SG: inverse contract between student generations

Inverse contract between student generations
In 1995 UW/H students designed the concept of an “inverse contract between student generations” to ensure fairness and equal opportunities in education. The concept is unique in Germany and offers payment modes that are socially acceptable and independent from a student’s financial background. Nobody shall be excluded from studies at Witten/Herdecke University for financial reasons.

The “inverse contract between student generations” provides for three modes of payment:

Income-related payment after graduation
Students start paying tuition fees after graduation, as soon as they have taken up gainful employment. They pay a fixed percentage of their annual income over a period of ten years. Graduates who earn less than a previously defined minimum income are exempt from payment.

Direct payment of fixed rates
This option covers monthly payment of a fixed rate for the duration of the regular standard period of studies for the program in question. No further payment is due after this period.

Direct payment 50 %, income-related payment after graduation 50 %
This is a combination of the two above-mentioned payment modes, with rates being reduced by 50 % respectively.

The main idea behind the concept is that graduates with a high income pay more, and those with a lower income pay lower rates, or nothing at all. In June 2005 the SG began calculating fixed rates (for direct payment) on the basis of the expected average income earned by graduates of the respective program. Fixed rates calculated this way correspond to the average payments to be expected from those who opt for payment after graduation.

For details see website of StudierendenGesellschaft.