The language keeps some refugees from Ukraine from studying in Germany. But there is a lot of interest in one university area.
Mannheim (dpa/lsw) – According to the State Rectors’ Conference (LRK) in Germany and Baden-Württemberg, there was no large rush of Ukrainian students to the universities. “On the one hand, this is due to the fact that young men were drafted, and on the other hand to digital offers from home universities that are accepted by refugee students,” said LRK boss Thomas Puhl of the German Press Agency.
According to data from the German Academic Exchange Service, the rector of the University of Mannheim had initially forecast a number of up to 100,000 students nationwide. According to him, the number is currently more than 30,000 – almost a third of whom are students from third countries who were enrolled in Ukraine before the start of the war.
The Baden-Württemberg Ministry of Science is also only observing a “very moderate” development in applications: for the period from March 2022 to mid-September 2022, the universities reported 362 enrolled students with Ukrainian nationality to the department. In addition, there are 17 students of other origins who also fled the war. Only students from safe third countries have to pay fees of 1500 euros per semester.
Reasons for the relatively low level of interest in studying in Germany are primarily language barriers, due to which students prefer Poland, Slovakia, the Czech Republic and Romania. In Germany, according to the ministry, the major cities in northern Germany, especially Berlin, are the most important destinations.
Among the faculties, studying music is very popular: in the south-west, every fifth student has applied for a place at one of the five music colleges. “Half an orchestra came to Germany, especially since musicians don’t need complete language skills,” says Puhl.
Take Freiburg as an example: around 50 students who had fled from the Ukraine arrived at the conservatory at the beginning of March. Some of them were able to continue their studies there or were referred to other music academies in Italy and Spain. “Our teachers reacted with overwhelming support: Although their assignments are full, they have agreed to include the Ukrainian students in their courses,” said Rector Ludwig Holtmeier. There are currently 22 women from Ukraine studying at his university, including four singers and three composers.
Puhl predicts that the number of Ukrainian students will increase when the first high school graduates from Ukraine enroll at universities. He assumes that many school leavers stay in Germany to study. This is attractive because tuition fees are suspended for Ukrainians, even though they do not come from the EU. According to Puhl, only the very best can study for free in the Ukraine.
According to Puhl, all institutional cooperation with Russian universities has been put on hold by the rectors of German universities. “There had to be a clear sign.”
At the universities in the country, Russian and Ukrainian students are discussing the political situation at an academic level, according to the head of the LRK. “I don’t know anything about disputes – the interaction is civilized.” 31 Ukrainians – twice as many as in the previous year – are studying at the University of Mannheim this winter semester. A handful of scientists from Ukraine have found shelter there as junior professors, as well as a Russian political scientist who is openly critical of the regime. From a state fund, scientists from Ukraine can be supported for six months with 1200 euros per month.
