German States End Era of Free Study

Germany's higher education system was last night heading for its biggest shakeup in decades after the country's supreme court overturned a ban on the introduction of tuition fees.

The court in Karlsruhe ruled that individual German federal states, or Länder, could now introduce fees at university, effectively ending the principle of free education in Germany that had survived since the 1960s.

Student groups immediately denounced the ruling and promised a series of demonstrations and strikes across the country.

Three states ruled by Germany's opposition conservatives - Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg and Hamburg - immediately indicated that they would introduce fees of around €500 (£347) a term as quickly as possible - possibly as early as this year.

Other states, run by the Social Democrats, who lead the federal government, yesterday said they had no plans to introduce fees.

Opponents of tuition fees in Germany argue that they will deter students from poor backgrounds from attending university and force existing students to abandon their studies.

But supporters argue that fees will bring much-needed revenue into Germany's notoriously overcrowded and underfunded higher education sector, and might prompt students to work harder.

Yesterday's court case was brought by six states ruled by Germany's rightwing opposition Christian Democrats.

Until the decision, Germany was one of the last countries in Europe to adhere to the fading principle of free university education.

Britain introduced tuition fees in 1998. The Netherlands, Austria, Spain, Italy and Portugal have since followed suit. Scandinavian countries such as Sweden are alone in not charging fees.