UK universities | Decline in German student enrollment since 2013!

UK universities and numbers

The Federal Statistical Office recently reported a surprising 12% decline in German student enrollment at UK universities in 2021 compared to the previous year. This marks the first decrease since 2013, with the total number of German students in the UK dropping to 11,100 from 12,700 in 2020.

UK universities lose top spot

For the first time since 2013, the United Kingdom finds itself outside the top three study destinations for German students. The decline, as stated by Destatis, Federal Statistical Office, in a press release on January 17, 2024, is a significant shift in the preferences of German students seeking higher education abroad.

New hotspots for German students

Austria, the Netherlands, and Switzerland have emerged as the new favorites for German students in 2021, hosting 36,100, over 24,000, and 12,400 students, respectively. This shift signifies a changing trend in the global landscape of international education.

Global mobility trends

Despite the decline with regards to UK universities, the overall number of German students studying abroad saw a slight increase of 3% in 2021, reaching 137,700. The growth in German students in the United States, Austria, and Portugal has been the driving force behind this increase, with notable rises in Croatia, the United States, and Portugal.

The unexpected drop in German student enrollment in the UK universities prompts a closer examination of factors influencing study destination choices. This shift not only impacts the UK’s higher education landscape but also reflects evolving global mobility trends and changing preferences among students pursuing education abroad.

WRITTEN BY

Aastha

Study Abroad Expert

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