Increase in Foreign Students at German Universities During Winter Semester 2024/25
Hey there! Guess what? The winter semester of 2024/25 saw a slight boost in guest students at German universities, knocking up the numbers by a whopping 3% compared to the previous winter semester. That's right, 33,200 international learners flexed their minds in German uni halls, as reported by the Wiesbaden-based Federal Statistical Office, according to ntv.de and AFP.
But, alas! The COVID-19 pandemic had left a lingering impact, with guest student numbers still lagging behind pre-pandemic levels by a whopping 11%. An intriguing detail, though, is the surge in guest students aged 60 and above, bumping up the average age to 52 years old.
Now, here's a fun fact! The number of German guest students also swelled by 3%, while the number of international guest students surged by an impressive 5%. That's right, international student representing a cool 12% of the total guest student population.
Interestingly, guest students can also pull up a chair (or perhaps a laptop?) and join in on selected university events without the need for formal university entrance qualifications. In comparison, guest students accounted for just 1% of the total student body during the winter semester '24/25.
Now, let's take a step back and ponder why these numbers could've shifted. Could it be post-COVID recovery, increased global mobility, or perhaps Germany's economic and cultural allure? Maybe it's due to improvements in academics and infrastructure or opportunities for waivers and scholarships despite the introduction of tuition fees for non-EU students at some universities.
Well, you can never be certain without digging into specific university reports or national education statistics. But one thing's for sure: the German higher education system is stepping up its game, and who knows, could likely attract more international students soon! 🎓🇩🇪🌐
- The rise in guest students during the winter semester of 2024/25, at German universities, was more than expected, with a 3% increase reported.
- Despite this growth, the number of guest students still falls short of pre-pandemic levels, reinforcing the persistent impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.
