Today is the International Day for Tolerance, a global day for action and remembrance that was established by UNESCO in 1995 and is since celebrated annually every November 16. It calls on educational institutions in particular to address the public with suitable activities promoting tolerance. There are several figures that underscore Goethe University Frankfurt’s internationality: A total of 41,568 students from all over the world are enrolled this winter semester, bringing new life to our already highly diverse campus. All told, 16% or 6,511 students enrolled at Goethe University don’t have German citizenship.
International students can be divided into so-called Bildungsinländer*innen (i.e. students who graduated from a German high school), and Bildungsausländer*innen (i.e. students who obtained their high school qualification abroad and are studying in Germany). One third of international students belong to the former category, the remaining two-thirds to the latter.
The international students enrolled at our university come from a total of 144 different countries. Regionally, most hail from Europe (3,203), followed by Asia (2,430). Turkey is the leading country of origin, followed by China and Iran. There are also 21 students who are the sole representatives of their country of origin – including from Angola, Iceland, Panama as well as St. Kitts and Nevis.
Stay curious: If you would like to complete a semester, an internship or a language course abroad, all the relevant information is available on the Global Office website.
