Zusatzlogo Beate Apolinarski, Tasso Brandt International Students in Germany 2016 Results of the Survey of International Students as Part of the 21st Social Survey of ­Deutsches Studentenwerk, conducted by the German Centre for Higher Education ­Research and Science Studies (DZHW) International Students in Germany 2016 in Germany Students International CONTENTS 1 Contents Summary 5 Introduction 11 1 General Information on the Survey 12 1.1 Survey Instrument ...........................................................................................................................................12 1.2 Conducting the Survey ....................................................................................................................................12 1.3 Response Rate and Sample ............................................................................................................................13 2 Access to Higher Education in Germany 15 2.1 Regions of Origin ..............................................................................................................................................15 2.2 Recognition of Previous Education ..............................................................................................................16 2.3 Knowledge of German .....................................................................................................................................20 3 Characteristics of Degree Courses Pursued 23 3.1 Degree Pursued .................................................................................................................................................23 3.2 Subject Area Structure .....................................................................................................................................24 3.3 Type of institution .............................................................................................................................................26 3.4 Semesters Spent in Germany .........................................................................................................................27 3.5 Language of Instruction ..................................................................................................................................28 3.6 Time Commitment for Study and Work ......................................................................................................28 3.7 Scholarship Students and Study Abroad Arrangements of Exchange Students ................................32 4 Socio-demographic Characteristics 35 4.1 Gender ................................................................................................................................................................35 4.2 Age ........................................................................................................................................................................36 4.3 Marital Status, Relationships ..........................................................................................................................36 4.4 Students with Children ....................................................................................................................................37 4.5 Family Educational Background ....................................................................................................................37 2 INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS IN GERMANY 2016 – 21ST SOCIAL SURVEY 5 Living Situation in Germany 39 5.1 Financing Living Expenses .............................................................................................................................39 5.2 Employment while Studying ..........................................................................................................................44 5.3 Housing Types and Housing Situation .........................................................................................................48 5.4 Canteen and Cafeteria Visits ..........................................................................................................................53 6 Germany as a Study Destination 56 6.1 Preferred Place to Study..................................................................................................................................56 6.2 Information on Studying in Germany ..........................................................................................................57 6.3 Reasons for Studying in Germany .................................................................................................................60 6.4 Difficulties in Student Life and Daily Life ....................................................................................................63 6.5 Student Services and Assistance ...................................................................................................................67 6.6 Recommending Germany as a Study Destination .....................................................................................69 6.7 Global Rating of Life in Germany ..................................................................................................................71 References 73 Appendix: Countries of Origin 74 DZHW Contributors 77 Imprint U3 CONTENTS 3 List of Figures Figure 1.1 International students by selected characteristics – obtained sample versus official statistics ...................................................................................................................................................13 Figure 1.2 International students by selected characteristics – obtained sample versus official statistics ...................................................................................................................................................14 Figure 2.1 Regions of origin ....................................................................................................................................15 Figure 2.2 Students by per capita income in the country of origin ...............................................................15 Figure 2.3 Students by per capita income in the country of origin and region of origin ..........................16 Figure 2.4 Type of previous education by selected regions of origin ............................................................16 Figure 2.5 Type of qualification recognised, by type of previous education ...............................................17 Figure 2.6 Type of previous education upon admission to study in Germany and type of qualifi- cation by degree currently pursued ...................................................................................................19 Figure 2.7 Students’ satisfaction with recognition of previous education by status of previous education .................................................................................................................................................20 Figure 2.8 Students’ satisfaction with recognition of previous education by region of origin ...............20 Figure 2.9 Place at which German language proficiency was acquired prior to admission to high- er education in Germany by type of degree pursued ....................................................................21 Figure 2.10 Participation in language courses while studying in Germany ..................................................21 Figure 3.1 Students by type of degree pursued .................................................................................................23 Figure 3.2 Degree pursued by gender ..................................................................................................................23 Figure 3.3 Degree pursued by per capita income in country of origin..........................................................24 Figure 3.4 Students by subject area groups 2012 vs. 2016 ..............................................................................25 Figure 3.5 Subject area groups by per capita income in country of origin and by gender .......................25 Figure 3.6 Subject area groups by type of degree pursued .............................................................................26 Figure 3.7 Type of HE institution by type of degree pursued .........................................................................27 Figure 3.8 Type of HE institution by per capita income in country of origin ..............................................27 Figure 3.9 Students by number of semesters spent in Germany ...................................................................28 Figure 3.10 Time commitment for study and work by type of degree pursued ...........................................29 Figure 3.11 Time commitment for study and work by subject area groups ..................................................30 Figure 3.12 Time commitment for study and work by age groups ..................................................................30 Figure 3.13 Time commitment of working vs. non-working students ...........................................................31 Figure 3.14 Time commitment and assessment of overall workload ............................................................31 Figure 3.15 Proportion of scholarship students by per capita income in country of origin and by type of degree pursued .......................................................................................................................32 Figure 3.16 Scholarship students by subject area group ....................................................................................33