Schooling or learning - Grant for student association raised: fees escalate
The Hamburg Senate plans to raise its annual funding for the city's student services office by a hefty 1.2 million euros, bringing the total grant to 3 million euros in the next year. But there's a catch - student fees will also see an increase, as announced in a press release by the Department of Science on Wednesday.
Finance Senator Andreas Dressel (SPD) explained, "The state can't and shouldn't be the one driving prices for its services, but it can't shield students from general cost and price hikes, regrettably not even for them." To find a middle ground, a deal was struck between the Senate and the student services council.
In return for the increased grant, the student services council has agreed to gradually raise the semester fee by 8 euros each for the summer and winter semesters of 2025. Additionally, prices in university catering are set to rise by an average of 6 percent starting from 2025.
Katharina Fegebank, Science Senator from the Greens, commented, "The student services office serves as a social center for our universities and their students, contributing significantly to the Hamburg university location." To maintain its role, the city's grant will be increased.
This decision represents a 76% rise in funding compared to 2024, aiming to ensure that the student services office can handle the economic challenges predicted in the near future.
