The data comes from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and is based on .

More demand from the US

The survey also revealed the appeal of German institutions’ advanced degrees and research opportunities – particularly from students in the US. Over two-thirds of universities reported more enquiries from students, researchers, and professors in the US. There was no indication of how much of this demand was from American students versus foreign students and researchers living in the country.

DAAD President Dr Joybrato Mukherjee said, “Germany and its universities … are able to attract talented individuals, particularly in the highly sought-after STEM subjects, and offer them excellent study and research conditions.

“We are observing that the environment for students and scientists in the USA has changed, and many of our member universities are reporting increased interest in Germany as a place to study and conduct research from the United States.”

As we reported recently, Germany is among many countries that have reacted to the difficult research environment in the US under President Trump by investing significantly in attracting top American scholars as well as international students impacted by Trump’s policies.

English-taught programmes are a major draw

A key reason for German universities’ draw is the expanding number of English-taught degree programmes (ETPs) they offer. With over 2,400 ETPs, Germany is the second largest provider of these programmes in Europe after Ireland. The DAAD survey found that most institutions intend to develop even more ETPs.

Along with France, Germany is now a top European study destination. Its top markets are:

• India
• China
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• Iran
• Austria
• Pakistan
• Syria
• Ukraine
• Russia
• Italy

DAAD did not publish public information on growth trends for those markets.

Rising in the ranks of preferred destinations

In 2025, DAAD conducted another survey (called the “BintHo” survey) of 115,000 international students enrolled in over 130 universities, and it revealed that 75% of participants had chosen Germany as their number one destination. The major motivating factors for those students were the “availability of English-language degree programmes, attractive career prospects, and low tuition and living costs.”

The survey found that international students generally feel welcome and satisfied on German university campuses. However, about half of surveyed students said they have experienced occasional events of discrimination off campus, with African, Middle Eastern, and Asian students more likely to report these incidents.

DAAD’s Dr Joybrato Mukherjee cautioned: “Reports of discrimination must serve as a warning to us. Cosmopolitanism and tolerance are essential prerequisites if we want to convince outstanding young people to work for us as doctors, engineers, or AI experts. We are all called upon to stand up against xenophobia and discrimination.”

Other than this finding, however, the survey revealed substantial interest among international students in staying in Germany after their studies. Two-thirds intended to stay, and about half said they intended to seek long-term employment.

For additional background, please see:

• “Foreign recruitment of American students and researchers is intensifying”
• “Many foreign students want to stay in Germany but need more help with the transition to life after study”

The post Germany’s foreign enrolments continued to grow in the 2025/26 academic year appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

Keystone Education Group’s 2025 data reveals a dynamic year for international student mobility, with some sharp declines across traditional powerhouses alongside rapid growth in emerging destinations.

The data, drawn from millions of annual student search indicators and enrolment data, shows that international student mobility is increasingly being shaped by a combination of supply-side policies and demand-side preferences among students.

Fredrik Högemark, CEO of Keystone Education Group, said: “This year has been one of the most volatile we’ve tracked in our data. Students are weighing affordability and safety more than ever, and as return on investment becomes a necessity, this is leveling the playing field beyond the ‘Big Four’.”

“Policy changes announced mid-cycle in 2025 forced students to rapidly adjust their plans, while we have also observed numerous anti-globalisation measures that have inadvertently affected international education.”

Since fall 2023, international interest in the US across Keystone’s platforms dropped by -47%.
However, the growth of post-study work opportunities and OPT continues to influence enrolments in the US, particularly with the two largest source markets – India and China.

And, when we look at the second half of 2025 in isolation, interest in the US is showing signs of stability again and it remains the most searched destination across Keystone sites.

The decline in US interest, while extreme, is not the steepest globally. Canada and Australia also experienced similar drops in interest over the same period.

For Australia, this trend also might be starting to turn for 2026, with early indications in Keystone’s Q3 2025 data showing a more positive outlook – with search interest up +8% compared to Q2 in 2025.

The UK was Keystone’s second leading study destination in 2025, recognised globally for its academic reputation. Beyond its reputation, Keystone’s 2025 State of Student Recruitment Report found the UK also ranks highest for reputation and safety of the Big Four.

Fredrik added:

“We have seen very strong trends for UK study across Keystone’s platforms this year and data from September 2025 also showed study visa applications are up 7% over 2024, so the environment had been looking stable for 2026. However, the news in October of a shorter post-study-work entitlement in the UK will likely have an impact on interest there. The question is how much impact?”

Europe as a collective also continued to amass student interest, particularly at the end of 2025, with five of the top 10 searched destinations in November in Europe.

Spain, Italy, Germany, and France all recorded more student search interest than Canada and Australia, with Spain’s search volume rivalling the UK’s popularity.

Nordic destinations have also experienced an upward trend, with a +33% rise in interest as of April 2025. Meanwhile, the UAE continues to build its profile as a global education hub, with Keystone data showing a near +90% increase in search interest for UAE study opportunities in June 2025.

It has also been a breakthrough year for the Asian Tigers – Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, and South Korea.

Malaysia led the surge with a +64% increase in student searches from March to May on Keystone sites, followed by Singapore with +51%. Japan’s popularity also grew in this period, while South Korea entered the top 10 study destinations for the first time.

Fredrik added: “It is no surprise South Korea and Japan are growing in popularity. Japan has a very pro-international policy – it is launching more and more English-taught programmes and the good collaboration between higher education and the government is evident. South Korea is in a similar situation. Both have been fully embracing and supporting international education.”

West Africa was an unlikely player in 2025 but saw a surge in searches from international students, with a +25% increase in interest in the region on Keystone’s sites between May and July this year.

For additional background, please see:

• “Global trends in international enrolments and policies as we head into 2026”
• “Canada and the US are losing international student enrolments to Europe and Asia”
• “The changing face of international student mobility”

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The (Science Open to the World) report, published by DAAD in collaboration with German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW), notes that of the 402,000 international enrolments, 116,600 were new students – a record high number of commencements.

Germany’s goal of attracting more international students stands in contrast with restrictive policies in Australia, the United States, the UK, and especially Canada (which has introduced hard caps on the number of new international students permitted into the country). Germany is also achieving success in recruiting foreign students at the master’s and doctoral programmes.

Dr Marcus Beiner, Scientific Director of the DZHW, noted that the country’s internationalisation is also benefitting the health of the higher education sector:

“It is not only the growing numbers of international students and researchers that show that the internationalisation of Germany as a centre of science is continuing to progress. This development is also evident in the structures that support internationalisation processes. For example, the number of international employees in university administration has risen sharply in recent years. The vast majority of higher education institutions in Germany now have an International Office. Almost all higher education institutions offer at least one English-language degree programme. The number of international higher education partnerships is also continuing to grow.”

DAAD points out that, as of summer 2025, “state-recognised universities offered almost 2,400 English-language programmes, including around 420 bachelor’s and 1,930 master’s degree programmes. The proportion of English-language courses at master’s level is thus a good 18%, while at bachelor’s level it was only 4%.”

Where are students coming from now?

India (59,000) now significantly surpasses China (38,600) as the most important origin country for Germany, up 20% over 2023/24. Overall, Asia-Pacific represents by far the largest share of all international enrolments for Germany (33%). Africa is also a significant contributor, accounting for about a quarter of all foreign enrolments (19.3% North Africa and 5.4% Sub-Saharan Africa).

Most international students in Germany are enrolled in engineering (43%) and economics, law and social sciences (25%). The proportion of international candidates in master’s and doctoral programmes is also notably high (26% and 28% respectively).

For additional background, please see:

• “Canada and the US are losing international student enrolments to Europe and Asia”
• “Germany projected to exceed 400,000 international students in 2024/25”
• “International enrolments in German higher education rise again for a new record”

The post There are now more than 400,000 international students in Germany appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

Whatever way you parse those results, that is an impressive amount of skill and opportunity that could be leveraged by Germany. But the survey also shows that only a third of foreign students in the country feel that they are well prepared to transition to a career in Germany. Many are looking for more support, especially in terms of career services, advanced language skills, and networking among Germany employers.

“Anyone studying in Germany today wants to help shape the future of our country,” says German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) President Dr Joybrato Mukherjee. “This is a great opportunity, especially in view of the shortage of skilled labour and demographic change. We should make the best possible use of it.”

He cautions, however, that, “If we want to attract international students as future skilled workers, we need to prepare them better for the labour market. This requires targeted programmes at universities and more staff who are permanently available to universities for this task.”

These early findings are drawn from a survey commissioned by DAAD and conducted in the winter semester of 2023/24. It gathered responses . The survey makes it clear as well that those students are especially drawn to study in Germany by three factors: the affordability of degree studies at German universities, the career opportunities arising from those qualifications, and the wide availability of English-taught programmes. On the point of language of instruction, DAAD adds, “English-language study programmes remain an important recruitment tool. It is crucial to provide international students with targeted support in learning German – ideally through integrated language courses during their studies. This is particularly crucial with a view to later integration into the labour market.”

Meanwhile, the underlying business case for those expanded career and transition supports for foreign graduates is quite strong. A related analysis by the German Economic Institute finds that, even with a stay rate of 40% after graduation, each cohort of foreign students in Germany contributes a net economic impact of €16 billion.

These findings are accumulating as Germany continues to report steady growth in its foreign enrolment. DAAD estimates that there are currently 405,000 international students in the country. The OECD recently reported as well that Germany has the highest retention rate of international students among leading study destinations (together with Canada). The OECD reports that ten years after starting their studies, 45% of foreign graduates are still in the country. The current DAAD survey, however, suggests that that stay rate could be notably higher still – and with a correspondingly greater impact on Germany’s economy – if transition supports for foreign graduates are further strengthened.

For additional background, please see:

• “Germany recovers an 8x return on investment in international students“
• “Germany projected to exceed 400,000 international students in 2024/25“
• “Germany expands in-study work opportunities for foreign students“
• “Germany announces new labour force integration initiatives for foreign students and graduates“

The post Many foreign students want to stay in Germany but need more help with the transition to life after study appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

The following market analysis is based on an annual survey administered by FDSV in spring 2025. The survey attracted 15 responses from members, representing roughly 28% of the total German market.

The survey findings indicate year-over-year growth of 15% in 2024, with the average language learning trip lasting 10 days at an average cost of €1,376. Germany’s outbound market is split evenly between adult and junior learners. “Overall, the need for language education remains unbroken,” says FDSV. “After the limitations of recent years, many people long to learn not only one language, but to experience it directly on the spot in their natural environment. This development underlines the importance of language travel as a valuable educational and cultural experience.”

Where do they go?

Most adult learners went abroad to study English (42%), with Spanish, which accounted for just over 27% of adult language travel, in second place. In comparison, virtually all junior outbound from Germany (92%) was focused on English study in 2024.

The UK remains the leading destination for German language learners, and was the destination of choice for 16.5% of adult learners and 73% of juniors. Other top destinations for German students include Ireland and Malta.

“A clearly recognisable trend shows that demand is increasingly focusing on European destinations,” adds FDSV. “In addition to shorter travel routes, which are often perceived as more comfortable, the topic of sustainability is also increasingly playing a role. More and more participants are placing emphasis on environmentally conscious travel, making nearby destinations more attractive. This deliberate shift towards more sustainable travel decisions could have an impact on the entire industry in the long run.”

FDSV’s outlook for 2025 highlights that security and economic concerns will continue to have a big impact on German language travel in the year ahead, particularly the war in Ukraine, global economic uncertainty, and the political climate in the United States. “The issue of security plays a central role, especially among young language travellers. Parents carefully consider whether the current security situation allows [the safe] journey of their child,” adds the association.

For additional background, please see:

• “German outbound language travel market recovered to pre-pandemic levels in 2022“

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IW concludes that Germany recovers its investment in educating and supporting international students in German higher education. If 40% of the foreign student cohort remains in the country after graduation, their taxes and other contributions to the German economy will cover the costs of their education within three years of graduation. If that retention rate remains stable over time, that means that each new cohort of students contributes a net of €15.5 billion over their lifetime. “Even with a retention rate of only 30%, income would exceed expenditure by €7.4 billion in the long term,” adds IW. “If 50% of a cohort were to remain in Germany in the long term, the surplus would even amount to €26 billion.”

“Investing in the education of international students strengthens the skilled labour base and thus economic growth in Germany in the long term. They help to overcome the challenges of demographic change. In addition, the investments are highly profitable from a public sector perspective and strengthen public budgets in the long term,” said IW Director Prof Dr Michael Hüther.

“The new IW study impressively demonstrates the economic importance of international students for Germany,” added DAAD President Dr Joybrato Mukherjee. “Although most universities do not charge tuition fees, international students make significantly higher contributions to our society over the course of their working lives than Germany invests in their studies and beyond. International students are an asset to our country in many ways, academically of course, but also economically.”

Germany has seen steady growth in its foreign enrolment in recent years. DAAD estimates that there are currently 405,000 international students in the country, and 65% of students responding to a recent survey said that they intend to stay in Germany after graduation. The OECD has recently reported as well that Germany has the highest retention rate of international students among leading study destinations (together with Canada). The OECD reports that ten years after starting their studies, 45% of foreign graduates are still in the country.

For additional background, please see:

• “Germany projected to exceed 400,000 international students in 2024/25“
• “Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe“

The post Germany recovers an 8x return on investment in international students appeared first on ���Ϲ��� Monitor - Market intelligence for international student recruitment.

Ask 10 people working in our industry what “internationalisation” means, and you’ll get 10 answers. For some, it simply means attracting a certain volume of foreign students to a campus. For others, the goal is broader: programmes, campus, and partnerships are designed to have a global flavour.

At the government level, the concept of internationalisation changes over time and according to considerations that include foreign enrolment growth rates, labour market gaps, demographics, geo-politics, domestic politics, and the need to participate in global science or research projects.

The official international education strategies highlighted below emphasise the great extent to which foreign students figure into larger narratives around globalisation, security, and soft power. As those narratives evolve, so too do the strategies.

Australia

Strategy for International Education 2021–2030

Priorities

• Pursue sustainable growth1
• Diversify student nationalities
• Meet national skills needs
• Enhance student experience
• Improve global competitiveness

International enrolment goal

Australia is implementing an effective cap on the number of new students beginning in 2025.

Target markets

Not specified.

International student population (2023)

786,900 (+27% y-o-y)

Canada

International Education Strategy 2019–2024 (now expired; an updated strategy is pending)

Priorities

• Encourage Canadian students to go abroad, especially to Asia
• Diversify (source countries and students’ fields, levels of study, and locations of study within Canada)
• Increase support for Canadian educators
• Increase scrutiny and regulation of agents
• Invest more in digital marketing

International enrolment goal

No stated goal currently. Rather, the national government introduced a cap on new study permits for 2024, 2025, and 2026.

Target markets

Brazil, Colombia, France, Indonesia, Mexico, Morocco, Philippines, Thailand, Turkey, Ukraine, Vietnam.

International student population (2023)

1,041,000 (+29% y-o-y)

France

Bienvenue en France

Priorities

• Diversify beyond Africa
• Triple scholarships
• Simplify visa processes
• Make it easier for students to find housing
• Increase French campuses/partnerships abroad

International enrolment goal

500,000 international students by 2027.

Target markets

Expand recruiting outside Africa.

International student population (2023)

430,500 (+5% y-o-y)

Germany

Strategy 2025

Priorities

• Make Germany a top five study abroad destination
• Increase academic success of international students
• Increase share of international academics at German universities to 15%
• Encourage German students to study abroad
• Invest in more collaboration with foreign institutions

International enrolment goal

350,000 international students by 2020 – met in 2021.

Target markets

Not specified.

International student population (2023)

367,600 (+5% y-o-y)

Ireland

Global Citizens 2030

Priorities

• Attract the highest quality students and researchers
• Adopt a “moderate” growth strategy of about 10%
• Position Ireland as a thought leader in talent, innovation, and science policy in “small advanced economies”
• Enhance student experience
• Measure impact of international students beyond enrolments and economic value

International enrolment goal

15% of overall student population by 2025 – nearly met (international students now compose 14% of overall student population).

Target markets

Vietnam, Thailand, South Korea, Africa, South America

International student population (2023)

35,100 (+11% y-o-y)

Japan

Council for the Creation of Future Education Goals

Priorities

• Improve learning environments to attract promising foreign students
• Send 500,000 Japanese students abroad by 2033
• Develop a multinational labour market
• Make it easier for foreign graduates of top 100 universities to immigrate
• Streamline visa processes

International enrolment goal

400,000 by 2033.

Target markets

Not specified.

International student population (2023)

279,300 (+21% y-o-y)

Malaysia

Education Blueprint 2015–2025

Priorities

• Claim position as an international education hub with a difference: values-driven and globally relevant education
• Provide rich cultural experiences, balance of quality and affordability, and good quality of life
• Reach new markets through innovative programmes and partnerships
• Improve and streamline visa and immigration processes
• Communicate niche strengths in academic and research expertise (e.g., Islamic banking and finance, and tropical-related science and technology)

International enrolment goal

250,000 by 2025.

Target markets

Iran, East Africa, China, India, Indonesia.

International student population (2023)

Over 170,000 (+30% over 2021)

South Korea

Study Korea 300K Project

Priorities

• Expand scholarships for STEM students
• Stimulate economy through foreign talent
• Enhance global competitiveness of domestic universities and high-tech companies
• Become a top 10 “study abroad powerhouse”
• Increase Korea’s share of the global study abroad market from 2% to 3%

International enrolment goal

300,000 by 2027.

Target markets

China, Vietnam, Poland, UAE, India, Pakistan.

International student population (2023)

207,100 (+24% y-o-y)

New Zealand

International Education Strategy 2022–2030

Priorities

• Diversify sending markets and products, services, and modes of delivery
• Spread out international enrolments across regions
• Prioritise student well-being and excellence of education
• Commit to a sustainable sector that brings economic, social, and cultural benefits to the whole country
• Retain talented international graduates

International enrolment goal

None specified.

Target markets

China, India, and intent to diversify further.

International student population (2023)

69,100 (+67% y-o-y)

United Kingdom

International Education Strategy to 2030 (2023 Progress Update)

Priorities

• Increase education exports to £35 billion per year by 2030
• Host 600,000 international students per year
• Expand transnational education
• Collect accurate and coherent data for the sector
• Improve visa processes for students, including increased personalisation

International enrolment goal

600,000 by 2030 – met in 2020.

Target markets

China, Hong Kong, Kenya, Nigeria, South Africa, the Middle East and North Africa, Latin America, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN).

International student population (2023)

758,855 (+12% y-o-y)

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The responding universities collectively account for 70% of Germany’s international enrolment, and DAAD summarises the survey data as follows: “Around 90% of universities report a stable or rising number of newly enrolled international students. Over half of the universities surveyed reported rising numbers, with a third reporting a sharp increase (10% or more). A further third reported no change, while a good 10% of universities reported a decline.”

The German agency notes that commencements were also up this year, by 7% overall and with notable gains in graduate student numbers in particular.

When asked to name the most important hurdles for foreign students in Germany, survey respondents said that visa policy and visa processing was the number one issue (83% of responding universities). This was closely followed by the availability of affordable housing (75%) and costs of study/costs of living in Germany (69%). “We urgently need more affordable accommodation for students from Germany and for international students,” said DAAD President Dr Joybrato Mukherjee. “This is also essential for the continued success of Germany as a centre of business and innovation.”

The need for expanded career supports and work opportunities for international students also came through in the survey results. As Dr Mukherjee explains: “German universities are demonstrably very attractive for international students. In times of an increasingly noticeable shortage of skilled workers, we should do more in science, business, and society to open up career prospects in Germany for young people who come here from all over the world to study.”

Even so, the German government, in collaboration with higher education institutions around the country, has introduced new labour force transition supports for foreign students within the past year. Those initiatives include a funding commitment of up to €120 million through 2028 in order to smooth the transition to work for foreign graduates.

Most recently, the government has also moved to double the number of hours per week that foreign students are allowed to work during their studies.

DAAD will report in more detail on the final 2024/25 foreign enrolment data for Germany later this year.

For additional background, please see:

• “Germany announces new labour force integration initiatives for foreign students and graduates“
• “Beyond the Big Four: How demand for study abroad is shifting to destinations in Asia and Europe“
• “Germany expands in-study work opportunities for foreign students“
• “International enrolments in German higher education rise again for a new record“

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