The Austrian student grant system was last evaluated in 2013 (Unger et al. 2013). Since then, significantly more register data – and, crucially, data that can be linked together – has become available for an evaluation of the student grant system via the AMDC at Statistics Austria. These data sets are to be used primarily in the current evaluation of the student grant system, supplemented by data from the Student Social Survey.
The evaluation covers the standard student grant, the self-support student grant and the graduation scholarship, as well as ancillary benefits (study allowance, travel allowance, childcare allowance). The analysis focuses on ordinary students, both those receiving financial support and those who do not, at public and private universities, universities of applied sciences and universities of teacher education.
The following questions are examined:
- Is the student finance system socially targeted and effective?
- Are the performance criteria effective and appropriate?
- Is the reasonable level of personal contribution appropriate?
- Would it make sense to provide funding for first-degree programmes in the extraordinary sector?