Who still studies within the standard period of study today?

Our campus reporter is currently enrolled in her eighth semester at university. When asked when she would "finally be finished", for a long time she could only shake her head in annoyance. Now that her time on the Bachelor's degree course in Social and Communication Sciences is coming to an end, she looks back on four years and takes a closer look at the last, seemingly superfluous semester in particular. Were they really two wasted semesters?

When I talk to my friends about the standard period of study, I hear the same phrases over and over again. "It's not possible anyway," say many. Some people mean that some seminars fall at the same time, so you have to choose between two modules. Others use this sentence to say that the workload in the semester and in the examination phases is unrealistically high. Some students freely say that they "want to enjoy their student life" before "the serious side of life" begins for them. Many students therefore exceed the standard period of study of six semesters. Officially, with a few exceptions, all degree programs should be able to be completed within this period, which is roughly three years. However, according to the Federal Statistical Office, only around a third of all university graduates in Germany will have achieved this in 2022. Around 43% of students will have added one to two semesters to their studies by the time they graduate. So I am clearly in the average range. Nevertheless, the topic comes up again and again, be it at a family celebration or a graduation reunion.

Why do you want to be finished with your studies after six semesters?

There are some students who couldn't care less about the standard period of study. These include, above all, people who do not receive BAföG, i.e. state financial support for students and pupils. If their parents are unable or unwilling to provide financial support, the length of their own study period quickly becomes incredibly important. One of the reasons for this is that state funding is generally linked to compliance with the standard period of study. If you study for longer, you quickly run into financial difficulties. However, Miriam Jungheim, who is responsible for student advising at RPTU in Landau, tells me about a general experience she has had in advising sessions: "When I talk to students who are completely self-financing, the study time factor is always an issue. This is especially true for BAföG recipients, but also for people changing subjects or who have doubts about their degree programs. 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 concerned with being financially independent as quickly as possible.

The lazy generation

In many industries, it certainly doesn't go down too well if the study period extends to five or six years, when formally three years would be sufficient. On the other hand, more and more employers are looking for young professionals who already have practical experience. So in what period of time should students do the much-requested internships that they need in order 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 less that we don't work and more that we do a lot of unpaid work. This starts with voluntary work and ends with internships with expense allowances. In fact, a survey in 2020 showed that almost three quarters of students also do paid work alongside their studies. After all, only very few receive BAfÖG, prices for rooms in shared flats are rising everywhere and inflation does not stop at the student wallet. At the same time, the survey shows that the working atmosphere and flexibility in terms of time are more important to students than pay. Isn't it understandable that you want to feel comfortable at work?

Everything for the CV

The moment I started my first voluntary internship, I finally said goodbye to the idea of sticking to the study plan. I was in my fourth semester at the time. Because I was doing the internship in northern Germany and also in the middle of the lecture period, I was unable to attend some courses, let alone take the exams. What looked like a standstill in my grades actually helped me tremendously in my character and professional development. Miriam Jungheim's experiences from her consultations also show that students who put a strain on their study time are doing anything but lying on their backsides: "People have often spent semesters abroad, completed internships lasting several months or are involved in voluntary work," she explains. In her opinion, however, the most common reason for a longer period of study is a change of direction during the course. "Especially when someone decides to change degree programs or subjects relatively late in their studies, there is a lot of concern among students about time. For example, if someone fails their third attempt in the sixth semester, they have to change subject," explains Jungheim. She often has students opposite her whose biggest concern is that they will have to fear negative consequences as a result of their change of subject and the longer time they will have to study. Her answer is as simple as it is relieving: "No, if you don't receive BAföG, nothing dramatic will happen.

Who pays?

It would still be better for the university and society financially if students didn't take too much time to develop and reorient themselves. The Higher Education Pact adopted by the Rhineland-Palatinate Ministry of Science and Health in 2019 stipulates that universities receive more financial support for students who complete their studies within the standard period of study. This regulation was extended by two semesters for students who were enrolled during the coronavirus crisis. However, the burdens caused by the pandemic were merely added on top of all the others for students.

Personal development versus society?

Miriam Jungheim calls for more understanding: "The majority of those who sit in my student advisory service want to find a good place in society. They want to make a meaningful contribution with a job that they enjoy doing." According to her observations, 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 professional training," she says. However, a line has to be drawn somewhere. At the moment, this limit is six semesters of standard study time, even if it is regularly exceeded. As long as nothing changes, self-development during studies will remain a privilege that you have to be able to afford.