Indian students in Germany hit 69,816: what it means for you

There are now 69,816 Indian students at German universities. That's the record for the 2025/26 winter semester, and it's 17.5% more than a year earlier.

In one year, nearly 10,400 more of us arrived. If you're applying or already studying here, that number touches your rent, your visa date and your job search.

What does the record number of Indian students in Germany mean?

Indians are now the largest international student group in Germany. We make up 13.5% of the 516,820 international students. We are 2.4% of all 2.86 million students in the country.

The German ambassador, Dr. Jasper Wieck, spoke about this in New Delhi in late October 2026. The event marked 75 years of Indo-German ties. He said that when he first served in India in 2017, only 17,000 Indian students were in Germany. He also said Germany now issues about 60,000 long-term visas in India every year.

The numbers have grown fast. Germany is no longer just a backup option for Indian students.

Why are so many Indians choosing Germany?

Three things stand out.

English-taught courses. Germany now offers over 2,000 programmes in English. You don't need German at the start, so STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths), business and management courses are open to far more Indians.

Low cost. Most public universities still charge no tuition fees. You only pay a semester contribution (a small fee each semester), usually between €150 and €350.

Work after studies. Germany gives graduates an 18-month job seeker visa. This lets you stay and look for a job. Many traditional study countries are making post-study work rights tighter. Germany is not.

The US, UK, Canada and Australia have become more expensive and stricter on immigration. Germany is taking in many of the students who turn away from them.

Where is the pressure?

Housing

About 10,400 new Indian students in one year has made the student housing shortage worse. Rooms were already hard to find.

The blocked account for 2026 needs €11,904. A blocked account is a special bank account where you deposit your living money first. The bank then releases €992 a month to you, which adds up to €11,904 over a year.

In Munich, Berlin or Hamburg, €992 is increasingly too little to cover rent and living costs together. Read our guide on finding student housing in Germany before you book anything. Also see why very cheap listings are often a trap.

Visa and APS slots

More applicants means more pressure on visa appointment slots. It also means more pressure on the APS certificate, a mandatory document check for Indian students.

Start the APS and visa process 4 to 6 months before your course begins. Our post on why you should start the APS early explains the timing.

Part-time jobs and graduate roles

A bigger Indian group means stronger alumni networks. Seniors who studied before you can tell you about courses, cities and employers.

It also means more people going for the same part-time jobs and entry-level graduate roles. The minimum wage in 2026 is €13.90 an hour. Competition is fierce, so apply early and apply widely.

How should you plan if you're applying now?

1. Start the APS and visa steps 4 to 6 months early. Prepare your documents well before your course begins.
2. Look beyond the big cities. Leipzig, Aachen and Dresden are university towns where €992 a month is more realistic for rent and living costs.
3. Check the programme carefully. Choose recognised public universities, or private ones you have checked well. Fast growth has brought some fee-charging private and hybrid programmes that don't give you the usual public-university experience.
4. Plan your money before you land. In a big city, check whether €992 a month can cover your rent and living costs.

My view

The record number is good news for Germany's name in India. It's less good for your first three months if you arrive unprepared.

The risks are a late visa, a hard room search and a programme that isn't what you expected. All three are easier to handle if you plan early.

Pick a city for its rent first and its famous name second. Your next step this week: write down the monthly rent you can pay in each city on your list, and compare it with €992.

Cover photo: Shantanu Kumar on Pexels