German students save the most on transport
Tariffs for students
For example, as reported by Deutsche Welle, a student ID makes public transport much cheaper. With it, you can go to the cinema for almost half price and get a discount on subscriptions to serious German newspapers and magazines. Students can also save significantly on mandatory health insurance. Under the student tariff, it costs about 70 euros per month, while for employees, health insurance funds deduct about 7 percent of their salary (the employer covers the same amount).
You can also take advantage of savings when visiting German landmarks. Students can climb the tower of the famous Cologne Cathedral for 2 euros instead of 4, or see the "Sistine Madonna" at the Dresden Picture Gallery for 9 euros instead of 12.
Yes, to avoid being expelled, students at public universities in Germany must pay a semester fee before the start of the semester: from 80 to 300 euros depending on the city and university. But this amount is disproportionate to the services provided to students.
For example, universities organize sports sections, foreign language courses, and cultural events for them. The semester fee covers the costs of record keeping, as well as the work of organizations that defend students' interests and provide advice on study-related topics.
Fake students
Sometimes, the variety of tempting offers also attracts savings enthusiasts who are not particularly eager to get a diploma. In 2017, for example, the University of Düsseldorf stated that about a quarter of its students were actually "dead souls."
Paying the semester fee once every six months and hardly ever attending lectures, they abuse the benefits granted to students. This causes losses, primarily for local transport companies: the cost of a student travel pass for a semester in Düsseldorf is about 100 euros, while for everyone else (except schoolchildren) a monthly pass costs about 70 euros.
To avoid abuse, many museums and cinemas offer discounts up to the age of 27. When taking out mandatory health insurance under the student tariff, there is a limit of up to 30 years or the 14th semester.
Business idea for freeloaders
Still, most students can use tempting offers with a clear conscience to save money. Discounts for them are announced on official city portals and specialized websites such as Studentenrabatt.com, Allmaxx.de, or Studenten-spartipps.de.
On average, according to the German National Association for Student Affairs, a student in Germany has 700-800 euros per month. About a third of this amount goes to housing, 10 percent to phone, internet, and the mandatory fee for public radio and television. Food and clothing cost about 200 euros, sports and other leisure activities about 70 euros. There is purchasing potential, given that about three million people study at German universities.
Students are an attractive target group for business. Banks, hairdressers, mobile operators, café owners, and travel agencies cater to them. The founders of the startup Linqfish from Hamburg decided to help both companies and students benefit. The online platform, which started operating in 2017, features local shops, restaurants, and clubs. Prices here are reduced for everything: from insurance and fitness courses to bicycle repairs and coffee with a donut.
The principle of the business model is simple: businesses pay a fee when registering on the Linqfish website and deduct a certain percentage after each successful transaction. So far, offers are only available in Hamburg. In the near future, the startup plans to cover Berlin, Munich, Cologne, and other German cities. And later, other European countries, if investors are found.