India is moving into focus as a strategic partner and innovation hub for Germany. Key drivers of this development include its young population, strong economic growth, and technological advances in fields such as space exploration, pharmaceuticals and artificial intelligence. Geopolitically too, India is gaining importance and playing an increasingly prominent role on the global stage.
Indian students are of particular significance in this context. With around 50,000 individuals, they now represent the largest international student group in Germany, especially in engineering and computer science. The majority come for a master’s degree, as it is shorter, more affordable and often taught in English. Their prospects of staying in Germany after graduation are above average. Significantly more Indian students than other international groups wish to live and work in Germany long term.
Many of them take up highly skilled positions in STEM fields after graduation and earn above-average incomes. In doing so, they make a key contribution to securing skilled labor, driving innovation in Germany and mitigating demographic change.
To ensure this potential can be fully realized in the long run, essential framework conditions need to be improved. These include expanding English-language study programs, accelerating and streamlining visa procedures, ensuring affordable housing and providing language support and practice-oriented academic formats alongside studies. The transition into the labor market also requires more targeted support, for example through mentoring, early German language courses and stronger links with employers.
India holds tremendous potential for research, innovation and talent acquisition. Strategic collaboration is therefore an investment in the future that will benefit science, the economy and society alike.
Read the entire analysis: ‘Von Bangalore nach Berlin: Warum indische Studierende für Deutschland wichtig sind‘ here as a PDF. Please note, to date the analysis is only available in German.
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The series informs in a concentrated form about important positions of the Konrad-Adenauer-Stiftung on current topics. The individual issues present key findings and recommendations, offer brief analyses, explain the Foundation's further plans and name KAS contact persons.