Even in the plural, you’re not really correct here. Yes, the plural “Studenten” has been and is still often used to include both genders, but it’s still the male form, and nobody would consider using the female plural equivalent, “Studentinnen”, in the same way to include both genders. The easy way out in this case, of course, is the participle “Studierende”. That one is truly free of gender connotations in the plural form.
Even in the plural, you’re not really correct here. Yes, the plural “Studenten” has been and is still often used to include both genders, but it’s still the male form, and nobody would consider using the female plural equivalent, “Studentinnen”, in the same way to include both genders. The easy way out in this case, of course, is the participle “Studierende”. That one is truly free of gender connotations in the plural form.