A package of measures to accommodate refugees with the ability to study that was launched by the German government in late 2015 and that supports 10,000 students a year is to be continued. The measures are being implemented by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

The schemes to support prospective refugee students are being funded by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF) and comprise two key elements. ‘Integra’ offers refugees qualifying for the measures language training and preparatory courses for the academic programmes they intend to take up, while ‘Welcome’ assists them in actually entering the higher education system. Welcome is backed by around 600 student initiatives. 

“The demand for German language and prep courses among refugees qualified for higher education goes way beyond what we were reckoning with,” BMBF Undersecretary of State Cornelia Quennet-Thielen stated, addressing a stocktaking of the measures organised by DAAD in Berlin. 

“Both German universities and the many student initiatives continue to make untiring efforts to support the schemes. Several thousand refugees have managed to enrol for regular bachelor’s and masters programmes. We regard them as an enrichment for Germany, just like other international students.” Therefore, Quennet-Thielen said, the BMBF was continuing funding. 

In the first year of the measures, more than 6,800 refugees took part in the Integra language and prep course programmes, and in 2017 there were more than 10,000 students. Increasing numbers of participants are enrolling for regular university programmes. 

“Education is a key element in integrating refugees. With our package of measures, which serve as a basis for access to higher education, we have achieved a lot. But there still remains much to be done,” said DAAD President Margret Wintermantel. “In future, we’ll be focusing on issues such as optimal supervision and support during study courses, ensuring study success or issues regarding additional academic qualifications to prepare for an optimal transition to the labour market.” 

The German Socio-Economic Panel, a representative long-term survey funded by the BMBF, demonstrates that across all countries of origin, 35% of adult refugees hold a higher secondary education qualification, 16% of adults have studied at a higher education institution, and 11% have already obtained a first higher education degree before coming to Germany. Admission requirements at German institutions are the same as those for other students, German or international.