This week, we are taking a look at the most successful destination country in Europe – are there lessons to be learned from the German recruitment market? As competition to attract international students becomes more pronounced, how can we encourage German and other European students to study in the U.S., despite the obvious attractions of remaining within the EU?

While the U.S. continues to top of the list of countries hosting the highest number of international students, Europe remains the largest host region. Of course, this is largely due to the fact that many of these students come from nations within Europe itself. In fact, internal mobility is so high that as many as 77% of internationally mobile students from Western Europe remain in the region. So, how are you expected to recruit in a country that has such a strong hold on its students? The good news – the U.S. already has a foothold in prospective students’ imaginations.

Bottom Line: Europe is a particularly difficult market to break into, as students generally take advantage of programs like Erasmus+, which offer ease of study between EU countries. Additionally, the cost of European tuition and application fees tend to be much lower and the need for U.S. visas can take its toll on students who are accustomed to free travel within the EU. Still, the interest is there for many German students to come to the US, while the competition of Germany as a study destination grows.

Still a few meeting slots left on our Nafsa schedule at the end of this month. Please be in touch if you would like to schedule a meeting with one of our team out in LA. We have so much research to share ([email protected]).  Read on for ideas on how to differentiate your academic offerings and compete effectively.