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Indian Students Overtake Chinese As Germany's Largest International Student Group For 2nd Consecutive Year

Freepressjournal | August 25, 2025 3:39 PM CST

Mumbai: Germany has emerged as a leading destination among Indian students, and nearly 60,000 of them are studying at German universities. According to German Ambassador Philipp Ackermann, this reflects a sharp 20% rise over the past year, underscoring a steady upward trend. Statistics from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) show that 49,483 Indian students were studying in Germany during the 2023–24 winter semester alone, an increase of 15.1% compared to the previous year.

This marks the second consecutive year that India has surpassed China to become the largest source of international students in the country. In the last five years, the number of Indians going to Germany for higher studies has more than doubled. In 2018–19, there were just over 20,800 Indian students. That figure grew steadily each year, crossing 25,000 in 2019–20, 34,000 in 2021–22, and reaching close to 43,000 in 2022–23. In spite of the upheavals brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic, student inflow kept increasing.

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Why Is Germany So Popular Among International Students?

Germany's popularity is due to its excellence in learning, particularly in natural sciences, engineering, and technology. The fact that the majority of the programs are conducted in English has also made them open to international students. For Darshak Patel, pursuing a Master’s in Micro and Nano Systems at Technische Universität Chemnitz, the country’s blend of quality education and industry links made the choice clear.

“Germany places emphasis on high-quality education. The strength in industry collaboration really made this country the ideal destination for me for my master's. Moreover, the practical nature of hands-on experience with institutes and industrial projects was just so perfect for me. Furthermore, the education costs in Germany are relatively low; however, the standards offered are really not bad in the world standard compared with a few other countries.”

Affordability has been a recurring theme for many students. Patel noted that tuition in Germany is far lower compared to other destinations. “Another advantage of the German study location is its minimal tuition fees. Public universities charge a fraction of what institutions in other countries do. The entire semester tuition fee for a master's program in Germany is approximately the same as what a student pays for one semester of a bachelor's degree in India.”

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Vasudha Kunjir, a Master’s student in Advanced Manufacturing at TU Chemnitz, said Germany was her first choice because of its mix of research strength and industrial ties. “The nation boasts worldclass institutions, excellent research, and close industrial links, particularly in engineering and manufacturing. The German public universities provide free education, and that made it even more appealing to me. But apart from studies, I was also attracted to the possibility of living in a country with so much history and culture. Germany's organised public transport system, systematic systems, and priority on quality education made me realise that this is where I should develop both as a professional and an individual.”

For others, Germany’s reputation as an engineering powerhouse is equally important. Kartik Trivedi, studying Electrical and Microsystems Engineering at Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule (OTH) Regensburg, said his decision was shaped by two factors.

“My decision to choose Germany was driven by two compelling factors that made it an irresistible destination for my electrical and microsystem engineering studies. First, Germany is truly an engineering marvel – this country has consistently been at the forefront of technological innovation, from precision automotive engineering.” He added that financial considerations also mattered.

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“Second, Germany's free education system was a gamechanger for me and my family's financial planning. The fact that I could access this engineering marvel of a country and its world-class education without the crushing burden of tuition fees that other countries demand was simply incredible. This unique combination of being able to learn from the best engineering minds in the world while maintaining financial stability makes Germany the first choice for engineering.”

With India now firmly established as Germany's biggest foreign student base, the trend is a symbol of both India's increasing global ambitions among students as well as Germany’s increasing position as a learning center.