Who studies in the standard period of study today?

Our campus reporter is currently enrolled in her eighth semester of university. For a long time, she just shook her head in annoyance when asked when she would finally be “finished”. Now that her time in the bachelor's degree program in Social and Communication Sciences is coming to an end, she looks back on four years and takes a closer look at the last one in particular, which seems superfluous. Were those really two wasted semesters?

When I talk to my friends about the standard period of study, I always hear the same things. “It doesn't work anyway,” many say. Some mean that seminars sometimes fall on the same dates, so you have to choose between two modules. Others want to use this sentence to express that the workload in the semester and in the examination phases is unrealistically high. Some students say frankly that they still want to enjoy their “student life” before “the serious side of life” begins for them. Therefore, many students exceed the standard period of study of six semesters. Officially, with a few exceptions, all courses of study should be able to be completed within this period, which roughly amounts to three years. According to the Federal Statistical Office, however, in 2022 only around a third of all university graduates in Germany managed to do so. About 43% of students took one to two semesters longer to graduate. So I'm clearly in the average. Nevertheless, the topic comes up again and again, whether at family celebrations or at high school reunions.

Why do you want to finish your studies in six semesters?

There are some students for whom the standard period of study couldn't be more important. These are mainly people who do not receive BAföG, the state financial support for students and school pupils. If your own parents are unable or unwilling to provide financial support, the length of your own studies quickly becomes extremely important. This is partly because state funding is generally linked to compliance with the standard period of study. Those who study longer can quickly find themselves in financial difficulties. However, Miriam Jungheim, who is responsible for student counseling at the RPTU in Landau, tells me about a general experience she has had in counseling sessions: “When I talk to students who are completely self-financed, the factor of study time is always an issue. This applies in particular to recipients of BAföG, but also to those who change subjects or have doubts about their course of study. These groups in particular simply cannot afford to take too long to complete their studies.” According to Jungheim, many students are less concerned with finishing on time and more with becoming financially independent as quickly as possible.

The lazy generation

In many industries, it is certainly not well received when the study time extends to five or six years, where formally three years would be sufficient. On the other hand, more and more employers are demanding young professionals who already have practical experience. So how much time should students spend doing the much-demanded internships that they need to apply for internships that will hopefully lead to a permanent position? I find it unfair when representatives of the older generations complain about the idle and lazy youth. In my experience, the problem is not so much that we don't work as that we do a lot of unpaid work. This starts with volunteer work and ends with internships with an expense allowance. In fact, a survey conducted in 2020 showed that almost three quarters of students have a paid job alongside their studies. After all, only a very small percentage of students receive BAfÖG, the prices for shared flats are rising everywhere and inflation does not spare student wallets either. At the same time, the survey shows that students value a good working atmosphere and flexibility in terms of working hours more than they do pay. Isn't it understandable that you want to feel comfortable at work?

Everything for your CV

The moment I started my first voluntary internship, I finally said goodbye to the idea of sticking to the study plan. At that time, I was in my fourth semester. Because I did the internship in northern Germany and also in the middle of the lecture period, I was unable to attend some classes, let alone take the exams. What appeared to be a standstill in my grades actually helped me a great deal in my personal and professional development. Miriam Jungheim's experience from her counseling sessions also shows that students who take a long time to complete their studies are doing everything but lazing around: “Often, these are people who have spent semesters abroad, completed internships lasting several months, or done volunteer work,” she explains. However, she believes that the most common reason for a longer period of study is a process of reorientation during the course of study. “Particularly when someone decides relatively late in the game to change their course of study or subject, they have a lot of concerns about the time involved. For example, if someone has three failed attempts in the sixth semester, they have to change subjects,” explains Jungheim. She often encounters students whose greatest concern is the negative consequences of having to change their subject and the resulting increase in their study time. Her answer is both simple and reassuring: No, if you are receiving BAföG, there is no immediate danger.

Who pays?

From a financial point of view, it would still be better for the university and society if students did not take too much time with self-development and reorientation. The Higher Education Pact adopted in 2019 by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health stipulates that universities receive more financial support for students who study within the standard period of study. Although this regulation was extended by two semesters for students enrolled during the Corona crisis, However, the burdens caused by the pandemic were simply added to all the others that students already had to deal with.

Personality development versus society?

Miriam Jungheim calls for more understanding: “The majority of those who come to me for advice want to find a good place in society. They want to make a meaningful contribution with a job that they enjoy doing.” She has observed that this need applies to young people in general. “Of course, it would be best if everyone could get the time they need to develop their personality and gain professional training,” she says. However, a line has to be drawn somewhere. At the moment, this line is a standard period of study of six semesters, even though this is regularly exceeded. As long as this doesn't change, self-fulfilment during studies remains a privilege that you have to be able to afford.

Author: Lena Frohn