International Students In Germany

A controversy has stirred up in the world of academia after the latest official enrollment data for students in German universities showed that only nearly 20% of the overall student count in the country has a foreign background. Although it is true that throughout the years this number has gradually increased, in 2020 international students faced a new challenge with their study visas being delayed for more than six months due to the Covid-19 outburst. Aside from this issue, students are also facing a few other challenges with their further studies. This article aims at discussing why Germany is in need of foreign students while exploring the various issues that arise around this phenomenon.

International students are quite important for Germany mostly from an economical aspect. As any other country, the German job market is also in need of skilled, highly qualified, and well-educated workers that unfortunately cannot be found only within the premises of the country. Although Germany has indeed increased its popularity among foreign students in recent years, the country still lacks a good strategy that can better integrate them in society. What is more, according to the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), over the next 15 years, Germany’s population will decline by an average of 15%, and in some areas like Western Germany it could even reach as much as 25%. This will most probably affect students as well, since statistics are already showing a decrease in the number of students enrolled in German universities. Another reason, pointed out by Dr. Ursula Egyptien, head of marketing at the DAAD, why the country is in need of international students is the fact that Germans can also gain valuable insight and experience from other countries and cultures as well. By interacting with foreign students, German citizens can learn more about different cultures and develop an interest and orientation for new life and job opportunities outside of Germany. Openness and tolerance towards people from different backgrounds indeed works and is gradually adopted as a concept by more and more people in Germany. Yet international students have complained about their experience in the country and the way they have been integrated within society. Furthermore, recently Germany has posed even more challenges for international students, namely with the lack of adequate actions and students’ visa permits amidst the Covid-19 crisis. As a result, this raises the question as to why the government, despite being in need of international students, is not making enough to accommodate them accordingly and further facilitate their experience in Germany. Below we will look at some of the issues that international students have reported over the years.

Starting with one of the most recent issues reported by many international students and concerning the situation with the student visas that emerged amidst the pandemic. After the outburst of Covid-19 in March last year, German embassies and visa centers around the world closed their doors and stopped accepting almost all visa appointments due to safety measures. Many students faced pressure and uncertainty as none of them knew what will happen with their further studies. The situation became even more intense since even after seven months, German embassies still had not restarted the processes without even providing any further information to when they would reopen for new appointments. Many frustrated students from countries like Iran, Mexico, Nigeria, India, Colombia, Bangladesh, and Turkey then took to social media to complain about the lack of organization on the part of German embassies and launched a campaign under the hashtag #EducationIsNotTourism. The initiative was aimed at delivering a message to the German Foreign Ministry and urge embassies and ambassadors to provide more clarity and an adequate response on the issues with visa appointments.

Although this campaign truly worked for some students, others unfortunately were still left with nothing despite the numerous tweets and emails. As a result, many students had to make significant sacrifices in their lives by giving up their current jobs with the hope that they would be studying in the near future in Germany. Not to mention the financial losses that they suffered with the expensive language certificates, required by some universities, or the money they had to save up in bank accounts in order to prove to the German government that they will be able to support themselves throughout their studies. All of this combined causes an extreme amount of anxiety and stress and furthermore repulse international students from considering Germany as a destination for their further studies.

• Language barrier

Another issue pointed out frequently by the majority of the international students who have chosen Germany for their studies is the language barrier. Although English is also spoken in most of the bigger cities, there are still many smaller towns where newly arrived students will have to learn German in order to adapt faster in the unknown environment. Universities usually offer language courses, yet the language turns out to be quite difficult to learn, especially for such a short period of time. Therefore, around 30% of international students in Germany have reported that they experience great difficulties learning and communicating in German. What is more, foreign students have faced even bigger issues when they have to read or fill out important documents concerning their education or life in Germany. While it is true that the majority of universities are offering additional support to students who might need further clarification of paperwork or German procedures, it could be still somewhat frustrating to have to ask for help every time when there is something unclear. Finally, those international students who are either proficient in German or already have some basic knowledge of the language have reported that they have had fewer problems being integrated in society, finding work, or even making new friends.

• Accommodation

Finding accommodation is also among the challenges listed by international students. As per general procedures, most of the student residences across the country require students to apply in advance to secure a place due to the limited availability. This leaves many students with no other choice but to find accommodation on the private housing market in the city where they will be studying. Yet, a bigger issue comes with the fact that students need to provide proof of address in order to open a bank account or apply for a registration certificate. This combined with the language barrier issue can create a really unpleasant experience for international students who already have enough things to think about taking into account that they will start a new life at an unknown country.

• German bureaucracy

German bureaucracy is probably the most often mentioned issue among students coming to the country for the first time. The excessive amount of paperwork and mail that a student will have to deal with bring an unpleasant experience along the process of applying. Some of the most common issues encountered by international students concern the time that it takes for them to communicate with service providers since everything is sent out by postal mail, which turns out to be a very slow and time-consuming process. Language barrier also reappears in this case as well, since all of the important documents that need to be filled are in German. Registering for an address or extending a visa is another challenge that foreign students might face throughout their stay in Germany, as the system requires anyone who needs an appointment for any of these services to book such in advance. Students who might need an appointment urgently will have to queue for hours in order to reach the particular office.

It is clear that the German government needs to pay serious attention to all of these issues, and plan a better organization for internationalization at German higher education institutions and German cities, especially since many of the issues reported by foreign students arise after their arrival to the county. Although it is true that Germany’s reputation has increased in recent years with the formidable world-class programs and the attractive minimal tuition fees, the government needs to still work out a better plan that focuses on international students’ integration in society and thus increase the proportion of students coming from different places of the world.