University sues student who 'studied too fast'
The Local · 3 Jul 2012, 09:15
Published: 03 Jul 2012 09:15 GMT+02:00
Marcel Pohl completed 60 examinations in 20 months, gaining a grade of 2.3, and was officially ex-matriculated in August 2011. Such a course usually takes 11 semesters, but he only needed three.
Now the Essen-based School of Economics and Management (FOM) want the 22-year-old to pay his fees up the end of 2011 - an extra €3,000.
"When I got the lawsuit, I thought it couldn't be true," Pohl, who now works for a bank in Frankfurt, told the Bild newspaper. "Performance is supposed to be worth something."
Pohl completed his turbo degree by dividing up all the simultaneous lectures with two friends and then swapping notes. At the same time, he completed an apprenticeship in a bank.
"We didn't get any freebies, and we agreed our plans in advance with the school," Pohl said.
"We're always against slow students," said his lawyer Bernhard Kraas. "But when someone hurries and finishes early, suddenly he has to pay. That can't be right."
But the FOM argues that its fees are the total price for the studies, independent of how long the studies last. But if that it is the case, it remains unclear why they are only calling for a part of the cost for 11 semesters.
"We do not want to comment on the case before it has reached court," a university spokesman said.
The Local/bk







Your comments about this article
Three things are sure in this life. Tax, death.....................and humourless idiots.
Dumb! Sounds more like a lawsuit in the US.
wa
Most "universities" have become little more than diploma mills. Students are not there to learn, but to get a diploma after spending enough money to ensure that the directors can drive around in a Mercedes and live in a huge house.
anybody else think the guy should have gotten a life?
How is it worded?
No. To each his own.
But what will he tell his kids, or even his friends someday when they talk about all the crazy things they did during college? It's all good and well to complete an education in due time; nobody says you should be slacking.
But you have to live a little because one day when he's just another generously paid executive working 80-plus hours a week, maybe he will realize that there are things in life that money and a successful professional career can't buy, and that he missed out on much of the fun his friends had.
I had a blast in college and tried to enjoy college life with all the bells and whistles, and yes, I lost about one semester because I had more things on my mind than just class and exams. But I wouldn't want to trade in those memories for anything.
On the one side, we have criminals being sent home to mum, because German law does not allow a court to charge them the crime committed. We have students who are able to produce babies, but have never done a day¦#39;s work in their lives and with 34 years of age are still blocking places in the universities.
It would be great if the responsible politicians would realise, that anybody who commits a crime is old enough to face the consequences and that those, who prolong their studies indefinitely, are little more than spongers living from the hard earned tax money of those who put more into the state funds than they take out.
This student should be praised, not punished.
You're making assumptions and total generalizations that this student should have lived his college life the way you did so he could have memories like you.
You are also making the assumption he had no fun, no life, no pleasure, no nothing but study during the time he was in college. You are also making the assumption of what his career goals are, and that his objective is money. He has his own life to live, and his own regrets to make later in life if he so desires. It isn't your place to judge him.
Actually it sounds like you need to get a life. As someone else mentioned, everyone is different, and I add: and should be allowed to be without those like you trying to apply their own personal preferences to others. That's exactly the mindset, which you might think is innocent, but is the base reason that continues to allow bullying, and intolerances of all kinds to take place: when people object to others doing differently than they do.
As the quote says, "The universe is full of dead people who lived by assumption."
Since living in Germany I have never met so many students over the age of 30. All of these students have for some reason or another extended their course either by changing mid way through or having children.
At my company we are constantly presented with new employees in their mid 30's who have never worked in industry 'but' have a doctorate - which in their eyes make them more than capable of the job for which they were employed.
There does not seem to be the same pressure in Germany to complete your studies within the alloted time. It seems to be the norm that most Germans spend 10 years or more in higher education.
When I first came to Germany I had a Degree and Masters and 4 years of Industrial experience by the age of 29. Most Germans I meet cannot believe this. In the UK I think it is seen as a bit of a stigma to still be studying when in your late 20's early 30's with no work experience.
The student of the above mentioned article should be applauded for his fine efforts.
"anybody else think the guy should have gotten a life?"
Nope, you would not think that if you have studied at a German university, you want to leave there as soon as possible, I understand this guy.
@KennethIngle Absolutely!
@Bobby Baxter Generalization warning: What you might not realize is that many Germans need a regular ego stroking from the use of their titles and for that one needs Professor, Doctor, Professor Doctor, or Professor Doctor Doctor. ;)Also staying away from real work for 10 years allows them to dedicate themselves more fully to other pursuits such as philosophizing about whether Osama Bin Laden should have been shot and parroting conspiracy theories about September 11th
@CoolBlueIce :D Good one!
I guess TU Dresden invites the turbo student to do it again, maybe not sooo fast.
theyre only 22!!! now they help students to finish their bachelors or masters degree in a similar speedy way *lol* which irony