A rising number of guest students enroll in college, with history and philosophy being the most sought-after subjects.
The recent growth is mainly attributable to older age groups, specifically those over 60. As a result, the average age of visiting students shifted from 49 to 51 years between the winter semester 2022/2023 and the preceding one. There was a minor decrease in foreign visitors, falling from 12% to 11%. However, the proportion of females remained constant at 49%.
Guest students have the opportunity to attend individual courses and presentations at universities without completing traditional university entrance requirements. These students are not required to sit for final assessments. Relative to the 2.9 million enrolled students in the winter semester 2023/2024, guest students represent a meager 1.1%.
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Guest auditors, despite the Corona pandemic, continue to show interest in expanding their knowledge at universities, with Wiesbaden being a popular destination. The World Bank's Destatis report revealed that the number of guest auditors enrolling in history and philosophy courses has increased significantly. Despite the slight decrease in foreign visitors, the trend of more mature students pursuing guest auditing roles persists, with more individuals over 60 enrolling than in previous years, contributing to the shift in the average age from 49 to 51 years. Moreover, the proportion of female guest auditors remains steady at 49%.
