The discussion over international students gets a new twist in Austria. Salzburg's governor Gabi Burgstaller from the Socialist party (SPÖ) proposed that studies of foreign students should no longer be subsidized by the host country, but by their country of origin. In some universities in Austria more then 89% of the students is from German origin. She has presented it in Brussels. Commissioner Vassiliou from Education has asked her to get support from other Member States for her proposal. Burgstaller compares her proposal with that of healthcare insurances, where medical treatment in other EU countries are paid according to the tariffs policy as was it done in the home Member State of the client by his insurance company.

This would mean for instance that the German government transfers a certain amount of money for each German student that decides to study in Austria. The student himself would continue paying the prevailing tuition fees. Her goal would be to dedicate these additional funds for investments into the studying quality of students.

Cost/benefit analysis

"I am very much in favor of an open university system, but this should not come at the expense of Austrian taxpayers. What's necessary is an intelligent solution that does not discriminate against foreign students," commented Burgstaller upon announcing her plan.

Other countries like Switzerland, Scotland and the Netherlands are currently involved in a similar discussion. Just like the Austrians, Swiss universities have to deal with an ever increasing influx of German students that were not taken in at German universities.

Scotland meanwhile countered an increase in English student numbers by charging them thousands of Euros in additional tuition fees. The Dutch junior minister of education, Halbe Zijstra, responded to this development by putting in place an expert panel that will research the costs and benefits foreign students create at Dutch universities.

Already now it is clear that Burgstaller's ideas could result in a complex system. Dutch students, for instance, are subject to the so called "langstudeerboete" which charges students extra who take too long for their studies (one year on top of the regular program length). This would then also apply for Dutch nationals studying abroad.

sources: Transfer & Science Guide