The number of students in Saxony-Anhalt is falling, the rate of foreigners is skyrocketing!

The number of students in Saxony-Anhalt is falling, the rate of foreigners is skyrocketing!

In Saxony-Anhalt, universities are facing an exciting but also challenging situation. In the 2024/25 winter semester, a total of 55,169 students were enrolled at the state's universities. This corresponds to a decrease of 1,462 students, which is 2.6% less compared to the previous year, reports Hall spectrum. Steinbeis University Magdeburg recorded the largest decline with 598 students, which corresponds to a decrease of 12.9%.

However, not all universities are affected by these decreases. The Otto von Guericke University Magdeburg recorded an increase of 115 students, while the Merseburg University increased by 86 students. Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg reported a decline of 501 students, and Anhalt University lost 399. According to Education mirror The trend in student numbers has fluctuated over the last few years: there was already a decline of 2.9% in the winter semester of 2023/24 and the highest number of enrolled students was reached in the winter semester of 2022/23 with 58,338 students.

The international backlog

Despite the overall downward trend, there is positive news at international level. The proportion of foreign students has reached a record 11,071 students, which accounts for 20.1% of the total number of students. Compared to the previous year, where the proportion was 19.0%, the number increased by 326. What is particularly noteworthy is that the proportion of foreign students has almost quadrupled since 2000 - from 5.4% (2,057 students) to the current figures.

In recent years, measures have been increasingly considered to make universities more attractive to students, especially technical colleges, which have been hit harder than universities, with a decline of 4.1%. It seems as if the continuous decline in first-time matriculants since 2018 has finally ended, with 8,740 people starting university in 2024 - an increase of 3.3% compared to the previous year.

Statistical insights

For those interested, the University statistics for Saxony-Anhalt detailed insights into the number of students over the years and the successful completion rates. These statistics are essential to better understand the trends and challenges of the higher education landscape and, if necessary, to respond in a targeted manner.

The development of student numbers therefore remains a central issue that concerns both universities and politics. The trends indicate a clear need for action to increase the attractiveness of universities of applied sciences and to actively address the challenges posed by falling numbers. It remains to be seen what measures will be taken to positively influence future developments.