German universities to reintroduce tuition fees for non-EU students – WBNews

Students from outside the European Union will soon have to pay to attend universities in south-west Germany, where until now, courses have been free. Tuition fees were scrapped in Baden-Württemberg state in 2011, and universities became free from cost in all German states by 2014. But despite promising not to introduce general fees earlier this year, the Baden-Württemberg state government has announced the reintroduction of tuition fees to international students from Autumn 2017. The change comes as part of efforts to reduce debt in the country, with the higher education ministry admitting it can no longer afford to provide free education to all. Once Britain leaves the EU, UK students taking up places in a number of German institutions, including the University of Stuttgart and the University of Heidelberg will be required to pay fees of €1,500 (£1256) per semester. For a second degree, students will be asked to pay a reduced fee of €650 (£544) per semester. It is believed this cost could be extended across the rest of Germany in the coming years. A spokeswoman from the University of Konstanz told The Independent: “While the Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Education and Research has to do its part in reducing costs, it also wants to avoid drastically damaging the reputation and growth of science and research at state universities along with their high student numbers.” She explained: “The coalition agreement between the ruling Grünen (Green) and CDU (Christian Democratic Union) parties in the state of Baden-Württemberg prohibits general tuition fees…more detail