International doctoral students at universities in Germany since the 2013/14 winter semester

International doctoral candidates make a significant contribution to Germany’s scientific excellence and innovative strength. Their successful integration into the labour market also offers a long-term opportunity to meet the growing demand for skilled workers in Germany. In order to fully exploit their potential, it is essential to continuously improve the framework conditions for international doctoral candidates and to strengthen Germany as a research location in the long term.
According to official student statistics, the proportion of international doctoral students enrolled in Germany has risen steadily in recent years, from 24,206 in the 2013/14 winter semester to 27,806 in the 2019/20 winter semester. Only at the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic was there a slight decline to 27,613 in the 2021/22 winter semester. Since then, however, the numbers have recovered and the positive growth trend has continued, with 30,812 international doctoral students in the 2023/24 winter semester.
The proportion of international doctoral candidates enrolled at universities in Germany in the 2023/24 winter semester reached a peak of 28 percent. This represents an increase of six percentage points since the 2013/14 winter semester.