Ban lifted on university fees in Germany

Germany's supreme court has ruled that individual federal states can introduce university fees, effectively ending the principle of free education that had survived since the 1960s.

Supporters have argued that fees will bring much-needed revenue into Germany's notoriously overcrowded and underfunded higher education sector, and might prompt students to work harder. Opponents have decried the move and protests have been held.

The case was brought by six states that are ruled by Germany's centre-right 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.

The court recommended fees be paid directly to universities. This means states could levy fees without needing approval from Berlin, the Times Higher Education Supplement has reported.

Questions remain over the introduction of the fees, including how much and in what form will students have to pay.

Meanwhile, an Israeli government committee is due to open the issue of tuition fees, three years after shelving plans to halve them. The THES has reported that the president of Hebrew College is urging the government not to halve them but to increase them in an effort to improve quality.

More information on the German case is in this Guardian story.