a powerful incentive for international students considering Germany for higher education.
The prospect of a seamless transition from student to skilled worker can attract a diverse pool of talent, fostering a dynamic and innovative academic environment. German universities and research institutions stand to benefit from increased enrollment of international students attracted by the Act’s provisions. Higher education institutions can leverage this opportunity to diversify their student body, promote cross-cultural exchange, and foster an intellectually vibrant atmosphere.
The current government has not only implemented the Skilled Immigration Act but has also brought the topic to the next level by signing bilateral migration agreements with non-EU countries, for example with India. These agreements make skilled immigration to Germany a lot less complicated. The German cabinet has passed its new citizenship law as being the biggest in over a century. Another milestone was reached in January 2024. Up until January 2024, Germany has not allowed dual citizenship for non-EU citizens. This is now possible and is anticipated to become popular among international residents. Previously, naturalisation was only possible after 8 years. The new law enables dual citizenship as well as faster naturalisation after 5 years or even after 3 years in the case of special integration achievements.
While the UK, the Netherlands or Canada are restricting the number of international students, Germany is taking the bold and right path and open its doors for international talents. In conclusion, it can be said that Germany has agreed to join the competition for international talent. Universities – both private and state – play an enormously important role in bringing the right talent to Germany, qualifying them, and integrating them.
