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EDUCATION

How new fees for non-EU students could hurt German universities

Two states are set to introduce new fees specifically for students from outside the EU. But while local governments are eager to bring in the added revenues, critics say the price hikes could in fact hurt their universities.

How new fees for non-EU students could hurt German universities
Students in Freiburg protesting last year before the fees for non-EU students became finalized. Photo: DPA

The southwest state of Baden-Württemberg is bringing in new fees for non-EU students this winter semester 2017-18, while Germany’s most populous state of North Rhine-Westphalia is also looking to follow suit.

Baden-Württemberg has become the first state to introduce fees for students outside the EU, starting with the winter semester beginning in early to mid-October this year with charges of €1,500 per semester.

Students who were already enrolled before the state parliament finalized the fees in May will be exempt from paying the fees. There will also be exceptions made for other students, including those from certain less wealthy countries.

To read a full list of exceptions, click here.

North Rhine-Westphalia’s (NRW) coalition government of the conservative CDU and liberal FDP parties agreed in June that they would pass a similar law, also charging non-EU students €1,500 per semester. The parties said that this could bring in €100 million per year for the betterment of their universities.

Already critics, even among academic administrators, have voiced concerns about the plans.

President of Essen’s Folkwang University of the Arts, Andreas Jacob, told regional broadcaster WDR on Monday that 30 percent of their students would be impacted by the proposed fees, and he worried that the extra charges could deter talented students from poorer regions from coming to his institution.

“The ones we are talking about are the absolute elites,” Jacob said.

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“They are not the ones studying in mass subject programmes, but rather they are carefully selected, artistically excellent people. They are exactly the kinds of students that you really want to have.”

Heads of Ruhr-University Bochum and the Rhine-Waal University of Applied Sciences have similar perspectives, WDR reports. They note that non-EU students more often come for mathematics, information technology, natural sciences and technology – all subjects that are in high demand on the German job market. Therefore these kinds of students should be courted, not scared away by bigger fees, they say.

NRW coalition politicians have said there could be some exceptions made for certain students, like in Baden-Württemberg.

Even with the exemptions, a student in Freiburg has filed a lawsuit against the fees in Baden-Württemberg, Spiegel reported on Friday, in a case which could also ultimately have implications for North Rhine-Westphalia.

Students have called the fees a form of discrimination and question their constitutionality.

“We hope to retrospectively halt the fees through judicial means,” said Phillip Stöcks of the Freiburg University students’ union, which is supporting the case.

“The student fees in Baden-Württemberg violate the right to equal treatment,” said the student’s lawyer in the case, Wilhelm Achelpöhler. “We will fight against this in court together.”

READ ALSO: The most and least expensive German towns for student digs

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STUDYING IN GERMANY

What’s it like to study abroad in Berlin?

Picking the right city to study abroad in Germany can be a tricky decision, and there are numerous factors to consider. Freya Jones shares her experience of doing a year abroad in the capital and explains why Berlin could also be the right choice for you.

What's it like to study abroad in Berlin?

Five months after moving to Berlin for my year abroad (a compulsory part of my German degree from the UK) the German capital is certainly a destination I’d recommend. 

Although it’s less “traditionally German” than many other corners of the country, and simultaneously more comparable to the blanket big city experience worldwide, Berlin’s unique history and culture make it a great place to explore – and unsurprisingly very popular with international students. 

Like all capitals, it has its pros and cons, so here’s what stood out to me during my experience so far.

Arrival

You’ve probably heard horror stories about the Berlin housing market, and from experience I can say they’re largely true. Finding an apartment here before moving to the city is notoriously difficult, and more expensive than in other parts of Germany. 

What you should bear in mind, however, is that unlike other German cities, Berlin doesn’t impose fines if you’re unable to secure a registration appointment within two weeks of arrival (three months if you already have a visa). This makes searching for a good WG, Studentenwerk, or other rental far easier post-arrival if your first stop is a homestay or somewhere else temporary. 

Blocks of rental flats in Berlin.

Blocks of rental flats in Berlin. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Monika Skolimowska

Despite a recent wave of strikes and construction work, transport links in Berlin are still very strong. If you’re enrolled as a student during your year abroad, you’ll be entitled to a discounted pass for city transport, including a number of tram, bus and train options that run all the way to the city’s outskirts and even into Brandenburg (Zone C).

What’s more, direct trains from Berlin’s BER Airport make it more accessible than more remote locations in Germany when you arrive equipped with a year’s worth of luggage.

English

My German tutors in the UK were slightly concerned when I chose Berlin, because they didn’t think I’d have much opportunity to practise my German. Looking back, this worry wasn’t without cause, and if your primary goal is German language improvement, it may be worth considering somewhere more rural or less international. 

Unlike small towns I’ve visited elsewhere in Germany, where many people speak little to no English, it’s everywhere in Berlin. Because the international population is so large, new friends from any country are likely to speak it by default.

However, this can obviously be mitigated by signing up for German-only university classes, as I’ve done as an exchange student at Humboldt University, or finding a German language job. And on the flip side, if you’re here to study a discipline other than German, the ubiquity of English in Berlin has you covered.

READ ALSO: The top German cities for international students in 2024

Cultural Experiences

Unsurprisingly, Berlin offers no end of unique cultural experiences. For new arrivals, there’s plenty to fill your time with, and I’d really recommend “playing the tourist” for a couple of weeks while you settle in. 

Bucket-list locations include the National Gallery and museums on Museuminsel, the Berlin Wall memorial, the Brandenburg Gate, and the site of the Berlin airlift at Tempelhof. And beyond this, there’s never a shortage of things to do – walks around Tiergarten and the customary Sunday flea markets (Flohmarkt am Mauerpark being the most famous) are popular with visitors and locals alike.

A skateboarder performs tricks on Tempelhofer Feld

A skateboarder performs tricks on a former runway at Berlin’s Tempelhofer Feld, a popular meeting place in Berlin-Neukölln. Photo: picture alliance/dpa | Christoph Soeder

Something I’ve also really enjoyed after being here for a while is noticing the small details which differentiate the former East and West Berlin sectors, such as different traffic lights and types of transport. While much of the architecture is admittedly stark, grey and not as pretty as other parts of Germany, the way in which present-day Berlin is a visible product of its recent history makes it a fascinating place to live.

READ ALSO: How do I get a student visa for Germany and what does it let me do?

Pros & Cons

Any culture shock inevitably comes with both positives and negatives, and these are a few which particularly struck me after moving to Berlin from the UK. 

Cons: many shops refuse to take card payment and only accept cash; all shops and supermarkets close on Sundays; there’s no guarantee of being let into a club or bar on a night out, and the traffic lights genuinely seem to conspire against drivers and pedestrians alike. (Also, the weather in winter really will destroy your soul, and this is a Brit talking…)

Pros: the quality of food is much better here than in the UK, and cheaper; the cost of alcohol is much lower; public transport is cheaper and more efficient than in London; work-life balance and mental wellbeing are taken very seriously; and finally, there’s a far less visible “class system” than in the UK, possibly due to the greater access and affordability of German universities.  (This is really nice, especially if you’re coming from a UK university where socio-economic prejudice is very common.)

READ ALSO: How to stay in Germany after graduating from a German university

Overall, Berlin has been a vibrant place to spend my exchange semester. Not only has it given me insights into the most significant shifts in recent German history, but it also offers the archetypal experience of living in a bustling, multicultural city. So while it’s distinctly different to anywhere else in Germany you might be considering, the variety of things to see and do in Berlin will keep you engaged for your full year abroad.

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