Joybrato Mukherjee, president of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD), has called for stricter oversight of certain private universities across Germany. Speaking to the weekly journal “Die Zeit”, Mukherjee highlighted what he considers “very questionable offerings” in some areas of Berlin that are attracting international students to Germany. He noted that students often realize that the expectations set by these institutions fail them “on site”. Mukherjee questioned the legitimacy of these programs, asking why they are recognized by the state and how certain degree courses were accredited in the first place.
The problem is particularly concerning for students from India, who are prone to falling into dubious providers back home. According to Mukherjee, the core issue lies with so-called intermediary agencies in India, which he described as an “grey market”. He stated that these agencies have made a business out of guiding prospective students toward Germany or other countries, and he strongly advised German universities against cooperating with them.
This concern comes amid records high enrollment figures. The total number of international students enrolling in Germany for a semester in winter 2024/25 reached a new peak of approximately 402,000. Of this total, nearly 60,000 students came from India, making it the largest grouping of international students now attending German universities.
