Facts and Figures

STW_Grafik_Zuschuss_1016

With the amendment of the Student Support Services Act in1994, the form of share funding of the social services of the Student Support Services by the state of NRW was changed from deficit funding to fixed-amount funding. In the mid-90s, the state’s subsidy ratio for the Studierendenwerk Münster was 34%. Today, it is only around 9%. A development that could only be made possible by productivity increases in the Student Support Services and by changing the subsidy criteria.

Today, the Student Support Services also receive part of their subsidies based on the turnover achieved per student and year. In 2006, the Student Support Services in NRW had to compensate for an ad hoc cut of over € 1 million per Student Support organisation. However, in order to maintain the quality of their social services, the Student Support Services continue to depend on the state's subsidies, which should remain as stable as possible.

 

STW_Grafik_Studizahl_0116

The development of the number of students is an important factor not only for the design of the services offered in our canteens, bistros and the student residences, but also for the economic planning of the Student Support Services. This is because the students also co-finance the services they use proportionally through the social contribution they have to pay. Currently – as of November 2019 – the amount of the social contribution every student in Münster has to pay per semester is € 99,11.

 

 

 

STW_Grafik_Sozialbeitraege_1016

Students in an economically weaker situation are particularly dependent on the social services provided by the Student Support Services. The development of the social contribution – which is also to be understood as a solidarity contribution which must be paid by all enrolled students – shows a change since the mid-90s. It has become clear that the students, not only in Münster, are increasingly involved in the financing of these services.

 

 

 

STW_Grafik_Gesamt_1016

Despite immense efforts on the part of the Student Support Services, which since 1994 have diversified the range of services, increased the quality of services and productivity, the students and the Student Support Services continue to be dependent on stable subsidies, but also increasingly on investments from the state of NRW. Today, the share with which students co-finance the services of the Student Support is already much larger than the share that contributes to the total income of the Student Support Services through subsidies from the state.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

STW_Grafik_BAfoeG_1016

Thanks to BAföG (i.e. the Federal Education and Training Assistance Act), more than 4 million people have been able to study since 1971 (DSW - German Student Support Services statistics) and even in 2019, educational opportunities are still not equally distributed in Germany. For example, 77 out of 100 children of academics start university, while only 23 out of 100 children from working class families go on to study. Demand rates will be raised by 5 per cent in 2019 and then again by 2 per cent in 2020. This will significantly increase the individual support amounts: previously, the maximum rate of BAföG funding was 735 euros. Since August 1st, 2019, it is 853 euros, and for the winter semester 2020/2021, the maximum rate will be 861 euros.