On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the programme “Development-Related Postgraduate Courses”, the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) issued a new publication on the educational and career paths of the postgraduate course alumni. Within the scope of the programme, some 10 000 foreign students came to Germany to earn a Master’s or doctoral degree. In 1987, 2004 and 2011, all alumni of the programme were surveyed to gain some insight into how the postgraduate courses (classified as being relevant for future professionals from developing countries) influenced their professional development. This publication presents the results of these surveys, revealing some interesting trends.