{"id":9738,"date":"2014-03-05T06:26:46","date_gmt":"2014-03-05T05:26:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/?p=9738\/"},"modified":"2017-01-20T23:24:06","modified_gmt":"2017-01-20T23:24:06","slug":"german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\/","title":{"rendered":"German universities now free everywhere, as Lower Saxony ditches tuition fees"},"content":{"rendered":"

German federal states have backtracked on a policy to introduce tuition fees. Now only the state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) charges a tuition fee, but even this will end with the academic year of 2014. <\/p>\n

The fees in most German states were introduced over the past eight years,<\/a> amid student protests. German students are one of the biggest single nationality groups<\/a> coming to the University of Copenhagen to study. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe tuition fees were always a controversial and debated theme because they limit the access to the university for certain people,\u201d says Vivien Ferch, one of many German students currently studying in Copenhagen.<\/p>\n

Controversial<\/h2>\n

Seven out of ten states in west Germany began charging fees in 2006 and 2007, including Vivien Ferch\u2019s home state, North Rhine-Westphalia.<\/p>\n

But the introduction sparked protests around the country. In the German state of Hesse 70,000 signatures were collected and student protests led to a change in policies. The ruling Christian Democratic Union party in Hesse did not want to risk not being re-elected.<\/p>\n

ToTimes Higher Education Professor Howard Hotson explained recently that “Tuition fees unraveled at almost the same speed as they been stitched up. Those state governments that followed Hesse\u2019s lead in abolishing fees stayed in power; those that refused were removed from office at the next election\u201d. <\/p>\n

German student: Tuition unfair<\/h2>\n

Some argue that the lack of tuition fees means that universities have less money to provide a good quality education, but Vivien Ferch is not sure about it. And government and taxpayers should pay for universities, she argues.<\/p>\n

\u201cI think the quality depends on the different universities and their scientific focus. That there aren’t any fees doesn’t mean that the universities get no money \u2013 but that the country will have to pay more for the universities now.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI think it was against equal rights to introduce the fees because it prevents certain people from studying. It only allows students who have enough money or wealthy parents and limits the access for students with a lower socio-economical background,\u201d says Vivien Ferch.<\/p>\n

universitypost@adm.ku.dk<\/p>\n

Like us on Facebook <\/a> for features, guides and tips on upcoming events. Follow us on Twitter<\/a> for links to other Copenhagen academia news stories. Sign up for the University Post weekly newsletter here<\/a>.<\/em> <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

The introduction of fees into German universities has been gradually overturned, with the last hold-out federal state stopping them this year. Good riddance, says a German student in Copenhagen<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":12,"featured_media":9740,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[42],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-9738","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-education","expression-news_article"],"acf":[],"aioseo_notices":[],"yoast_head":"\nGerman universities now free everywhere, as Lower Saxony ditches tuition fees<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"German universities now free everywhere, as Lower Saxony ditches tuition fees\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"The introduction of fees into German universities has been gradually overturned, with the last hold-out federal state stopping them this year. Good riddance, says a German student in Copenhagen\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:url\" content=\"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:site_name\" content=\"University Post\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:publisher\" content=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/uniavis\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:published_time\" content=\"-0001-11-30T00:00:00+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"article:modified_time\" content=\"2017-01-20T23:24:06+00:00\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:image\" content=\"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/auditorium_gottingencropped2.jpg\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:width\" content=\"2560\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:height\" content=\"1523\" \/>\n\t<meta property=\"og:image:type\" content=\"image\/jpeg\" \/>\n<meta name=\"author\" content=\"MIGRATED_ARTICLES FROM_OLD_SITE\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:card\" content=\"summary_large_image\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:creator\" content=\"@Uniavisen\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:site\" content=\"@Uniavisen\" \/>\n<meta name=\"twitter:label1\" content=\"Written by\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data1\" content=\"MIGRATED_ARTICLES FROM_OLD_SITE\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:label2\" content=\"Est. reading time\" \/>\n\t<meta name=\"twitter:data2\" content=\"2 minutes\" \/>\n<script type=\"application\/ld+json\" class=\"yoast-schema-graph\">{\"@context\":\"https:\\\/\\\/schema.org\",\"@graph\":[{\"@type\":\"Article\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/en\\\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\\\/#article\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/en\\\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\\\/\"},\"author\":{\"name\":\"MIGRATED_ARTICLES FROM_OLD_SITE\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b4df0b22f9be3943039e58e94c400606\"},\"headline\":\"German universities now free everywhere, as Lower Saxony ditches tuition fees\",\"datePublished\":\"-0001-11-30T00:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-01-20T23:24:06+00:00\",\"mainEntityOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/en\\\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\\\/\"},\"wordCount\":386,\"commentCount\":0,\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/en\\\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/03\\\/auditorium_gottingencropped2.jpg\",\"articleSection\":[\"Education\"],\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\"},{\"@type\":\"WebPage\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/en\\\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\\\/\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/en\\\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\\\/\",\"name\":\"German universities now free everywhere, as Lower Saxony ditches tuition fees\",\"isPartOf\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/#website\"},\"primaryImageOfPage\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/en\\\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"image\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/en\\\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\\\/#primaryimage\"},\"thumbnailUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/03\\\/auditorium_gottingencropped2.jpg\",\"datePublished\":\"-0001-11-30T00:00:00+00:00\",\"dateModified\":\"2017-01-20T23:24:06+00:00\",\"author\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/#\\\/schema\\\/person\\\/b4df0b22f9be3943039e58e94c400606\"},\"breadcrumb\":{\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/en\\\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\\\/#breadcrumb\"},\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"potentialAction\":[{\"@type\":\"ReadAction\",\"target\":[\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/en\\\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\\\/\"]}]},{\"@type\":\"ImageObject\",\"inLanguage\":\"en-US\",\"@id\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/en\\\/german-universities-now-free-everywhere-as-lower-saxony-ditches-tuition-fees\\\/#primaryimage\",\"url\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/03\\\/auditorium_gottingencropped2.jpg\",\"contentUrl\":\"https:\\\/\\\/uniavisen.dk\\\/wp-content\\\/uploads\\\/2014\\\/03\\\/auditorium_gottingencropped2.jpg\",\"width\":2560,\"height\":1523,\"caption\":\"University of G\u00f6ttingen, in the state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) now also tuition free. 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Good riddance, says a German student in Copenhagen","use_post_excerpt":false},{"acf_fc_layout":"Byline","is_author":false,"contributors":[{"use_registered_user":false,"user":false,"contributor_name":"Kristine N\u00f8dgaard-Nielsen","contributor_title":" ","contributor_image":false}]},{"acf_fc_layout":"Content","content":"<p>German federal states have backtracked on a policy to introduce tuition fees. Now only the state of Lower Saxony (Niedersachsen) charges a tuition fee, but even this will end with the academic year of 2014. <\/p>\n<p>The fees in most German states were <a href=\"http:\/\/universitypost.dk\/article\/hamburg-scrap-tuition-fees\" target=\"_blank\">introduced over the past eight years,<\/a> amid student protests. <a href=\"http:\/\/universitypost.dk\/article\/six-times-more-germans-six-years\" target=\"_blank\">German students are one of the biggest single nationality groups<\/a> coming to the University of Copenhagen to study. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe tuition fees were always a controversial and debated theme because they limit the access to the university for certain people,\u201d says Vivien Ferch, one of many German students currently studying in Copenhagen.<\/p>\n<h2>Controversial<\/h2>\n<p>Seven out of ten states in west Germany began charging fees in 2006 and 2007, including Vivien Ferch\u2019s home state, North Rhine-Westphalia.<\/p>\n<p>But the introduction sparked protests around the country. In the German state of Hesse 70,000 signatures were collected and student protests led to a change in policies. The ruling Christian Democratic Union party in Hesse did not want to risk not being re-elected.<\/p>\n<p>ToTimes Higher Education Professor Howard Hotson explained recently that “Tuition fees unraveled at almost the same speed as they been stitched up. Those state governments that followed Hesse\u2019s lead in abolishing fees stayed in power; those that refused were removed from office at the next election\u201d. <\/p>\n<h2>German student: Tuition unfair<\/h2>\n<p>Some argue that the lack of tuition fees means that universities have less money to provide a good quality education, but Vivien Ferch is not sure about it. And government and taxpayers should pay for universities, she argues.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think the quality depends on the different universities and their scientific focus. That there aren’t any fees doesn’t mean that the universities get no money \u2013 but that the country will have to pay more for the universities now.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cI think it was against equal rights to introduce the fees because it prevents certain people from studying. It only allows students who have enough money or wealthy parents and limits the access for students with a lower socio-economical background,\u201d says Vivien Ferch.<\/p>\n<p>universitypost@adm.ku.dk<\/p>\n<p><em>Like us on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/UniversityPost\" target=\"_blank\"> Facebook <\/a> for features, guides and tips on upcoming events. Follow us on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/UniversityPost\" target=\"_blank\"> Twitter<\/a> for links to other Copenhagen academia news stories. <a href=\"http:\/\/universitypost.dk\/newsletter\" target=\"_blank\">Sign up for the University Post weekly newsletter here<\/a>.<\/em> <\/p>\n"},{"acf_fc_layout":"ArticleEnd"},{"acf_fc_layout":"OtherStories","headline":"","hand_picked_posts":false,"references":false,"category":false,"theme":false,"number_of_posts":"4","style":"default"}]},"taxonomyData":{"category":[{"term_id":42,"name":"Education","slug":"education","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":42,"taxonomy":"category","description":"","parent":0,"count":661,"filter":"raw"}],"post_tag":[],"post_format":[],"expression":[{"term_id":15,"name":"News Article","slug":"news_article","term_group":0,"term_taxonomy_id":15,"taxonomy":"expression","description":"","parent":0,"count":11488,"filter":"raw"}],"translation_priority":[]},"featured_media_url":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2014\/03\/auditorium_gottingencropped2-1280x762.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9738","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/12"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=9738"}],"version-history":[{"count":2,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9738\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":33671,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/9738\/revisions\/33671"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/9740"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=9738"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=9738"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/uniavisen.dk\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=9738"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}