The Wissenschaft weltoffen kompakt 2026 edition, published by ACA’s member the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) and the German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW), presents the latest facts and figures on the internationalisation of studies and research in Germany and worldwide.  

This edition marks a significant overhaul of the publication's format, expanding from four to six thematic areas, bringing it in line with the full main edition:  

• International student mobility worldwide;  
• International students in Germany;  
• Students from Germany abroad;  
• International academics and researchers in Germany;  
• Academics and researchers from Germany abroad; and  
• Internationalisation structures at German universities.  

Two further methodological changes were introduced. Erasmus statistics have been converted to calendar years, replacing the previous system based on variable-length funding periods, which improves year-on-year comparability. Furthermore, new doctoral student statistics have been incorporated, enabling for the first time a distinction between enrolled and non-enrolled doctoral students with foreign citizenship, making the count of international doctoral students more complete. 

The publication shows that international student mobility continues to grow at a steady pace at the global level. According to UNESCO, around 7.3 million students were enrolled outside their home country in 2023 – approximately 400 000 more than the previous year, and 92% more than in 2010.  

• Western Europe remains the leading host region, receiving 30% of all internationally mobile students, followed by Asia and Pacific (19%) and North America (18%).  
• The United States is the single largest host country, enrolling around 957 000 students (13% of the global total), ahead of the United Kingdom (10%), Australia and Germany (6% each) and Canada (5%).  
• China remains the largest country of origin, accounting for around one million students abroad (14%), followed by India (11%).  

The report notes that mobility flows have recovered swiftly from the brief dip caused by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2021, having well surpassed pre-pandemic levels (6.1 million students in 2019). 

Germany's position in this landscape is one of record-breaking growth. In the 2024/25 winter semester, 402 083 international students were enrolled at German universities – a 6% increase year-on-year and the highest figure ever recorded – and representing 14% of all students in the country. Asia and Pacific was the leading region of origin (34%), with India the top country of origin at around 58 800 students for the second year in a row. Engineering dominated subject choices at 43%, followed by law, economics and social sciences at 25%. Meanwhile, around 137 200 German students were studying abroad in 2023, while DAAD-funded transnational education programmes were active in 41 locations in 28 countries, enrolling around 37 700 students – a 32% increase compared to 2015. 

The full edition of the report is expected to be published in autumn 2026.