Austria's free universities are a farce

The abolishment of tuition fees in Austria in 2008 has backfired a year later, the daily Kurier contends: "Austria's students are saving 364 euros per semester and must now fight harder than ever over every free place in the laboratories and lecture halls. Austria's free universities are acting like a magnet for German students who fail the selection procedures back home. The political ideal of 'free university admission' for everyone who wants to study is basically a total farce. The losers are the students who have been freed of the yoke of fees. The [Austrian Socialist Party] SPÖ will no longer be able to avoid a new debate about fees (with mitigating grants) and EU-compatible admission procedures - unless it finally re-baptises itself as 'Austria's Senior Citizens' Party'."

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