Upping its internationalisation efforts, Germany has passed new legislation making it easier for international students and academics to remain in the country after their studies. DAAD wants to increase its international student population to 300,000 by 2012 and says the new rules will help... Upping its internationalisation efforts, Germany has passed new legislation making it easier for international students and academics to remain in the country after their studies. In the act agreed by the Bundestag last month, foreign students will be permitted to work part-time for 120 instead of 90 days per year during their studies; they can also stay in Germany for 18 instead of 12 months to seek qualified employment after their studies.
In this period, they will face no work constraints (such as needing the approval of the German Federal Employment Agency) and when employed may apply for permanent residence after just two years.
“The new law opens up new opportunities in Germany for foreign students, scientists and researchers," said a spokesperson at German Academic Exchange Service (
DAAD). "It broadens the individual’s freedom of choice, eg to stay and work in Germany for a certain time or indefinitely."
Foreign academics will also be able to spend six months looking for work in Germany and four years in the country once employed. Their dependents will also find it easier to work.
“This individual freedom of choice is a key characteristic of an outward-looking and welcoming country,” added DAAD, whose remit is to promote study opportunities in Germany.
The organisation broadly welcomed the changes, but it said it wanted further reforms such as the return of the maximum duration of stay of students to 10 years for a course of studies and 5 additional years for a doctorate.
“Since 2009, the maximum duration of stay has been set at a total of 10 years for a course of studies and a doctorate,” it said. “Even allowing for the standard study period this is still too short a period of time if a student is obliged to attend and complete preparatory study college before taking up his or her studies or if the doctorate, as is the case” said the organisation.
Germany hosts around 245,000 students per year and wants to increase this to 300,000 by 2020
Germany hosts around 245,000 students per year and wants to increase this to 300,000 by the end of the decade with DAAD's help. On taking over
as president of DAAD on January 1, Professor Margret Wintermantel said: "If we fail to increase the number of international students in Germany, we will be unable to maintain our academic system’s excellence in light of demographic changes.”
She also wants to streamline university admissions for international students, as well as ensuring every second German university graduate gains international experience during their studies.
The act still needs to be approved by the Bundesrat, the upper house of Germany’s federal parliament.
Upping its internationalisation efforts, Germany has passed new legislation making it easier for international students and academics to remain in the country after their studies. In the act agreed by the Bundestag last month, foreign students will be permitted to work part-time for 120 instead of 90 days per year during their studies; they can also stay in Germany for 18 instead of 12 months to seek qualified employment after their studies.
In this period, they will face no work constraints (such as needing the approval of the German Federal Employment Agency) and when employed may apply for permanent residence after just two years.
“The new law opens up new opportunities in Germany for foreign students, scientists and researchers,” said a spokesperson at German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD). “It broadens the individual’s freedom of choice, eg to stay and work in Germany for a certain time or indefinitely.”
Foreign academics will also be able to spend six months looking for work in Germany and four years in the country once employed. Their dependents will also find it easier to work.
“This individual freedom of choice is a key characteristic of an outward-looking and welcoming country,” added DAAD, whose remit is to promote study opportunities in Germany.
The organisation broadly welcomed the changes, but it said it wanted further reforms such as the return of the maximum duration of stay of students to 10 years for a course of studies and 5 additional years for a doctorate.
“Since 2009, the maximum duration of stay has been set at a total of 10 years for a course of studies and a doctorate,” it said. “Even allowing for the standard study period this is still too short a period of time if a student is obliged to attend and complete preparatory study college before taking up his or her studies or if the doctorate, as is the case” said the organisation.
Germany hosts around 245,000 students per year and wants to increase this to 300,000 by 2020
Germany hosts around 245,000 students per year and wants to increase this to 300,000 by the end of the decade with DAAD’s help. On taking over as president of DAAD on January 1, Professor Margret Wintermantel said: “If we fail to increase the number of international students in Germany, we will be unable to maintain our academic system’s excellence in light of demographic changes.”
She also wants to streamline university admissions for international students, as well as ensuring every second German university graduate gains international experience during their studies.
The act still needs to be approved by the Bundesrat, the upper house of Germany’s federal parliament.
