DSW: Social and economic situation of students

Social and economic situation of students: Polarization in student financing

• New, 22nd Social Survey on the Economic and Social Situation of Students
• Presented today by the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF), the German Center for Higher Education and Science Research (DZHW) and the German Student Union (DSW).
• Survey of 188,000 students from 250 higher education institutions to be conducted in summer 2021
  
• DSW CEO Matthias Anbuhl: "One third of students with precarious financing, rental expenses continue to rise, psychological pressure increases noticeably"

Berlin, 24 May 2023. Matthias Anbuhl, Chairman of the Board of the German Student Union, comments on the 22nd social survey on the economic and social situation of students, collected in summer 2021, presented today jointly by the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMB), the German Center for Higher Education and Science Research (DZWH) and the German Student Union:

"As the German Student Union, we are concerned about three findings. First, we see a social polarization in student financing.

Certainly, a quarter of all students have more than 1,300 euros a month at their disposal; this quarter is certainly not considered to be at risk of poverty. This is where distance learning and part-time students come into play, as they are generally much better off financially.

At the other end of the spectrum, however, we see that 37% of students have less than 800 euros a month at their disposal - that's another 60 euros less than the Düsseldorfer Table specified for parental support for students living away from home at the time of the survey in summer 2021.

This group is 37% larger than the group of students who receive BAföG, which is 13%.

On the one hand, we have the 25% who are financially very well off - and on the other hand, a third of the students whose financial situation can be called precarious.

We appeal to the federal government: Don't let up on BAföG. Increase the need rates, increase absolutely also the parents allowances, so that finally again more students can profit from the BAföG. More than a third of students are in dire need of it, not least because of inflation. Also tackle the structural BAföG reform quickly and vigorously.

Second, students' rental expenses continue to rise sharply. Rent continues to be the biggest expense item; students spend an average of 410 euros a month on rent - and that is a figure as said before inflation and the energy price crisis!

Since then, affordable housing for students has become even more of a scarce commodity in German university cities, and rents have certainly risen even further; this is also confirmed by recent market research studies. As a reminder: BAföG currently provides 360 euros per month for housing. That is hardly enough for a room in a shared apartment in a university town.

We expressly welcome the federal-state program 'Junges Wohnen' (Young Housing) to create more affordable housing for the younger generation. If the states in turn provide strong support, this program can ease the housing market for students somewhat in the medium term.

However, we urgently need the program to be made permanent. Otherwise we risk losing potential skilled workers because university studies become less attractive due to the horrendous cost of rent.

Third, more students have a health impairment, and mental illness has increased sharply. 16% of all students have one or more health impairments - that's one in six! The proportion was still 11% in 2016, in the 21st Social Survey.

Their share has again increased significantly - by 10 percentage points - compared to 2016, from 55% to 65%. At the same time, mental illnesses have an above-average impact on studies compared to other impairments. We have a mental health crisis among students in the German higher education system, now evidenced by the 22nd Social Survey.

We would like the federal government, in conjunction with the states, to expand the psychosocial counseling services of the student unions, with ten million euros over the next four years."

Download the 22nd Social Survey (260 pages, 9 MB, not yet accessible)

This press release can be found online.