19th Social Survey (2009) 

The 19th Social Survey is part of a survey series regarding the economic and social situation of students conducted since 1951 by the German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW) as part of their social survey. The Social Survey is a cross-sectional study which is usually carried out every three years. Key components of the study include access to higher education, structural aspects of the course and progress of studies, the economic and social situation (financing of studies, living expenses, employment, housing conditions) as well as topics in the field of activity of the German National Association for Student Affairs and socio-demographic characteristics.  Due to the structural reform of the Bologna Process being well-advanced when the study was conducted, it comprises a significant proportion of students of the “new” courses of study. As another characteristic of the 19th Social Survey, 60 percent of the surveyed students were studying at a higher education institution charging general tuition fees.