University of Zurich rector Michael Schaepman.
Keystone-SDA
The rector of the University of Zurich has spoken out against an hike in semester fees, which he says would prolong studies as students would increasingly have to work on the side.
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The current fees of CHF720 ($922) per semester do not follow any market-based logic, but are rather “a purely historical, ultimately arbitrary entry threshold,” Michael Schaepman told the Neue Zürcher Zeitung (NZZ) newspaper.
The rector also warned of the social consequences of increased fees. The financial situation of parents already plays an important role in the choice of university, and “we should not make social mobility any harder with financial hurdles,” Schaepman said.
He is also critical of individual increases in cost-intensive degree programmes such as medicine, which he reckons can hardly be reconciled with a part-time job. Only around 10% of students receive scholarships or other financial support, while the vast majority have to get by without additional help, he added.
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Higher Swiss university fees fails to put off foreign students
High cost of living in Zurich
In financial terms, semester fees are only of minor importance for the university. According to Schaepman, they account for less than 2% of the budget, or around CHF30 million – with a total turnover of CHF1.8 billion.
When it comes to international competition, he also pointed out that the cost of living in Zurich is already high. Students need some CHF2,300 on average per month to get by. Additional fees could lead to some deciding not to study in the city, he warned.
As an alternative, Schaepman suggested obliging foreign graduates to work and pay taxes in Switzerland for at least four years after finishing studies. “If we keep the foreign graduates here, the added value is much higher than with any increase in fees,” he said.
Adapted from German by AI/dos
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