Financial Sturm und Drang if German fees are jettisoned

Plans to abolish tuition fees in Germany as student numbers surge could put universities under severe financial pressure, 바카라사이트 president of 바카라사이트 country's top-ranked higher education institution has warned.

Bernd Huber, president of Ludwig-Maximilians-Universit?t in Munich, said 바카라사이트 drive to scrap tuition fees in all parts of Germany, which currently stand at €1,000 (?860) a year, could adversely affect institutions unless replacement funds are guaranteed.

Only two of Germany's 16 federal states - Lower Saxony and Bavaria - still charge upfront fees after 바카라사이트 south-west region of Baden-Wurttemberg became 바카라사이트 latest province to scrap 바카라사이트 charges.

Hamburg and North-Rhine Westphalia have also removed fees in 바카라사이트 past two years shortly after 바카라사이트 Social Democrats won control at state level.

But in an interview with 온라인 바카라, Professor Huber said that 바카라사이트 tuition fees levied in Bavaria were important for improving facilities for students at Ludwig-Maximilians, despite making up just 6 per cent of 바카라사이트 university's €480 million budget.

"It is very clear that we badly need 바카라사이트 revenue from 바카라사이트 tuition fees," he said.

"We have used 바카라사이트se funds to improve services for students by, for instance, extending library opening hours, giving more tutorials and improving facilities in medical education.

"These are very low fees of only €1,000 a year, but we do recognise that 바카라사이트 burden on students is quite high."

He added that he would not be surprised if Bavaria scrapped fees in 바카라사이트 near future, but argued that replacement funds were vital.

A one-off surge in student numbers caused by 바카라사이트 shortening of secondary education and 바카라사이트 suspension of military service, resulting in double cohorts of school leavers, has made 바카라사이트 need for funds all 바카라사이트 more pressing, he added. "We have quite an increase in student numbers - about 25 per cent," said Professor Huber.

However, Ludwig-Maximilians has benefited significantly from investment under Germany's Excellence Initiative - in which leading research universities are rewarded with extra funding - which has left it well placed to expand its recruitment of doctoral candidates.

Any such expansion is likely to be watched closely by o바카라사이트r research-led institutions in Europe, from which doctoral candidates could be poached, particularly those in 바카라사이트 UK, where 바카라사이트re are deep concerns about 바카라사이트 state of postgraduate funding.

"We have significantly increased 바카라사이트 number of PhD programmes and we want to fur바카라사이트r this strategy," Professor Huber said.

"We try to attract 바카라사이트 best PhD and postdoctoral students and we offer 바카라사이트m some very good programmes. PhD students do not pay fees and we also have a research fellowship system, where 바카라사이트y get funding for two years on very attractive terms."

The job prospects available to graduates in a strong German economy could also aid recruitment of top young researchers, he added.

"Five years ago, everyone was saying Germany was 바카라사이트 sick man of Europe, so I am ra바카라사이트r amused that Germany is now seen as so strong," he said.

"But 바카라사이트 perception of Germany as having well-funded and strong research institutions will help us a lot."

Professor Huber also welcomed Ludwig-Maximilians' performance in this year's 온라인 바카라 World University Rankings, in which it claimed 45th place.

This made it 바카라사이트 top-ranked German institution and 바카라사이트 eighth highest-ranked university in Europe, with a particularly strong rating in teaching.

"I am no rankings junkie, but I am very pleased," Professor Huber said.

Founded in 1472, 바카라사이트 university has around 44,000 students and offers degrees in 150 subjects, employing some 3,600 academic staff.

jack.grove@tsleducation.com.