BintHo Study confirms that international students feel at home at German universities. Goethe University also shows a high level of satisfaction.
At the beginning of 2024, Goethe University Frankfurt participated in the second Benchmark Internationale Hochschule (BintHo) survey conducted by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), in which 132 higher education institutions from all 16 federal states took part. A total of around 95,000 domestic and 21,000 international students participated. Below are the survey results for international degree seekers, i.e. students at Goethe University who obtained their higher education entrance qualification abroad and are pursuing a degree with us. The following general observations can be made:
- Three quarters of international students surveyed feel welcome at their university – including at Goethe University – and just as many are satisfied with their university and their studies.
- 65% of international students at Goethe University plan to stay in Germany after completing their current studies. The DAAD also points out that according to additional analyses, students in higher semesters more frequently indicate that they wish to remain in Germany after graduation compared to those in their first semesters – a clear indication that studying in Germany “whets the appetite for more.”
- Only about 40% of the target group feel well or very well supported by Goethe University when it comes to improving their German language skills, slightly below the average of comparable universities.
- Less than 3% of international students report frequent experiences of discrimination at their university; around 80% have never experienced such incidents – this also applies to Goethe University.
Choice of University and Welcome Culture
Goethe University was the first choice for nearly 70% of degree seekers, compared to 20% who had selected it as their second option; these figures lie about 4% above the average of large German universities. Goethe University benefits, among others, from its broad range of study programs and English-taught degrees (53%), its good reputation and rankings (51%), its attractive location (26%), and the absence of tuition fees (30%). 82% of degree seekers would recommend studying at Goethe University to friends or acquaintances (77% at comparable large universities). International students also feel welcome at the university (4.04 out of 5.0 approval) – significantly more so than outside the university (3.5 out of 5.0).
Expectations, Study Requirements, and Framework Conditions
Goethe University meets or exceeds the study expectations of 74% of degree seekers (69% at large universities).
While 76% of Goethe students (identical to the comparison group) were overall rather or completely satisfied with the application process, about 70% were only partly, less, or not satisfied with the speed of obtaining their visa from German embassies. Similarly, only 33% of international students were rather or completely satisfied with how their case was handled by German immigration authorities (44% at large universities).
These are the issues international students have to grapple with the most when they commence their studies: 79% have difficulties finding accommodation (75% comparison), 69% struggle with making contact with German students (71%), 67% and 74% are burdened by bureaucratic formalities inside and outside the university (66% and 77%), 62% have a hard time finding a part-time job (64%), and 53% experience difficulties adapting to the German academic culture (55%).
The main sources of funding for international degree seekers at Goethe University – similar to other large universities – are part-time jobs (60%), parents/relatives (58%), and personal savings (35%). DAAD scholarships account for 5%, other scholarships 8%, and (education) loans 7%; whereby all these funding sources are more common among Master’s students, for whom more scholarships are available (e.g. DAAD, scholarship foundations).
Advisory and Support Services
Goethe University students are significantly more aware of available advisory services than students at other large universities and make slightly more use of them, although some services are less known. Regarding German language support, only 39% (compared to 47%) of international students feel well or very well supported. The fact that many international Master’s students at Goethe University reported German skills between levels A1–B2 shows that a lot of them come from English-taught programs (A1 38%, A2 12%, B1 12%, B2 13%, C1 17%, C2 5%, native level 4%).
Career Planning and Staying After Graduation
65% of Goethe University’s international students intend to stay in Germany after graduation (62% at large universities); 37% are certain and 28% rather inclined (33% and 29% respectively), while the rest are mostly undecided.
54% aim for long-term employment in Germany after graduation (46% in comparison), 22% plan to continue studying or pursue a doctorate at Goethe University and 7% at another university (22% and 16% respectively), while 13% want short-term employment in Germany for up to three years (13%). Remarkably, most want to stay in the city/region (65% vs. 42%), while some are still undecided (23% vs. 26%). Master’s students aim even more strongly than Bachelor’s students for employment in Germany, whether short- or long-term. STEM students most frequently pursue further studies or a doctorate. 32% feel well or very well supported in their career planning after graduation, 47% partly so (41% and 29% in comparison). 36% of degree seekers can imagine founding a business or start-up in Germany at some point (41% in comparison). This applies somewhat less to humanities students than to those in STEM or economics, law, and social sciences.
Aspects of Discrimination1
In the BintHo study, “discrimination” refers to any disadvantage based on perceived or assumed ethnic or national origin, religion, skin color, or descent. Discriminatory experiences were most often reported as non-verbal discriminatory behavior/microaggressions and stereotyping/everyday racism – much more frequently outside the university (62%) than within it (20%) (65% and 20% in the comparison group).
Within the university, discrimination was more often experienced with fellow students (76%) than with teaching staff (33%) (75% and 51% in comparison). According to the DAAD, this often refers to discriminatory or exclusionary behavior in courses, such as during group work.
Outside the university, discrimination is most commonly experienced when searching for housing (34% sometimes, 30% often; 31% and 28% in comparison), job seeking or at work (39% sometimes, 27% often; 38% and 21% in comparison), as well as in public or leisure contexts.
It is regrettable that there is a lack of awareness of contact points at the university (68% at Goethe University, 66% in comparison). Only 16% of both domestic and international students at Goethe know these contact points and either would or already have used them. Another 16% are aware of them but would not or have not used them. International students report being only partly comfortable speaking openly about their discrimination experiences – both at and outside the university.
What Comes Next?
The responsible teams within Studium Lehre Internationales (SLI) are integrating these results into their work and informing other units. Some topics are already being addressed, and new initiatives have emerged independently of the BintHo report. For instance, in coordination with the Anti-Discrimination Office (ADS), this winter semester, the ADS’ services were presented for the first time during the orientation days for new international students to raise early awareness. Free German language courses for international students in English-taught Master’s programs have been offered since the 2024 summer semester through the International Study Center (ISZ), funded by the DAAD program “Promotion of International Talents” (2024–2028). Additionally, advisory and event offerings related to residence law and prospects for staying (job search, work, settlement permit, naturalization) have been expanded. Support for international students’ career planning, professional orientation, and preparation has been significantly enhanced through the large-scale ESF project International Career Services Rhein-Main (2023–2028), led by Jens Blank, Head of the Career, Scholarships, and Awards Department, SLI, in cooperation with several universities. To support the search for accommodation, regular information sessions and a bilingual brochure have been offered since the 2023/24 winter semester as part of a three-year pilot project. For onboarding first-semester students from non-EU countries in English-taught programs, single apartments with six- or twelve-month leases are being allocated and tested.
Hanna Reuther, Head of the Study Success and Integration Group / Deputy Division Head Studium Lehre Internationales
1 In the BintHo study, discrimination refers to any disadvantage based on perceived or assumed ethnic or national origin, religion, skin color, or descent.
The DAAD’s BintHo report was published in German in early September 2025.
In addition, a special report titled “Arriving, Studying, Staying: How International Students See Their Future in Germany” is available.
Group for Academic Success & Integration: Support for international students with social and residence-related matters, Contact: international-sozial@uni-frankfurt.de
DAAD Project Promotion of International Talents (2024–2028) at Goethe University
