Students face new semester challenges across Germany and Italy

The start of the new academic semester brings both excitement and practical challenges for students in Germany and Italy.

In Esslingen, Germany, students at the Hochschule Esslingen face difficulties regarding rising living costs and the search for affordable housing. The political group Die Linke Esslingen has engaged with students to discuss these issues, including the need for BAföG reform. They previously advocated for higher, inflation-adjusted funding and regional rent subsidies, though a similar motion was rejected by the Bundestag in July.

In South Tyrol, the Südtiroler HochschülerInnenschaft (sh. asus) is supporting students as they begin their studies. The organization provides guidance and social networking opportunities through various regional offices in cities such as Graz, Innsbruck, Vienna, Salzburg, and Bologna, helping students navigate administrative procedures and academic integration.