Higher education graduation numbers show a mild uptick
In 2024, a significant milestone was reached in German higher education as a total of 511,600 students graduated, marking a 1.9% increase from the previous year, according to data from the Federal Statistical Office.
Of these graduates, 49,700 were in the field of teaching, while 28,200 completed doctorates, representing a 6 percent increase from the previous year. The remaining 6 percent of graduates were distributed among fields such as sports, forestry, or art sciences, although the exact number in these areas was not specified in the provided data.
Approximately 10,000 more students graduated in 2024 compared to the previous year. The data provided by the Federal Statistical Office does not include teaching degrees, which were reported separately.
The distribution of degrees among different academic levels showed that almost half of the graduates in 2024 earned a bachelor's degree, with a total of 245,600 bachelor's degrees awarded, a 0.8% increase from the previous year. The number of master's degrees awarded in 2024 increased by 1.9% compared to the previous year, totaling 149,300. The total number of master's and state examination degrees that qualify for teaching also increased by 5 percent compared to the previous year, from 29,000 to 30,600.
In terms of specific fields, 41% of German higher education graduates were in the field of law, economics, and social sciences. Notable universities with a large share of degrees awarded in these areas include the Hochschule für Wirtschaft und Recht Berlin (HWR Berlin), which specializes in economics and law with multiple study programs, and elite universities such as the Rheinische Friedrich-Wilhelms-Universität Bonn and Universität Hamburg, known for extensive offerings and strong graduating cohorts in law, economics, and social sciences.
Mathematics and natural sciences accounted for 11% of the total graduates in 2024, while humanities accounted for 9%. In the field of medicine, 7 percent of degrees were awarded in 2024.
Every quarter of graduates in 2024 earned a degree in engineering, amounting to 25% of the total graduates. Additionally, 7,800 traditional university of applied sciences degrees were awarded in 2024, and 31,000 traditional university and artistic degrees, such as state examinations outside of teaching, were also conferred.
This increase in graduates and the continued focus on various fields of study reflects the ongoing commitment of German higher education institutions to provide a diverse range of opportunities for students and to contribute to the nation's economic and social development.
