Germany Emerges as Top Choice for Indian Students: New Report

Indian students' preferences for study abroad destinations are undergoing a major shift. Although the UK continues to be among the top destination choices, Germany is quickly picking up pace as the prime study abroad destination for higher education.

According to a few recent reports, the traditional study abroad destinations like the US and Canada are witnessing a decline in applications year-on-year, while European countries like Germany and Ireland are experiencing a high surge in popularity.

Decline in the US and Canada

• The United States of America (USA), which was once a sought-after study abroad destination, has now been witnessing a year-on-year drop in applications of about 13%.
• One of the major contributing factors to this decline is the rising cost of studying in these countries.

Germany’s Remarkable Student Enrolments

• Germany has surpassed both Canada and the U.S. in terms of student enrolments, which increased from 13.2% in 2022 to 32.6% in 2024.
• Not just that, the latest report by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany also highlights that Indian student enrolments in Germany have nearly doubled over the past 5 years, reaching almost 60,000 in 2025 compared to 49,500 in 2023.
• This surge in admissions is mainly attributed to factors like strong career prospects, affordable education opportunities, over factors like language or climate.

Read Next: India-Germany Announce Gratis Student Exchange Visas

Financial Practicality Among Students

• Indian students in the current age are approaching overseas education with a calculated mindset.
• With 33% of Indian students relying on loans and 28% on securing scholarships, this clearly indicates that cost is now not seen as a barrier but more as an investment in future employability.

Program Preferences Trends Among International Students

• The master's program remains a top preference among international students considering studies abroad, as about 86.5% of students opt for this level of education.
• The popularity of management and MBA courses has also witnessed a rise, growing from 30% in 2022 to 55.6% in 2024.
• At the same time, STEM programs account for about 38.6%, with computer science, IT, and Data Science leading the specialisation at 28.7%, followed by engineering at 9.9%, and healthcare or pharma at 5.8%.

Europe’s Rising Appeal Among International Students

• European countries continue to attract Indian students with their affordability, varied course options, competitive job prospects, and cultural diversity.
• While the UK still stands as a traditional favourite for Indian students, despite concerns about policy changes, countries like Ireland are quickly establishing themselves as a strong alternative.
• However, amongst all these, Germany stands out as the biggest winner with its booming student enrolments reflecting its global academic and professional appeal among international students.

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