State parliament passes stricter higher education law

Berlin is getting a stricter higher education law which will make it possible to exmatriculate students for certain breaches of regulations.

The Berlin House of Representatives passed the corresponding amendment at the last plenary session before the summer break. According to the amendment, exmatriculation is only envisaged as a last resort and only in the event of a legally binding conviction. If students are exmatriculated, they may not re-enroll at the university for two years.

Regulation redefines regulatory offenses

According to the new regulation, a breach of regulations occurs if a student "significantly impairs a member of the university in the exercise of their rights and duties through the use of physical violence, incitement to physical violence or threats of physical violence" in relation to the university. Violations also include sexual harassment and "intentional criminal acts" in university facilities that "cause considerable damage to the university".

Tightening of domestic authority

In addition to exmatriculation, possible measures include issuing a reprimand, exclusion from the use of certain university facilities, exclusion from participation in individual courses for up to one semester and the threat of de-registration. House rules have also been tightened up. In future, a ban can be imposed for nine months "in extreme cases". Previously it was only three.