Since the abolition of tuition fees in the 2014/2015 winter semester, the University of Oldenburg has received study quality funds from the State of Lower Saxony for all students on undergraduate Bachelor’s and consecutive Master’s programmes. These funds are intended to compensate for the loss of tuition fee revenue.

Use of the study quality funds in School I

Of the total amount of the study quality funds, 75 per cent is available to the Schools for them to use at their own discretion. The remaining 25 per cent is used by the University for financing central tasks and measures.

A small proportion of the study quality funds earmarked for the Schools is distributed evenly amongst the Schools as a so-called ‘base amount’ for decentralised measures, irrespective of student numbers. The distribution of the remaining portion is based on the teaching output of the respective Schools. A key factor in this calculation is the number of examinations taken.

The share calculated in this way for School I is allocated in accordance with the guidelines of the Presidential Board and the Lower Saxony Higher Education Act to safeguard and improve the quality of teaching and study conditions. In particular, this is intended to improve the student-to-staff ratio.

In 2019, a new staffing structure for mid-level academic staff was agreed in conjunction with the Presidential Board. In this context, permanent posts were created to carry out teaching duties. Furthermore, each semester, funds were made available to the institutes – based on a distribution model linked to the examination results achieved – for purposes such as the employment of student assistants and research assistants.

Financing for student assistants: Changed procedure from the 2026/27 winter semester

Due to funding cuts, from the start of the 2026/27 winter semester, no further study quality funds will be available for financing of assistant posts and other measures. However, as the need for such support remains, the Dean's Office has decided to provide the Institutes, where possible, with alternative funds to compensate for the shortfall in study quality funds. This offer is subject to the availability of funds and must therefore be reassessed by the Dean's Office on a semester-by-semester basis.

The Dean's Office will also continue to apply the above-mentioned allocation model, based on the respective examination results, when distributing the compensation funds amongst the Institutes. It should also be noted that the timeframe for expenditure may vary depending on the use of different funds. The Institutes will be informed of this when the respective allocation is made. The funds are primarily intended to be used to employ student assistants and research assistants. The Institutes must submit a plan to the Dean's Office for this purpose.

Irrespective of this, it remains possible to submit proposals for allocations from central study quality funds (https://uol.de/gremien/studienqualitaetskommission).

If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact the Dean’s Office ( ) or the Faculty Management (Sabrina Biondi, )

Warm regards from the Dean's Office of School I - School of Educational and Social Sciences!

Prof. Dr Sebastian Schnettler
Dean of Studies