Long-term student
The term long- term student refers to students who have been enrolled at universities for an exceptionally long time. It is a slang term without a clear definition of the length of study from which one is a long-term student. On the other hand, the term is a legal technical term in some German federal states that is used to designate those students who exceed the standard period of study by a certain number of semesters.
Related terms are strolling students, i.e. students who are actually not studying but “strolling”. There are also quite a few bogus students who are only still enrolled because of the semester ticket and other discounts.
Definitions
The Hessian Tuition Fee Act (which has since expired ) stipulates a "long-term study fee" for long-term students who have exceeded the standard period of study by 4 semesters. Special regulations for the double degree and the second degree weakened the regulation.
The long-term study fees were not collected for a large number of long-term students. Exceptions were e.g. B. Parent students, some overseas students, very good students, and others.
Effects on Universities
The use of university resources does not necessarily depend on the duration of the study. Long-term students, in particular, who are only enrolled and do not use these resources at all, are merely a statistical phenomenon for universities.
Empiricism
The proportion of long-term students depends on the definition and the period and country considered. In 2011, around 3% of students in Germany were enrolled for 20 semesters or more. The number of long-term students is falling as a result of the Bologna reform .