India has recently surpassed China as the largest source of international students in Germany. There are currently 39,137 Chinese students enrolled in German universities.
India has recently surpassed China as the largest source of international students in Germany. There are currently 39,137 Chinese students enrolled in German universities.
The number of Indian students in Germany has witnessed a significant surge, increasing by 107 percent over the past four years, according to a report by Study-in-Germany.org, an information portal for international students.
According to the report, there are at least 42,578 Indian students in Germany in 2023, significantly higher than 20,562 in 2019. Because of this, India has now surpassed China as Germany’s largest source of international students. To date, at least 39,137 Chinese students are enrolled in German universities, a slight drop from 39,871 in 2019.
India’s top rank among countries experiencing an outflow of students to Germany signifies a shift in the trend toward non-English speaking countries for higher education. This increased Indian student enrollment in Germany is expected to enhance cultural exchange and mutual understanding, contribute to the development of a skilled workforce, and foster innovation and collaboration across various areas of study.
Aside from India and China, countries like Syria (15,563 students), Austria (14,762 students), Turkey (14,732 students), and Iran (13,279 students) contribute significantly to the vibrant international student community in Germany.
Experts from Studying-in-Germany.org attribute this shift in the trend to several factors, including Germany’s high-quality education system, comparatively affordable tuition fees, and a strong emphasis on research and innovation in German universities. Additionally, the favorable post-study work policies in Germany make it an attractive destination for Indian students.
The German Embassy’s Academic Evaluation Center recently replaced printed certificates with digital certificates to accommodate the increasing number of Indian students seeking student visas. The center stated that it transitioned from paper certificates to digital ones to expedite processing times and enable applicants to apply to more German universities.
On November 1, 2022, Germany began requiring Indian students to have their academic records assessed and authenticated by the Academic Evaluation Centre before applying for student visas. The certificates, which come in a secure PDF file format with digital signatures, are delivered via registered email upon verification by APS.
