4 ms·

> of which the two largest components are "student services" I also had to pay for student services at my (Canadian) university, for things like meal plans, su

by eqdw 12y ago

> of which the two largest components are "student services" I also had to pay for student services at my (Canadian) university, for things like meal plans, supplemental health/dental/vision insurance, subsudized bus fare, etc. It cost about $300 a year, if I recall correctly. However, I was given the option of opting out. Are you not also given that option?

sauere 12y ago
The fees (student union and transport subsidies) that he mentioned are mandatory. There is no opting out.
- mxfh 12y ago
  There is no general rule. As the transportation tickets are normally negotiated between the student body and the transportation provider it whats mandatory and whats not wholly depends on the negotiation skills and priorities of the student union body of the institution you're at. With no opt outs the tickets simply get cheaper. My former institution allowed opt-out and before had complicated mixed system of buying a base tickets which allow travel on weekends only and buying monthly tickets for a little more than 30 EUR/month. After hanging a vote of all students this changed to a flat fee per semester.
tehabe 12y ago
Those fees have no drop out, if the semester ticket had a drop out I guess nobody really wants to do that. You get to use all public transport of the region for a very low price. (Only exemption is, when a student goes abroad and can't use it anyway it the student can be exempt, usually there is also the possibility for poor students that the ticket is paid by the student body. At least we had the possibility to do that) The other part is the Studentenwerk (Student's Works) which runs cafeterias, housing and other services which you can use for a low price or even free. The third part is for the student body. In most states in Germany the student body is an legal public body. It is used by the student parliament den the student committee (AStA) to fund services and other stuff which is needed to represent students and their needs. Usually the semester ticket is not made between the university and the transportation company but between the student body and the company, therefore the AStA is negotiating the contract about it. (depends on the university). We also had three permanent employees, which helped a lot. Insurances of any kind is not included. Full disclosure, I used to be the chair of a student committee of the student body of an German university.
- taejo 12y ago
  > Those fees have no drop out, if the semester ticket had a drop out I guess nobody really wants to do that. If I could drop out, I would consider buying the semester ticket in winter (when I take the bus to uni) and not in summer (when I cycle). In summer, most of my use of public transport is recreational (take the train to some swimming pool or hiking area). I could easily replace this with more cycling and occasionally buying one of DB's weekend special tickets.
  - tehabe 12y ago
    Depends on the city. I studied in Bremen and many students asked for the semester ticket first. Even though Bremen isn't that bad for cycling. But it has a well build tram network.

by eqdw 12y ago

sauere 12y ago

The fees (student union and transport subsidies) that he mentioned are mandatory. There is no opting out.

mxfh 12y ago
There is no general rule. As the transportation tickets are normally negotiated between the student body and the transportation provider it whats mandatory and whats not wholly depends on the negotiation skills and priorities of the student union body of the institution you're at. With no opt outs the tickets simply get cheaper. My former institution allowed opt-out and before had complicated mixed system of buying a base tickets which allow travel on weekends only and buying monthly tickets for a little more than 30 EUR/month. After hanging a vote of all students this changed to a flat fee per semester.

tehabe 12y ago

Those fees have no drop out, if the semester ticket had a drop out I guess nobody really wants to do that. You get to use all public transport of the region for a very low price. (Only exemption is, when a student goes abroad and can't use it anyway it the student can be exempt, usually there is also the possibility for poor students that the ticket is paid by the student body. At least we had the possibility to do that) The other part is the Studentenwerk (Student's Works) which runs cafeterias, housing and other services which you can use for a low price or even free. The third part is for the student body. In most states in Germany the student body is an legal public body. It is used by the student parliament den the student committee (AStA) to fund services and other stuff which is needed to represent students and their needs. Usually the semester ticket is not made between the university and the transportation company but between the student body and the company, therefore the AStA is negotiating the contract about it. (depends on the university). We also had three permanent employees, which helped a lot. Insurances of any kind is not included. Full disclosure, I used to be the chair of a student committee of the student body of an German university.

taejo 12y ago
> Those fees have no drop out, if the semester ticket had a drop out I guess nobody really wants to do that. If I could drop out, I would consider buying the semester ticket in winter (when I take the bus to uni) and not in summer (when I cycle). In summer, most of my use of public transport is recreational (take the train to some swimming pool or hiking area). I could easily replace this with more cycling and occasionally buying one of DB's weekend special tickets.
- tehabe 12y ago
  Depends on the city. I studied in Bremen and many students asked for the semester ticket first. Even though Bremen isn't that bad for cycling. But it has a well build tram network.