Studying at 80 plus – (Un) Restful retirement at German higher education institutions

Going (back) to study is a concept many are skeptical about, yet it has become a fast-growing trend in recent years at German higher education institutions. Retirement could mean many different things to different people, like an end of working or the beginning of a new and exciting chapter of one’s life. Surprisingly, a preferred activity among German senior citizens is going (back) to university. It is undoubtedly a great concept as it not only helps the old generation to pursue an interest in new areas such as technology or digital transformation but it also keeps their minds active. However, many questions come to the surface for those who wish to embark on such a journey in the middle of their 60s or even later. The aim of the present article is to answer the most important questions in this regard. Below we will, apart from discussing some of the issues that senior students might face, provide information on potential entry requirements, the places offering special programs for senior students and guest listeners, and the type of special degree courses for seniors.

Active aging: Is it as easy as it sounds?

In this day and age, people can benefit from many things that were unavailable or unthinkable back in time. Aside from modern technologies, other things that can be perceived as a significant advantage are the new innovative beliefs eliminating old social stigmas in order to broaden one’s horizons and perceptions of the world and the people in it. Being in an advanced age does not necessarily limit one in terms of their mental and physical capabilities. Nowadays, it can be observed to an increasing extent that elder people live their lives to the fullest in all possible ways, especially after their retirement.

Some of the experiences in life are bringing to people unforgettable memories that in turn reinforce one’s desire to relive them over and over again. An example of such experience is higher education. Thus a significant number of retirees are coming back to it. But what motivates people at such an advanced age to attend lectures or even pursue a university degree could instead devote their free time to traveling or spending time with their families at peace?

One of the most common drives pushing senior people to go (back) to the lecture halls is the desire to refresh their knowledge or acquire a new one. Others, in turn, suggest that they are motivated by the wish to compete with younger students in order to verify if they still meet the scientific standards. Other reasons why some seniors are so keen on becoming students are the interest in an in-depth analysis and understanding of a particular field or merely the fulfillment of a childhood dream. In any case, people with such determination should not be underestimated but rather praised for their enthusiasm. Unfortunately, the latter is not always the case as sometimes senior students might face challenges during their journey at university. Being accepted by younger students is a common issue since the more the age rises, the more difficult it might be to be socially active and make new friends.

Since some senior students who pursue a course leading to a certificate will have to face large amounts of information, frequent lectures and on occasion exams, stress resistance is another aspect that must be considered. Therefore, it is very important for all future senior students to familiarize themselves with the choices they have and decide which one will suit them best. In the following sections we will look at the most important things that one needs to know before entering a German higher education institution for their senior studies.

What programs can senior students choose from?

Back in 1980, a special study program was introduced in Germany in order to provide the opportunity for senior citizens to pursue an academic education. This program has evolved ever since, allowing older people to choose if they want to pursue a university degree course or merely attend lectures without obtaining any qualification at the end. Since there are no regulations on what the special course of study should look like, the different universities, colleges, and academies have developed their own special programs with various educational offers.

In general, there are two options: the attendance of lectures and seminars without obtaining any certificate, which is referred to as guest studies, or the so called senior studies where a certificate of achievement upon successful completion of the study course can be obtained. Those who wish to enroll in a full-time study course might be subject to the admission requirements equal or similar to those for regular students. On the other hand, senior citizens who merely wish to participate in lectures and seminars as guests can do so but will not be allowed to take any exams. Some universities are also offering distance learning courses that are also available for those at retirement age. What makes them especially convenient is that they can easily be integrated into one’s everyday life. Thus senior students can simultaneously learn according to their own rhythm of life and take care of their grandchildren, spend time in their garden or take long walks amongst nature.

Most common courses and fields of study

Depending on the choice of a higher education institution, the study courses and fields of study that are open to seniors might vary. Senior and guest students have the choice of studies in Philosophy, Theology, Archeology, Medicine and many other areas that could possibly awaken one’s scientific curiosity.

However, most students at an advanced age express a preference towards Humanities or Cultural Studies. An interesting fact is that the latter seems to be a common choice in other countries where special programs for people over 50 are offered as well, like Switzerland for example. Prof. Dr. François Höpflinger, a scientist and researcher, states that elderly people tend to choose these two particular areas since they wish to rediscover a concept that has been nearly completely lost, namely the humanist ideal where education and personal development should coexist.

If one is struggling with making a decision as to what degree course will best suit them, they can benefit from the Interests Test[1] offered on universitaet.com that allows potential students to see what degree courses are best to be pursued based on the outcome of their personal tests. Furthermore, the university portal also offers a search engine[2] that displays all study programs offered at universities and other higher education institutions in the German-speaking region. This way prospective senior students can familiarize themselves with the traditional as well as new study courses and find the one that suits their personal interests the most.

Admission requirements

Unlike the old times when academic education was limited and only few people could benefit from it, nowadays the doors of multiple higher education institutions are open to people of all ages, genders and races. This is why there are no general legal regulations on studying in a special program for elderly citizens. However, each higher education institution, be it public or private, has the right to impose its own admission requirements for guest listeners or full-time participants.

Entering university as a guest student does not require any previous education like high school diplomas or university degrees, nor is there any age limit. Bavaria is the only state in Germany that is an exception of this rule, since applying even as a guest student requires one to present an Abitur (the equivalent of a high school degree that serves as a general qualification for university entrance). As discussed previously, some universities in Germany are offering full-time study courses that upon successful completion will grant senior students a certificate. In such cases, applicants will be subject to equal or similar admission requirements as other regular students. Furthermore, there might be a tuition fee, yet again the existence of such or its amount will be different for each and every higher learning institution in Germany.

Before making a final decision, prospective students might sometimes reach a stage of uncertainty as to where to study, perhaps even based on the fear that they might not be accepted in a particular higher education institution. To shed more light on this, we will now touch on this question separately.

Where to study?

Almost all federal states are offering senior or guest programs as well as distance learning courses – for those who live far away or are unable to participate in lectures and seminars on campus for some reason. A comprehensive range of study courses can be found mostly in the bigger cities where academic institutions aim to cover as many study fields as possible in order for older people to find what corresponds to their interests and personalities the most. Bigger cities like Berlin, Düsseldorf or Hamburg[3] have undoubtedly a richer variety of choices compared to smaller or medium-sized locations. Mentioned below are some of the most common places where people can opt for higher education after their retirement.

• Berlin – The capital has three universities on offer: the Free University (FU)[4], the Humboldt University[5] (HU) and the Technical University[6] (TU). They all developed special study programs for guest listeners. Lectures and seminars in various fields from medicine and science to art and environment can be attended by all senior citizens without any admission requirements. In addition, guest students can also benefit from attendance at selected events from the regular study program.
• Düsseldorf – The second-largest city in the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia is another example of a place where senior students can choose between several universities. The Heinrich Heine University[7] welcomes the 50 plus generation to attend all university lectures with a guest voucher, although an explicit offer for senior citizens is not present.
• Frankfurt –In Frankfurt am Main, senior citizens have the chance to attend the University of the 3rd Age (U3L), an educational institute part of the JW Goethe University[8]. Older students here can participate in lectures, working groups and seminars within an academic framework where issues of science and education are addressed. There are neither any educational requirements nor any need for special registration.
• Hamburg – The University of Hamburg (UHH)[9] has established a senior studies program since 1993, designed with the sole purpose to allow older individuals to gain easier access to university after their retirement. Today, for only 130 EUR per semester, senior citizens can participate in selected regular courses and events with the opportunity to gain knowledge in almost all areas.
• Munich – The third-largest city in Germany is home to the Ludwig Maximilians University[10] where the senior studies program exists since 1987. The lecture series offered here covers fields of Art, Culture, Religion, Sciences and Society. Senior citizens who wish to apply for a study program here must have a university entrance qualification (Abitur) and can choose between three different tuition fees models/schemes. Depending on the total amount of attendance hours per week, participants pay between 100 EUR and 300 EUR per semester.

Making a particular choice when there are so many different offers can be quite difficult. To facilitate this process, unversitaet.com provides its users with the opportunity to get informed about most of the cities in Germany that are home to higher education institutions. Thanks to the comprehensive descriptions and city profiles,[11] users can find everything they need to know about a particular city before making their final choice.

It’s never too late to learn!

The concept of elder people going back to studying is simply amazing all by it itself, because at an advanced age people no longer have to worry about learning a profession but can rather focus on their pure inclination for a particular or several subjects. In addition, senior studies carry multiple benefits for senior student. Education after retirement allows the older generation to feel young again for a certain period by getting in contact with young people, keeping an active mind and satisfying their thirst for knowledge. Studying after retirement is great for battling loneliness and boredom that could become present following one’s retirement, as well as for proving that it is never too late to learn something new.