Tuition Fees
Tuition fees have been introduced in Germany by self-styled modernizers since its reunification in 1990. Initially, cultural differences between east and west caused for the delay of the plan. Also federal law has banned tuition fees and provisions assured free education in the constitutions of individual states. But then, the downpour of laws had swept through most of the federal states of Germany. Shifting some of the funding burden to individual beneficiaries became unbearable. This rooted the urge to follow the changes made elsewhere, incase in one’s own state should remain less well funded, and the public purse more stretched.
Germany has been a federal individual for most of its history. By 1630, Germany prides itself with two dozen universities and another two dozen sub-university institutions of great variety. Instead, the process of university reform was typically driven forward by new universities: The Humboldt University in Berlin, Bonn, Göttingen, Halle, and Wittenberg to name a few. By 1826, when the third English university was established, Germany had been peppered for centuries with dozens of venerable institutions to which local populations felt a sense of pride and connection.
After the disaster of the Third Reich, Germany slips back to its federal pattern and once again Education became one of the main responsibilities of individual states of Germany. In this event, powerful long-established local German Universities and local democracy has won over the nation’s federal system.
An international student has to incur near to 630 Euros to meet the monthly living expenses.
Tuition fee in Germany is low compared to other countries. Many universities and technical colleges are being sponsored by the state and charge a little amount to the students. All students need to pay semester fee of 150 to 250 Euros. This covers administration costs cafeteria bills, homes or sport facilities. In most cases with these fees one also gets a semester ticket that can be used for bus or train in the area. The private university/ technical colleges have more fees. Health insurance or traveling costs can increase.
In Germany there is a great experiment with tuition fees. The states had introduced tuition fees, but have withdrawn them. Tuition fees in Germany are modest ranging from €1,000, to above per year. The German Rectors’ Conference, which is the association of all universities, supports moderate tuition fees, while the students and faculty unions are opposing it.
The German Rectors' Conference favors a model in which students defer tuition payments by taking loans. The most important issue is to secure adequate funding of universities. They have improved teaching, well constructed buildings, efficient machinery, quality research and no constraints for great competition. The proportion of the population in Germany that enters and graduates from higher education is increasing every year and the young people desire to go to university. Germany considers higher education as a human right and a belief enshrined in the United Nations’ Covenant. Education shall be made accessible to all, on the basis of individual capacity. It’s a means of social contract.