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Germany’s higher education system is basically a blend of tradition and innovation, that caters to a diverse student demographic with various academic and vocational aspirations.

Home to a significant number of universities and vocational schools, Germany reflects a commitment to comprehensive, high-quality education.

We have gathered some of the most important statistics regarding higher education in Germany!

Education Level in Germany

• The majority of the student population in Germany (specifically considering the educational attainment of people aged 20 to 24) choose post-secondary, non-tertiary education.Ìý
• More people in this age group (20 to 24) have successfully completed general education, followed by vocational education and tertiary education in this order.
• 33.3% of people aged 25-64 have a university degree. A higher percentage of males (35.1%) than females (31.5%) can be observed in this age group. Meanwhile, 11.0% of 20-24 year-olds have a university degree, with females (12.5%) slightly higher than males (9.6%).
• 30.8% of 20-24-year-olds have a general education qualification, more females (34.7%) than males (27.2%).
• 29.6% of 20-24 year-olds, have a vocational qualification, with the percentage of males (31.5%) being higher than females (27.5%).

Take a look at the distribution below for more information:

Tertiary Education

Tertiary education refers to short-cycle tertiary education, bachelor’s or equivalent, master’s or equivalent, doctoral or equivalent. [as of the latest statistics, 2023]

• 33.3% of the German population aged 25 to 64 years have a university degree.
  • 31.5% of the female population in this age group.
  • 35.1% of the male population in this age group.
• 11.0% of people aged 20 to 24 years have a university degree.
  • 12.5% of the female population in this age group.
  • 9.6% of the male population in this age group.
• 38.4% of people aged 25 to 34 years have a university degree.
  • 41.0% of the female population in this age group.
  • 36.1% of the male population in this age group.

Post-Secondary, Non-Tertiary Education

This refers to upper secondary and post-secondary non-tertiary education. In our case below, it refers specifically to post-secondary, non-tertiary education by program orientation (general and vocational).

General Education Qualification

• 30.8% of people aged 20 to 24 have successfully completed general education.
  • 34.7% of the female population in this age group.
  • 27.2% of the male population in this age group.
• 8.0% of people aged 25 to 34 have successfully completed general education.
  • 7.4% of the female population in this age group.
  • 8.6% of the male population in this age group.

Vocational Qualification

• 29.6% of people aged 20 to 24 have successfully completed vocational education.
  • 27.5% of the female population in this age group.
  • 31.5% of the male population in this age group.
• 36.9% of people aged 25 to 34 have successfully completed vocational education.
  • 36.7% of the female population in this age group.
  • 37.0% of the male population in this age group.

Number of Higher Education Institutions in Germany

Germany has a total of 428 higher education institutions [find the full list of German higher education institutions in Germany here±Õ.Ìý

• Public institutions dominate the higher education scene in Germany. The landscape is dominated by public institutions, with 313 public compared to 115 private institutions. This demonstrates a strong state commitment to higher education.
• Public vs. Private Institutions. In Germany, there are significantly more public (313) than private (115) higher education institutions.
• Universities. Among the 109 universities, 88 are public and 21 are private, showing a strong preference for public institutions in university education.
• Specialized Colleges. For specialized fields, public institutions are dominant. This includes 6 public Colleges of Education and 16 Colleges of Theology (13 public, 3 private).
• Arts and Music Colleges. There are 52 Colleges of Art and Music, with the vast majority (49) being public, indicating significant state support in these areas.
• Applied Sciences. Universities of Applied Sciences are more varied, with 128 public and 87 private institutions out of a total of 215, reflecting a notable private sector role.
• Public Administration Colleges. Public institutions almost exclusively run the 30 Colleges of Public Administration, with 29 being public and just 1 private.

Student Enrollment Numbers: State Distribution

The total number of students in higher education institutions in Germany is 2,868,311 (2.8 million) as of 2023/2024 statistics.

• North Rhine-Westphalia leads with the highest number of students at 717,963. This is likely due to it being the most populous state in Germany, with several large universities.
• Bavaria and µþ²¹»å±ð²Ô-°Âü°ù³Ù³Ù±ð³¾²ú±ð°ù²µ follow, with 405,492 and 351,259 students, respectively. These states are known for their strong economic performance and numerous higher education institutions.
• Hesse, Berlin, and Lower Saxony have a moderate student population, ranging from around 245,590 to 190,674. These figures could be influenced by the presence of major cities and universities.
• Thuringia, Hamburg, Rhineland-Palatinate, and Saxony fall in the next tier, with student populations ranging from 144,386 to 103,444.
• Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg, and Bremen have lower student populations, ranging from 64,129 to 37,509. This could be due to smaller populations and fewer higher education institutions in these states.
• Mecklenburg – Western Pomerania and Saarland have the lowest numbers, with 37,081 and 30,450 students, respectively.Ìý

Take a look at the table below for more information:

Federal State	Number of Students (Highest to Lowest)
North Rhine-Westphalia	717,963
Bavaria	405,492
µþ²¹»å±ð²Ô-°Âü°ù³Ù³Ù±ð³¾²ú±ð°ù²µ	351,259
Hesse	245,590
Berlin	200,440
Lower Saxony	190,674
Thuringia	144,386
Hamburg	119,245
Rhineland-Palatinate	112,550
Saxony	103,444
Schleswig-Holstein	64,129
Saxony-Anhalt	56,631
Brandenburg	51,468
Bremen	37,509
Mecklenburg – Western Pomerania	37,081
Saarland	30,450

Student Enrollment Numbers: Across Different Higher Education Institutions

• Universities have the highest student population, with a total of 1,660,928 students. This indicates that traditional universities remain the most popular choice among students in Germany.
• Universities of Applied Sciences come next with 1,083,568 students. These institutions, known for their practical and industry-oriented programs, also have a significant student presence.
• Colleges of Public Administration and Colleges of Art and Music have lower student populations, with 58,696 and 37,040 students, respectively. This is expected as these institutions typically offer more specialized programs.
• Colleges of Education have a lower student population of 25,911.
• Colleges of Theology have the smallest student population, with 2,168 students.

International Students in German Higher Education

Germany has seen a steady increase in the number of international students over the years, reflecting its growing popularity as a study destination. In 2023, Germany became the third most popular country for international students and the first among non-English speaking countries.

Here’s what the numbers tell us!

• As of the 2023/2024 academic year, Germany has a significant international student population, with a total of 469,485 students from abroad (out of which 89,546 are resident international students).
• The majority of international students are non-resident international students, with their numbers steadily increasing each year.
• The number of resident international students has remained relatively stable, fluctuating slightly from year to year.

See below for more information:

Remember: In Germany, international students (Bildungsauslaender) are those who have completed their previous education in their home country, while resident international students (Bildungsinlaender) have completed their prior education in Germany or attended a German school before enrolling in higher education.

Where Do International Students in Germany Study?

• In 2022/23, universities had 251,872 international students, while universities of applied sciences had 115,706 international students. This indicates that universities continue to attract a larger number of international students compared to universities of applied sciences.
• Both types of institutions see an increase in international student numbers, with universities usually experiencing a more significant growth rate.

See the table below for information:

Academic Year	±«²Ô¾±±¹±ð°ù²õ¾±³Ù²âÌý	University of Applied Sciences
2022/23	251,872	115,706
2021/22	242,310	107,128
2020/21	228,292Ìý	96,437

Where Do International Students in Germany Come From?

• The top country of origin for international students in Germany is currently India (49,008), followed by China (38,687), Turkey (18,084), Austria (15,379), and Iran (15,159).
• India is the leading source country for international students in Germany, with a population of 49,008 ²õ³Ù³Ü»å±ð²Ô³Ù²õ.Ìý
• China follows closely behind with 38,687 international students studying in Germany. Chinese students have consistently been a significant presence in German universities.

Erasmus Students in Germany

• According to the latest statistics, there are 38,100 Erasmus students in Germany as of 2022.
  • The majority of them (25,812 students) are on study visits in Germany.
  • The others (12,330 students) are on placement visits.

Gender Distribution

Women make up more than half of the total student population in Germany. Statistics show that female students currently make up 50.9% of the student population in Germany as of 2023/2024. This percentage has consistently been on the rise throughout the past four years.Ìý

• In 2022/2023, female students comprised 50.5% of the total student population.
• In 2021/2022, female students comprised 50.1% of the total student population.
• In 2020/2021, female students comprised 49.8% of the total student population.

Students in Germany by Age

Statistics show that the average age of students enrolled in higher education institutions in Germany is 23.5. This is counted across all higher education institutions and all levels of study.

Students in Germany by Field of Study

• The field of Legal, Economic, and Social Sciences has the highest number of students, with a significant enrollment of 1,116,622 students. This reflects the popularity of programs related to law, economics, and social sciences among students.
• Engineering is the second most popular field of study, with 748,705 students. Germany’s strong emphasis on engineering and technology-related programs is evident in this substantial enrollment.

The field of Mathematics and Natural Sciences has 301,197 students. This includes programs in mathematics, physics, chemistry, and biology, indicating a strong interest in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) disciplines.

Take a look at the table below for more information:

Field of Study	Number of Students (2023/2024)	German Students (Share in %)*	International StudentsÌý (Share in %)*
Legal, Economic and Social Sciences	1,116,622	40.9% of all German students.	24.5% of all international students.
Engineering	748,705	23.5%	43.1%
Mathematics, Natural Sciences	301,197	10.7%	12.1%
Humanities	297,498	12.1%	8.1%
Human Medicine	207,034	7.3%	5.0%
Art	101,062	3.2%	4.9%
Agricultural, Forestry, and Food Sciences, Veterinary Medicine	60,366	2.2%	2.3%
³§±è´Ç°ù³Ù²õÌý	31,247	N/D	N/D
°¿³Ù³ó±ð°ùÌý	4,580	N/D	N/D

*Share (percentage) is from 2022/23 winter semester statistics.Ìý

Students in Germany by Degree Type

The data below indicates that the majority of German students are enrolled at the µþ²¹³¦³ó±ð±ô´Ç°ù’s level. In contrast, the majority of international students are enrolled at the Master’s level.

German Students

• The total number of German students pursuing Bachelor’s degrees is 1,568,407 in the 2022/23 winter semester.Ìý
  • Among them, 754,689 are enrolled in universities, while 813,718 are in universities of applied sciences.Ìý
  • This indicates a relatively balanced distribution of German students pursuing Bachelor’s degrees between universities and universities of applied sciences.
• A total of 482,023 German students are pursuing Master’s degrees.

• • Of these, 331,833 are studying at universities, while 150,190 are at universities of applied sciences.
  • The majority of German Master’s students are enrolled in universities, possibly due to the research-oriented nature of many Master’s programs offered at universities.
• 79,037 German students are pursuing doctoral degrees.
• 329,981 German students are enrolled in the “Other” category, which may include diploma programs or specialized courses.

International Students

• The total number of international students pursuing Bachelor’s degrees in Germany is 132,534.
  • Among them, 66,089 are enrolled in universities, while 66,445 are in universities of applied sciences.
• A total of 160,306 international students are pursuing Master’s degrees in Germany.

• • Of these, 118,028 are studying at universities, while 42,278 are at universities of applied sciences.
  • This suggests that while universities are the primary choice for international students pursuing Master’s degrees, there is also a significant presence at universities of applied sciences.
• 30,025 international students are pursuing doctoral degrees.

Preparatory Course (Studienkolleg) Statistics

In simple terms, Studienkolleg is a preparatory college in Germany aimed at preparing international students who wish to study in Germany but do not meet the qualifications required by the German education system.

• According to Wissenschaft Weltoffen, in the 2023/24 winter semester, 3,694 participants were enrolled in general, state-run preparatory courses (Studienkollegs).
  • 42.0% were attending T courses.
  • 22.1% were attending W courses.
  • 16.7% were attending M courses.
  • 14.9% were attending G/S courses.
• In 2024, there were 22 general, state-run Studienkollegs, according to the same source.
• Additionally, there were 30 to 35 active private Studienkollegs or independent facilities of private Studienkollegs in the same year.

Employment in Germany

• The employment rate in Germany currently stands at 67.8%, according to Destatis, as of September 2024.
• The unemployment rate of people under the age of 25 in Germany is 6.9%. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate of those over 25 years of age is 3.1%.

German Universities Employability Ranking

The most employable German university is the Technical University of Munich, ranking 13 out of 250 in the Global Employability Rank 2023–24 by THE. The university is closely followed by Humboldt University of Berlin, ranking 46th, and LMU Munich ranking 53rd.

International Students Wishing to Stay in Germany After Graduation

• According to a , under the BintHo project, done with 20,000 international students, 65% of students said they planned to stay in Germany after their studies. 8% said they were unlikely to do so, while the others were undecided.
• The percentages of international students intending to remain in Germany are notably high for students from Russia (82%), Ukraine (74%), and Egypt (72%).
• Students from countries like Bangladesh (55%), China (54%), and Italy (47%) have significantly lower proportions intending to stay.
• Economics (66%) and Engineering (66%) students are more inclined to stay in Germany, while students in Medicine and Health Sciences have the lowest intention to stay (59%).

German Students Abroad

• The latest statistics (as of 2021) show that there are 137,700 German students pursuing their education outside of Germany.
• This number has increased significantly by 164% from two decades ago (in 2000), when the number of German students abroad was only 52,100.
• As for Erasmus, statistics from 2022, show that there are 40,100 students from German universities on their Erasmus visits abroad. Most of these students attend German universities (26,901), while others are enrolled in universities of applied sciences (13,162).
• Spain is the most popular Erasmus destination for students from Germany (6,737), followed by France (4,628) and the UK (3,611).

Research & Development Expenditure

The German Higher Education Sector spent 20.6 billion on research and development in 2021. This is around 3.5% more than the previous year and 52.8% more than 10 years ago.

Academic Staff in German Higher Education

The total number of academic staff at German higher education institutions is 787,537.

Female staff make up 54.8% of the total staff population.