University More Than 31,000 Students Anticipated at Ruperto Carola

In the 2025/2026 winter semester, the overall student numbers at Heidelberg University will total more than 31,000, likely exceeding those of the previous year. The provisional numbers of new and re-enrolled students at the start of the lecture period indicate that the number of new enrolments is still running high, as in the previous winter semesters. The overall student numbers at Ruperto Carola will thus rise slightly for the fifth consecutive year. A significant increase is expected in the number of students from abroad.

Although the registration process has not yet been completed, so far just under 31,200 students have signed up to start their study courses or have re-enrolled at Ruperto Carola. This provisional number is already almost as high as the total number of students enrolled last year and, according to the Division of Student Affairs and Teaching, will rise in the coming weeks with the addition of applicants from the waiting list and master’s students, as well as international applicants.

The likewise provisional number of students beginning a degree course lies at more than 5,400. That includes just under 3,500 new students, that is students who are enrolling at a German university for the first time. The final numbers are likely to exceed those of the previous year. The number of international students – as the current enrolments show – will also rise yet again and thus be higher than in the previous winter semester. Currently, more than 6,200 students from abroad are enrolled at Heidelberg University.

Overall student numbers in the 2024/2025 winter semester totaled approx. 31,400 after registration had been completed. Around 6,200 students had started a new course at Heidelberg University. Among these were just under 3,800 new students. The number of international students in the previous winter semester was around 6,300.