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Last year, fewer students obtained higher education entrance qualifications or university of applied sciences entrance qualifications than in the previous year. Around 373,000 young people obtained their Abitur or university of applied sciences entrance qualification in 2024. According to the Federal Statistical Office, this is 1.7 percent – ​​6,500 people – fewer than in 2023.

This is the third consecutive year that the number of students eligible to study has declined. In North Rhine-Westphalia, Thuringia, and Saxony-Anhalt in particular, significantly fewer students obtained university entrance qualifications (4 percent). Only three federal states showed a different trend. According to the statistics office, the number of high school graduates increased in Bremen (1.8 percent), Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania (0.4 percent), and Hesse (0.2 percent).

According to the Federal Statistical Office, the relevant age group between 17 and 19 years grew by 1.9 percent last year, which is due to increased immigration . However, this is not reflected in the number of university and university of applied sciences entrance qualifications.

A majority of the 373,000 school leavers (81 percent) have completed their Abitur (university entrance qualification), and 19 percent have obtained their university of applied sciences entrance qualification. As in previous years, the proportion of women in the general higher education entrance qualification is slightly higher. The gender ratio for the university of applied sciences entrance qualification is almost equal.