Germany and Ireland Attract More Indian Students Seeking Better Value

Germany and Ireland are emerging as preferred higher education destinations for Indian students over traditional choices like the USA, the UK, Canada, and Australia. Karan Lalit, Executive Director for South Asia at TOEFL and GRE, shared these insights based on recent data during an interview.

Enrollment Numbers

Enrollment figures highlight a steady shift in student preferences. According to the German Academic Exchange Service, Indian student enrollment in German universities reached 69,816 in the winter semester of 2025-26, which marks a 17.5% year-on-year increase. Ireland recorded about 9,175 Indian student enrolments in 2024-25, making up 20.6% of its non-Irish-domiciled student group. Out of more than 60,000 students heading to Germany, 12,000 students, or 20 percent, originate from Karnataka.

Factors and Test Changes

Students choose these countries due to the return on investment, strong engineering technology, and 18-month post-study work rights. Bengaluru students with start-up ideas often prefer Germany, while those studying healthcare or social sciences look to Ireland. TOEFL iBT is accepted in both nations and across more than 13,500 institutions in over 160 countries. The TOEFL test changed in January 2026 to a 90-minute multi-stage adaptive format. Results are now released in 72 hours instead of 7 to 10 days, and students have access to 21 full-length mock tests with 3,000 practice questions for five dollars.

Context

Studying abroad requires careful financial planning, language proficiency testing, and meeting specific university entry standards. Many students and their families take education loans or invest significant savings to cover tuition and living expenses overseas. Standardized tests like TOEFL help universities assess language skills fairly for applicants coming from diverse educational backgrounds around the world.