New degree programmes, more first-semester students, more international students

The University of Kassel starts the academic year next Monday (13. 10.). According to the provisional enrolment figures, 21,095 people are enrolled (last year: 21,352). To date, 4,713 people are enrolled in their first study semester (previous year: 4,652). After several years of declining numbers, the number of first-semester students has thus risen for the third semester in a row. 270 students are enrolled on one of the nine new degree programmes with a focus on sustainability or the Bachelor's degree program in Business Information Systems, which is also new. All figures are expected to rise slightly in the coming days.

The President of the University, Prof. Dr. Ute Clement, is particularly pleased with the successful launch of the "sustainability degree programs": "This was a very complex and well-prepared process, which was also accompanied by a major marketing campaign. These degree programmes are important for us because they make us a well-known address for anyone who wants to shape transformation processes. They get the right academic training here."

In the coming semesters, the aim will be to closely monitor the start-up phase of the new degree programs, make any necessary adjustments where there is room for improvement and transfer positive experiences to the introduction of further degree programmes. The university plans to further modernize its study programme in the coming years.

The updated study programme will help to stabilize enrolment figures despite the declining number of students across Germany. The Conference of Culture Ministers recently published a calculation according to which declining numbers are to be expected in Germany and Hesse until 2027.

Record proportion of international students

The increasing proportion of international students is having a stabilizing effect on student numbers: 3,345 people have a foreign passport (2024: 3,104). At 16 percent, the proportion is higher than ever before. Looking at the narrower group of so-called Bildungsauslaender (i.e. those with a foreign higher education entrance qualification), the number rose to 2,590 (from 2,344 last year). This is more than ever before. The most common country of origin is India, followed by Pakistan.

All enrolment figures currently available are provisional and are likely to rise slightly in the coming days. The final figures ("cut-off date figures") will be available at the end of November.

What does this mean in summary?

• The number of first semester students at the University of Kassel continues to rise
• The number of international students is higher than ever before
• The new degree programmes with a focus on sustainability have got off to a good start