The number of people receiving higher education in Germany remains at a record high
Two-thirds receive education at universities, one-third at universities of applied sciences (Fachhochschule). The most students are in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia, as well as in Bavaria and Baden-Württemberg. But that was also the case in previous years. This semester, statisticians note an increase in the number of students at universities in Schleswig-Holstein. Positive dynamics are also observed in Berlin. However, in other regions in the east of the country, a slight decrease is noted.
Interestingly, the number of first-year students has decreased. And although only by 0.9 percent, experts are already calling for consideration of necessary changes in the education sector, one of which could be expanding the teaching staff and a more individual approach to learning.
A positive trend – there are more women in German universities every year. Their share is now 48.9 percent.
But there is bad news, at least for the German economy. Statisticians took a close look at four fields from the MINT (STEM) area, where Germany is particularly short of skilled workers. Interest in mechanical engineering and civil engineering is declining. In computer science, as well as electrical engineering and information technology, the number of first-year students has increased, but the growth is still insignificant. Moreover, many students drop out halfway: 45 percent at universities, 41 percent at universities of applied sciences.
Fresh data on the number of foreigners in German universities has not yet been published. A year ago, the Federal Statistical Office reported that foreigners made up 13 percent of all students. In the past winter semester, the most popular fields among male students who came to study in Germany were mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, and computer science. Among women – business administration, law, and medicine.
In the last five years, the number of foreign students at German universities has been slowly increasing. Most often, they come to study here from China, India, Russia, Austria, and Italy. Free higher education is one of the arguments in favor of Germany. The only federal state that charges tuition fees at public universities is Baden-Württemberg. In autumn 2017, they introduced mandatory 1,500 euros per semester for non-EU foreigners, after which the number of first-year foreign students decreased by 21 percent compared to the previous year.