Baden-Württemberg highly values internationality

Baden-Württemberg is in the heart of Europe and shares borders with three European countries: Austria, France and Switzerland. This already gives you an indication that Baden-Württemberg is open to the world.

Around 1.8 million people with a non-German passport currently live in Baden-Württemberg, according to Statista. This represents about 11% of the population, which makes Baden-Württemberg the German state with the third-highest immigration from abroad. About 40% of the people from abroad come from one of the EU countries. The largest migrant group from outside the EU is from Turkey.

Good employment prospects

While people from abroad traditionally found work in Baden-Württemberg’s auto industry, at Porsche or Mercedes, for example, the southwestern state now attracts highly qualified specialists in technology, computer sciences and natural sciences as well. This is helped by the fact that unemployment is the second lowest of any German state and average wages are high compared to other German states.

Welcome centers in all regions of Baden-Württemberg have primarily been established to help newcomers from abroad with finding work and learning the language. However, they provide useful advice for all aspects of life and can be a good resource if you are looking for services or for employment for yourself or your spouse.

International cooperation

Baden-Württemberg has close ties with its neighbors and other European regions. One example is the working group “Four engines for Europe” in which Baden-Württemberg works closely with the French region of Rhône-Alpes, Lombardy in Italy and Catalonia in Spain. The working group addresses important scientific and social questions relevant not only for the regions but also for Europe and countries with similar challenges.

Lively international exchange in academia

International collaboration and exchange are two important factors contributing Baden-Württemberg’s academic success. 14 percent of students at Baden-Württemberg’s universities come from abroad. But the international efforts go beyond exchanges. A dense network of partnerships between universities in Baden-Württemberg and abroad has been established over the years in all areas of academic life, from students to researchers and lecturers to professors. This searchable database by the German rectors’ conference provides detailed information about more than 6000 partnerships between Baden Württemberg’s universities and research groups all over the world from Argentina to New Zealand.

Individual universities have partnered with universities overseas that allows students to study at the partner university without having to pay fees. Partnerships exist with institutions of higher education and research all over the world.

Regular exchanges take place between universities in Baden-Württemberg and universities in the U.S. states of California, Connecticut, Massachusetts, North Carolina und Oregon. In Canada, Baden-Württemberg maintains an exchange program with the province Ontario with many renowned universities in the region. These are programs financially supported by the state.

As a member of the European Union, Germany’s southwestern state Baden-Württemberg is an integral part of many cross-border European and international research programs. The international office of your chosen university as well as the federal state’s international bureau has a wealth of information available.