German universities scrap all tuition fees

The Times ^ | October 7, 2014 | David Charter

[Phillyred]

The trade route is probably the best bet anyways.

[Moltke]

A good one-liner perhaps, but the result, in economic productivity terms, seems to indicate otherwise.

[Katya]

German Universities never really charged tuition lol They were fees... about 700 euros. As it is very difficult to get into many University programs right after graduating high school, many students have to wait if they want to study. This could be as much as 7 years. They also can only attend University if they have been on an academic track, meaning they completed their Abitur at a Gymnasium.

Popular majors, ie professional tracks require basically the equivalent of a 3.7 to 4.0 gpa, to begin studies directly after the Abitur. Many graduates typically do a gap year, or even an apprenticeship in a related field to what they would like to study, if they have a longer waiting time. But this is not educaiton for all.. by age 12 you are either on an academic track or you’re not.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

Thanks for the clarity. What you wrote is exactly the way I understood it to be, has been for a very long time.

Also thought they ‘tested’ these children and decided for them what vocation they would be studying. Is that still the way?

[Katya]

Depending on which German state you live in, at either ten or twelve you go on to either Gymnasium (academic track) Hauptschule (least academic, graduate at end of 9th)) or Realschule (middle path with exam at end,graduate at end of 10th) After Realschule or if you go from Hauptschule to a realschule, and do you exam.. you can enter an apprenticeship and attend Berufschule twice a week while working. Teachers can make recommendations, but no one tells you what you should do later. There are aptitude tests you can take to figure out what you might be good at.

It is very difficult to switch tracks, and most students are put off because they don’t want to finish high school as a 20 plus year old. Because they make you go back and begin the gymnasium from the start.. there is no transferring into the same grade. If you finish your Abitur, and sit for the exams... similar to the Bac, depending on your Numerus Clausus and what you concentrated in .. you can decide what University track you will enter. The problem of course is, what if you did a humantiies track and yet you would like to do social science at University this becomes very difficult as you need to choose what your Abitur exams will be in and concentration ahead of time. Even with the introduction of the Bachelors/Masters degree at the University level now, it’s not a flexible system.

[AllAmericanGirl44]

Thank you Katya, very informative.

[FlipWilson]

Quote: “A good one-liner perhaps, but the result, in economic productivity terms, seems to indicate otherwise.”

Because the German economy is just humming along? I look at it as this, how many University Graduates in Germany are actually holding jobs that require University level training?