Studying in English: Universities Are Expanding Their Programs

Saxony’s universities have expanded their offerings of English-language degree programs. More will be launched at the start of the new winter semester. The number has risen steadily over the past 10 to 20 years—a trend that is continuing, according to the University of Leipzig in response to a dpa inquiry. It now offers 28 such programs. The natural sciences, in particular, have been actively expanding their offerings, while there are no English-language degree programs in fields such as theology and veterinary medicine.

Leipzig is not alone in this development. At the Bergakademie Freiberg, students have been able to complete their studies entirely in English since the 1999/2000 winter semester. It all began with the program “International Management of Resources and Environment,” which started with seven students. Today, the Technical University offers 14 English-language degree programs. The Technical University of Chemnitz is also reporting growth: from 9 degree programs with 1,268 students to 13 degree programs with 2,177 students over the past ten years. As a result, one-quarter of the students now study in English. 

Attracting International Students to the German Job Market

At TU Dresden, nearly one in four degree programs is taught in English, with new offerings primarily in mathematics, natural sciences, and environmental sciences. “As a globally oriented university of excellence, we also want to attract the world’s best talent to our institution and our research priorities,” the university explains.

And English just happens to be the most widely spoken language in the world. “Through English-language degree programs and targeted collaborations with industry partners, we can attract international students to the German job market, especially in the STEM fields.” The acronym stands for mathematics, computer science, natural sciences, and technology.

Other universities cite similar reasons for expanding this offering. In addition to recruiting international applicants, the goal is also to equip German students with international skills or to specifically prepare them for an international career. Such degree programs are often organized in collaboration with partners abroad. For example, the Bergakademie offers a master’s program in “Responsible Consumption and Production” in partnership with the Montanuniversität Leoben (Austria) and the University of León (Spain). Individual phases of the program are completed at all three locations.

Additional English-language degree programs are launching

According to the universities, English-language programs are primarily offered as advanced degree programs, meaning they lead to a master’s degree. There are no degree programs in languages other than English in Freiberg or Chemnitz. TU Dresden notes that it offers courses in Russian, French, or Italian in the field of linguistics. The University of Leipzig also has such programs, some of which are bilingual—for example, in translation studies. 

Among the English-language degree programs being offered for the first time this winter semester are the master’s programs “Japan in the Asia Pacific” and “Evolutionary Anthropology” at the University of Leipzig. The Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology at Chemnitz University of Technology is offering a new master’s program in “Automation, Robotics, and Control.” The enrollment deadline for this program runs until the end of the month.