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The number of Indian students has grown by 15.1% over the last year, according to the latest figures shared by DAAD India, based on data from the Federal Statistical Office of Germany.
The number has more than doubled in the past five years, with 49,483 Indian students currently studying at German universities, based on the latest winter semester 2023/24 data.
India has overtaken China as the biggest international student source market in Germany, with over 40,000 Chinese students currently enrolled in universities across the country.
As per data seen by The PIE News, 60% of Indian students are pursuing Engineering, 21% are studying Law, Management, and Social Studies, 13% are studying Math and Natural Sciences, and another 5% are going for Agriculture/Forestry, Humanities, and other courses.
over half (56%) of the students are pursuing their degrees at traditional universities, with the remaining 44% studying at universities of applied sciences, which focus on practical courses of study and research.
Moreover, Germany is making its labour market more attractive for Indians as it grapples with a severe labour shortage.
DAAD president Joybrato Mukherjee told The PIE during a virtual press briefing back in March that Indian students look for job prospects after they have completed their studies in Germany.
“I think it’s a win-win situation for both India and Germany,” said Mukherjee.
“Many Indian students come to Germany with a clear perspective as they can pursue their degrees, pick up some German and enter its labour market.”
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz, in his visit to India in February 2023, also encouraged the need for Indian IT professionals in Germany.
Both Germany and India signed a mobility agreement in December 2022 to help citizens of each country study, work, and conduct research in the other.
“Many Indian students come to Germany with a clear perspective as they can pursue their degrees, pick up some German and enter its labour market.”
Joybrato Mukherjee, DAAD.
Indian students are also one of the largest recipients of scholarships in Germany.
From the 316 scholarships awarded by DAAD across South Asia this year, 287 of the beneficiaries were Indians.
