Students dodge debts, paid for by taxpayers

More young Americans are pursuing a degree in Germany to save money – courtesy of German taxpayers, but the government says the investment in foreign students pays off, writes John Blau for Handelsblatt.

The number of Americans seeking an undergraduate or graduate degree in Germany is steadily increasing. The figure last year was 5,840, up 12% from the previous year. Germany is among the top five European countries attracting Americans who want to obtain a degree abroad, especially a masters, according to the Institute of International Education.

Ask them why and many say it’s a no-brainer: The country offers a high-quality education, a growing number of English-taught programmes and, above all, zero tuition fees. That’s especially enticing to Americans facing the horrendous costs of studying and living at home. The total number of international students in Germany in 2017 reached 358,895, surpassing the government’s long-term goal of hosting 350,000 international students by 2020 three years early. Americans currently constitute 2% of the total, with their numbers rising.
Full report on the Handelsblatt site