An agreement between the federal and state governments on a nationwide ticket for students in Germany, regardless of their origin, has paved the way for the latter to travel across the country at a lower price.
About 2.9 million students in Germany, including international and local ones, will be able to access the Deutschlandticket, shortly known as D-Ticket, at a price of €29.40, starting from the next summer semester in 2024, commencing in April, Erudera.com reports.
The decision to offer students the chance to access all means of public local transport at a reduced cost was made on November 27 by the transport ministers of the German federal states, aiming to alleviate the financial burden on students in the country.
Currently, the general population, including students, is required to pay €49 for the Deutschlandticket – a public transport subscription valid across all public transport anywhere in Germany, according to a report by Studying in Germany.
After signing up for the subscription, payments will be automatically deducted from the account every month.
Federal Minister of Transport Volker Wissing expressed his satisfaction with the agreement on the new price, saying that with this change, Germany is establishing a connection of youngsters with the public transport system.
“With the Deutschlandticket semester ticket, we are permanently binding a young group of customers to public transport,” Minister Wissing said.
The decision was also applauded by the German Student Union (DSW), a voluntary association of Germany’s 57 student unions. However, the chairman of the board, Matthias Anbuhl, said the price remains high for students, especially considering that 37 percent of them must manage to live on an average of €800 monthly.
“But it must also be clear: the €29.40 are absolutely the upper price limit. The student budget is already on edge,” he said.
Anbuhl also disclosed that the positive outcome was reached without involving student representatives, emphasizing that the latter must be included in future negotiations.
“Unfortunately, this solution was found without the participation of the students; that must change in the future.”
Last year, Germany introduced a €9 ticket, valid nationwide. The price increased to €49 in May this year.
The latest data by the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) revealed Germany hosted a record number of international students in the winter semester of 2022/23, an increase of five percent compared to the same period the previous year. That was an increase for the fifth year in a row.
The number of students receiving scholarships in Germany also increased by five percent in 2022 compared to 2021.
Source : Erudera