The green-black state government has introduced a law to introduce study fees for international students. Already in the coming year – to the winter term 2017/18 – students from non-EU countries, who do not live permanently here, are to pay 1,500 euros per semester. Those who are already enrolled do not have to pay, as are scholarship holders and refugees.

A second degree is also expected to cost 650 euros per semester in the future as well as an increase in administrative costs of 10 euros per semester. The interest representation of foreign students had sharply criticized the advance for study fees. Minister-President Winfried Kretschmann (Greens) said on Tuesday of a “moderate self-share”. A reintroduction of the general study fees in Baden-Wuerttemberg is certainly not planned, according to Kretschmann. The green-red predecessor government had abolished this.

In the year 2022, the Ministry of Science expects 16,000 international students to make a contribution. Calculated for the year 2022 with 39 million euro revenues, together with the fees for the second study would be the 45 million euro. Science Minister Theresia Bauer (Greens) had announced that she wanted to increase the revenues in order to make the contribution of her house to household consolidation.

The Minister of Science wants to prevent drastic cuts in her budget. Instead, it wants to improve the quality of the study, a part of the fees is to flow directly to the universities.The study fee for international students is not an incentive for general study fees, as critics fear – says at least the minister of science and refers to the coalition agreement, which excludes general study fees.

The number of new study students from abroad has been growing significantly for years, according to figures from the German Ministry of Education and Research. The largest groups of international students in Baden-Württemberg come from China (21 percent) and India (6 percent). In both countries, students would have to pay significantly higher fees. According to Kretschmann, the students are accustomed to make a contribution to outstanding education: “We want the students to come to us because our universities are attractive, not because it is cheap at our place.”

Criticism came mainly from party growth. “This is the re-entry into the study fees,” said Juso-Landeschef Leonhahn. “Instead of the best possible education for all independent of the money bag, the passport decides on educational opportunities.” The Green Youth sees a “budget consolidation at the expense of the students”, explained Landeschefin Lena Schwelling. “This is the wrong way and will lead to an international decline in the universities of Baden-Württemberg.”

Klaus Hoher, a university professor of the FDP parliamentary group, opted for general study fees, which would not serve to consolidate the budget, but would have to directly benefit the quality of the universities.

The professor GEW, Doro Moritz, warned that “many clever minds from all over the world” could not afford to study in Baden-Württemberg. “If you are calling for internationalization, you can not charge international students at the same time,” said Moritz.