Student numbers in universities in Germany 2023/24, by type of university

In the winter semester of 2023/24, the obvious majority of students in Germany were enrolled in universities, followed by universities of applied sciences. Smaller numbers were distributed in higher education establishments with a specific subject focus. 

Class in session

In general, for higher education the German academic year is split into the winter and summer semester. Actual class starting and ending dates may differ depending on the type of university or college attended, as well as the type of course. In most cases, the German winter semester starts in October and ends in March, while the summer semester begins in April and ends in September. The time during the semester when no classes take place is called the non-lecture period (vorlesungsfreie Zeit), otherwise known among students as semester vacation (Semesterferien). On average, German university graduates who completed their first degree studied for eight semesters. It is not uncommon to consider a second degree, after getting a Bachelors, for example a Masters .

Tuition-free

First-year student numbers have dropped between 2019 and 2022, most probably due to universities being closed and only operating online, because of the Covid-19 pandemic. However, numbers have been increasing again since 2023. Optimistically so, the number of students taking out a loan to finance their studies has been generally decreasing, as all 16 German states have abolished tuition fees for first degrees, although there has been an increase again after a low during the corona pandemic.