High proportion of international students in Saxony-Anhalt
In the 2024/25 winter semester, approximately 55,000 students were enrolled at the state's universities – about 11,000 of whom had foreign citizenship , with 92 percent of this group coming from third countries. According to the State Statistical Office, the largest groups came from countries such as India, China, Syria , Iran, and Bangladesh.
The number of first-year students rose to 7,351 during the same period, of which 2,209 were without a German passport – a foreign share of over 30%, according to the state's Ministry of Science.
Saxony-Anhalt has a total of twelve institutions of higher education , including two universities, several universities of applied sciences, and religious, artistic, and private institutions. The largest state universities are the Martin Luther University of Halle-Wittenberg and the Otto von Guericke University of Magdeburg.
Visa and residence permit: What do international students need to know?
For third-country nationals, access to study in Germany is closely linked to their residence status . Those from non-EU countries generally require a student visa in accordance with Section 16b of the Residence Act (AufenthG) .
This is subject to several conditions:
- University entrance qualification: Applicants must have a school leaving certificate that entitles them to study in their country of origin.
- Enrollment: Proof of admission to a German university is mandatory.
- Proof of financing: To secure your livelihood , you must currently provide at least 11,208 euros per year (as of 2025) – usually through a blocked account
- Language skills: For German-taught degree programs (or admission to a preparatory college) , German language skills at level B1 or B2 , proven by certified exams, are generally required. However, in some cases, C1 is also required.
- Health insurance: Valid proof of German health insurance is mandatory.
The visa must be applied for at the German diplomatic mission in the home country before entering the country. After arriving in Germany, students must apply for a residence permit for the purpose of studying at the relevant Foreigners' office .
After successfully completing their studies, international graduates can apply for a residence permit to seek employment , valid for up to 18 months. Alternatively, they can apply for a residence permit for employment purposes under Section 18b or Section 18g . In the long term, they can also apply for a Settlement permit or Naturalization .
Fees for international students – a step backwards?
Currently, students from third countries in Saxony-Anhalt do not pay tuition fees . The CDU parliamentary group in the state parliament now wants to change this. In a motion , they propose that international students contribute more to the costs of their studies in the future – especially if they do not remain in Germany after graduation.
According to dpa, CDU politician Marco Tullner emphasized that this is not about deterrence, but about sustainable financing and stronger retention of skilled workers : "We must keep international students here and turn them into the skilled workers of tomorrow."
Criticism from the SPD, Greens and Left: “Wrong signal”
The opposition expressed clear rejection. Science Minister Professor Armin Willingmann (SPD) criticized the debate during a state parliament session as a "completely wrong signal."
A statement from the Ministry of Science also states: Tuition fees for foreign students could jeopardise Saxony-Anhalt's attractiveness as an educational location.
Willigmann referred to figures from the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) , according to which international students are already contributing to the regional economy – through consumption, part-time jobs and long-term integration.
Hendrik Lange (Left) described the proposal as a relapse into old, outdated concepts of higher education policy.
Looking beyond national borders—and at the numbers
Germany is one of the most popular study destinations internationally. According to the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), the ten-year retention rate after graduation is around 46 percent – comparable to Canada. Many international students therefore stay in Germany , work, and pay taxes.
DAAD spokesman Michael Flacke also believes this is a success story and warned MDR against a fee policy that could jeopardize this trend.
A look at Baden-Württemberg shows that the number of international students from non-EU countries fell by about three percent after the introduction of tuition fees —according to a DAAD analysis.
Federal level: Demand for fees for medical studies
The discussion is also gaining momentum at the federal level. CDU politician Sepp Müller called in the "Bild" newspaper for foreign medical students to be charged if they leave Germany after graduation .
He suggested either repaying the training costs or requiring years of professional experience in rural areas.
Conclusion: Future uncertain, debate ignited
It is currently unclear whether Saxony-Anhalt will charge tuition fees for international students in the future. The only consensus so far is that international students are important for the higher education system and the retention of skilled workers . The question of how this value will be recognized politically, financially, and socially remains controversial.
One thing is certain, however: the tone has been set, and the debate about the future of international students in Germany will continue to gain momentum nationwide.
