Germany sees rise in university graduates and non-traditional student completions

The number of university graduates in Germany rose by 3 percent in the 2025 examination year, with approximately 527,600 students and doctoral candidates earning degrees. According to data from the Federal Statistical Office (Destatis), this represents an increase of 16,000 graduates compared to the previous year. Bachelor's degrees accounted for 49 percent of all completions, while Master's degrees comprised 29 percent.

Regarding specific fields, 41 percent of degrees were in law, economics, and social sciences, followed by engineering at 25 percent. Doctoral degrees accounted for 5 percent of all completions. The proportion of female graduates remained steady at 53 percent.

In a separate development, a monitoring report from the CHE Centre for Higher Education highlights the growth of non-traditional students. Since the introduction of pathways for students without a standard high school diploma (Abitur) roughly 15 years ago, approximately 95,000 individuals have successfully completed university studies through this route. Currently, around 70,000 students without an Abitur are enrolled in German universities, including a record 1,100 in medical programs.