Total foreign students (Bildungsauslaender + Bildungsinlaender) grew from 301K (2013/14) to 469K (2023/24). 43% study Engineering.
Source: Destatis via DAAD Wissenschaft weltoffen
India surpassed China in 2022/23 and is accelerating. India grew +262% since 2016 while China peaked and declined.
Germany hosts 27% of the EU's 1,650,843 international tertiary students, followed by France (17%) and the Netherlands (11%). Eurostat educ_uoe_mobs01, ISCED 5-8, 2024. The Netherlands does not report a combined 5-8 total; its figure is the sum of the levels it does report, which excludes doctoral students.
European students studying in the US. UK leads with 12,856 active SEVIS records.
| Region | Share | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Europe (intra-EU + other) | 43% | Includes Erasmus+ and degree-seeking |
| Asia | 25% | China (incl. HK) is single largest source at 5.6% |
| Africa | 17% | Morocco, Algeria, Nigeria are top sources |
| Americas | 2% | Brazil, Colombia, Mexico |
| Other/Unknown | 13% |