German students abroad since 1991

In 2023, the German Federal Statistical Office recorded around 137,200 German students studying abroad; since the peak in 2016, when there were around 141,200 students, this figure has therefore fallen by around 3%. However, the number of German students studying abroad has quadrupled since 1991 and more than doubled since 2000. These students are predominantly, though not exclusively, those seeking to obtain a degree abroad.

Looking at the trend in the numbers of German students studying abroad, it is clear that between 2002 and 2010 – that is, during the introduction of the new, tiered degree system – above-average growth rates of 10% or more per year were achieved. During this period, the share of students studying abroad out of all German students rose from 3.3% to 5.6%. This suggests that the option opened up by the new degree system – to continue with a Master’s degree abroad following a Bachelor’s degree at home – was taken up by many students. However, since the introduction of the new degree types was completed, the absolute number of German students studying abroad has not risen further. Their share of all German students has even fallen slightly – partly due to the continuing rise in the number of students in Germany up to 2015 – to 5.2% in 2023.