Do Germans have free university?
375698#75
Public universities in Germany are funded by the federal states and do not charge tuition fees. However, all enrolled students do have to pay a semester fee ("Semesterbeitrag"). This fee consists of an administrative fee for the university (only in some of the states), a fee for "Studentenwerk", which is a statutory student affairs organization, a fee for the university's AStA ("Allgemeiner Studentenausschuss", students' government) and "Studentenschaft" (students' union), at many universities a fee for public transportation, and possibly more fees as decided by the university's students' parliament (e.g., for a cooperation with a local theater granting free entry for students). Summed up, the semester fee usually ranges between €150 and €350.
Education in Germany
8247152#3
The academic program at the universities of the Federal Armed Forces can be finished faster than at civilian universities because the curriculum contains about one third more content per year ("trimesters" instead of "semesters" are utilized). In exchange, the officers and officer candidates are fully paid and do not have to work in their free time.
University of the German Federal Armed Forces
262301#27
Tübingen's elitist self-conception is often controversially discussed. Since almost all German universities are public (most private universities do not have the official German "Universitätsstatus"), and therefore mainly paid by taxes and generally egalitarian, there is no German Ivy League of institutions of higher education. Moreover, the German Universities Excellence Initiative is a publicity-laden fund for specific research projects only. It aims to promote cutting-edge research, to create outstanding conditions for young scientists at universities, and to strengthen some selected universities more than others in order to raise their international visibility.
University of Tübingen
30870841#1
The German Bundestag collaborates with the Free University of Berlin, Humboldt University of Berlin and Technical University of Berlin to run its International Parliamentary Internships (IPS) program. This gives well qualified young people from the USA, Canada, France, Israel, Central, Eastern and South Eastern Europe and the Arab region with a strong interest in politics the opportunity to gain first-hand experience of Germany's system of parliamentary government. The scheme involves a three month placement with a Member of the German Bundestag. Participants are introduced to the wide variety of tasks carried out in a Member's office. They may find themselves drafting speeches, articles and letters, for example, or doing preparatory work for plenary sittings. The German Bundestag's exchange programs aim to provide an exciting way to teach young people about the significance of friendly cooperation based on shared political and cultural values. The scholarship recipients are chosen by the German Bundestag's independent selection panel.
International Parliamentary Scholarship
15972703#1
Since almost all German universities are public (most private universities do not have the official German "Universitätsstatus"), and therefore mainly paid by taxes and generally egalitarian, there is no German Ivy League of institutions of higher education. However, the Excellence Initiative aims to strengthen some selected universities more than others in order to raise their international visibility. The initiative is conducted by the German Research Foundation (DFG) together with the German Council of Science and Humanities (WR). More than 30 universities in total received funding. It includes three lines of funding:
German Universities Excellence Initiative
315275#55
In April 2005, the Free University of Berlin, in conjunction with Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität (LMU Munich), opened a joint representative office in New York. This German University Alliance, located in German House, the seat of the German Consulate General and the German UN Mission, represents the interests of the two universities in the United States and Canada and works to increase the exchange of students and scientists.
Free University of Berlin
315275#14
The year 2007 was another crucial year for the Free University of Berlin as it was the university with the most approved funding applications in the German Universities Excellence Initiative, and it is now one of nine elite German universities to receive funding for its future development strategy. In the same year, Free University of Berlin dedicated a monument to the founding students who were murdered during the protests. The university presents its Freedom Award to personalities who have made a special contribution toward the cause of freedom.
Free University of Berlin
315275#53
Today, Free University of Berlin has established over 400 partnerships in five continents, many of them as part of the European ERASMUS program.
Every year, about 600 visiting scientists contribute to the university teaching and research. For the grant programs in Germany, Free University of Berlin is one of the first choices both for the ERASMUS and Tempus as well as for the Fulbright program and the international programs of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).
An International Summer and Winter University (FUBiS) has been set up for international students offering (semi-)intensive German courses and numerous subject courses.
Free University of Berlin
315275#10
In the late 1960s, Free University of Berlin was one of the main scenes of the German student movement of 68 as a reaction to the global student protests during that time. After the assassination of student Benno Ohnesorg and the attempt on Rudi Dutschke's life, protests quickly escalated to violence in all of Germany. The events of the 68-movement provided the impulse for more openness, equality, and democracy in German society.
Free University of Berlin