International students to Germany have cited good job prospects as the main reason for picking the country as a study destination, while German students that study abroad prioritise personal development and cultural interest for their academic decisions, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) has revealed.
According to a study by “Benchmark International University” (BintHo) which includes 120,000 German and international students, the European country has become an important place to study and work for international students, with the latter claiming they are content with the education quality offered at German higher education institutions, SchengenVisaInfo reports.
“[The BintHo study] is an important tool for German universities to monitor their internationalization activities. The current findings show that Germany is very attractive as a place to study and the German labour market for international students and that students from all over the world are very satisfied with their German universities,” DAAD President Joybrato Mukherjee said.
Motives of International Students to Pick Germany Mainly Related to Education Quality & Job Prospects
As the study reveals, Germany was the first choice for 10,541 or 76 per cent of international students that participated in the survey, with the majority of them (93 per cent) listing the attractive range of courses and the convenient study condition as the main reason for picking this country to pursue their academic career.
About 88 per cent of foreign students were attracted by the international reputation of degrees issued by a German university, and another 81 per cent of students appreciated profitable career prospects after graduation that they could find in the European country.
As the data show, administrative matters are a common concern among international students in Germany, considering they have to apply for a student visa and provide the necessary documents to complete their application.
In other words, foreign students pick Germany for its quality of education, provided that many German universities are recognised internationally, and there is a broad range of courses – 20,000 bachelor and master’s programmes in different study disciplines.
In addition, German universities are affordable for many international students, in addition to living costs, while housing can be more challenging. The study reveals that high interest in English-taught programmes has been noticed, as international students also take their time to learn German – a common language for many international professions and careers.
Study findings also point out that Germany is getting recognition for its welcoming culture, as nearly 38 per cent of German students said they would like more international students at their university, and just two per cent would prefer fewer foreign students.
The main countries of origin of international students in Germany include India (14.1 per cent or 1,955), Turkey (4.5 per cent), Pakistan (3.8 per cent) and Russia (3.6 per cent), while an increased interest in studying in Germany has been noticed among students of the African countries.
German Students Prioritise Personality Development When They Decide to Move Abroad
International experience is the main driver for German students to study abroad, with 77.5 per cent or 66,919 of students claiming so, while another 73.9 per cent find improving language skills as an important motive to study abroad.
Unlike international students that are concerned about their job prospects, only 42.7 per cent of respondents said that financial support is the motivation for German students to move abroad for study purposes.
While international experience is the most important for German students, escaping personal problems is the least important motivation, as only 5.5 per cent of respondents consider that an important motive for their academic decision.