Germany’s universities compared: Where international students really study
For this analysis, data from 681 universities with a total of more than 2.8 million students were evaluated, ranging from public universities to private universities of applied sciences. The subject choices of international students stand out in particular: computer science is the most popular field of study, followed by business administration. At some institutions, international students make up more than 98 percent of the entire student body.
In Germany, a total of 2,864,122 people are currently enrolled at universities. Among them are 492,081 international students. The analysis covered 681 institutions, both public and private, and included data on nationality, field of study, type of study, and type of institution.
Students at Public and Private Universities
The majority of students in Germany are enrolled at public institutions. They account for 2,484,915 students, including 434,844 international students. Private universities have 379,207 students in total, of whom 57,243 are international. This means that the share of international students is 17.5 percent at public universities and 15.1 percent at private ones. Overall, 87 percent of all students in Germany study at public institutions.
Universities with Particularly High Shares of International Students
The German International University Berlin records an international student share of 100 percent. Other institutions also reach peak values: the Gisma University of Applied Sciences has 98.85 percent, the University of Europe for Applied Sciences Potsdam 98.84 percent. Remarkably high is also the figure at the public Ansbach University of Applied Sciences in Feuchtwangen, where 97.63 percent of students come from abroad.
At the lower end are universities with a focus on public administration. The University of Applied Sciences of the Federal Administration in Brühl or the University of Applied Sciences in Meißen for Public Administration and Legal Affairs each record an international student share of 0 percent.
The Largest Universities
The IU International University, with 105,984 students, is the largest university in Germany. It is followed by the FernUniversität Hagen with 63,410 students and Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich with 49,604 students. RWTH Aachen, with 45,113 students, also ranks among the largest universities, with international students making up 33.98 percent of its student body.
Most Popular Fields of Study
Across all students in Germany, business administration is the most popular field of study with 229,753 enrollments, followed by computer science with 152,471 and medicine with 117,916. Among international students, however, computer science leads with 45,279 enrollments, ahead of business administration with 35,102 and electrical engineering/electronics with 23,851.
Very high shares of international students can also be found in specialized fields. In microelectronics, 91.30 percent of students come from abroad, in Modern Greek 75 percent, and in Byzantine Studies 74.36 percent.
Women and Men in Comparison
The IU International University has the highest number of international female students with 8,845. High numbers of international women are also enrolled at Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich (5,751) and Freie Universität Berlin (5,315). The highest numbers of international male students are at RWTH Aachen (10,606), followed by the IU (7,722) and the Technical University of Munich in Garching (7,552).
At technical universities, the proportion of international male students is significantly above average. At the Technical University of Munich, it amounts to 75.17 percent. Looking at the relative proportion of international women, Trier University of Applied Sciences in Idar-Oberstein leads with 69.94 percent, followed by Bard College Berlin with 62.94 percent and the International University SDI Munich with 57.95 percent.
“Germany is one of the most attractive destinations for international students, and our analysis shows why: Computer science and business administration attract talent from all over the world, with private universities often leading the way through innovative study formats. At the same time, specialized fields like microelectronics or Byzantine studies show above-average shares of international students, often due to unique research opportunities or targeted scholarship programs.
Crucially, universities must remain places of cultural exchange. A high proportion of international students build valuable bridges between global perspectives and the German language, culture, and professional environment. To ensure these students develop into the skilled professionals of tomorrow, both public and private universities must share responsibility for providing excellent academic conditions, meaningful integration, and strong connections to the German labor market,” says Prof. Dr. Ramon O’Callaghan, President of Gisma University of Applied Sciences.
Methodology
The analysis evaluated all German universities for which student nationality data was available. A total of 681 institutions and over 2.8 million students were included (as of September 2025), among them 57,243 international students at private universities and 434,844 at public universities. Also examined were gender distribution, study types (full-time, part-time, dual), subject areas, and university types.