German students abroad, since 1991

In 2021, around 137,700 Germans studied abroad, a decrease of around 2% since 2017 (around 141,000). Most of these students (approx. 90%) also intended to graduate abroad.

Looking at the development of degree-related mobility, it becomes clear that in the period between 2002 and 2010, i.e. during the introduction of the new, tiered degree system, above-average growth rates of 10% and more were achieved in one year. Since the introduction of the new degree types has ended, the absolute number of German students studying abroad has not increased further. After their number fell by around 5,000 students in 2020 due to the pandemic, they almost recovered to their pre-pandemic level the following year. Their share of all German students has fallen slightly in recent years, partly due to the sharp rise in the number of students in Germany until 2015 and is at 5.0% in 2021.

Temporary study-related stays abroad show a somewhat different trend. Between 1991 and 2000, the share of students with temporary stays abroad rose sharply (from 20% to 32%) and stabilized at this level until 2006. In 2009, the figure was then slightly lower at 30% and fell further in the following years to 26% (2012), 23% (2016) and finally to 19% in 2021. However, it should be noted that the figures up to 2009 and from 2012 onwards are not directly comparable due to a change in the calculation methodology.