In practice, it works quite simply. After finishing the university, the graduate applies for another study program and after enrollment, he regains the status of a student. At the same time, the majority do not expect to complete the new study. They don’t go to lectures and pass exams. After a certain time, the school therefore excludes them from their studies.
Until then, however, they can remain enrolled for the entire academic year. For part of the graduates, it is an attempt to gain a few extra months to look for a job and an easier transition to an independent life. By signing up for studies, they will get cheaper accommodation in a dormitory or discounts on transport, for example even free trains.
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Students contacted by Pravda who use this trick emphasize that many are actively looking for work or are already working during this period. They see further enrollment in college as a way to avoid a situation where they will lose several benefits overnight after becoming a state citizen and at the same time have to immediately start bearing all the costs associated with an independent life, even without the first paycheck in their wallet.
Easier transition to work
For some graduates, the time they can gain is also important. A recent graduate of the Faculty of Chemical and Food Technology of the Slovak Technical University (STU), Terézia admits that she has friends who have formally decided to apply for another school, and she herself was thinking about a similar solution. After the hectic period of state exams and the defense of the final thesis, the status of a student would provide her with more space for orientation in the work sphere. “A newly graduated student has more time to research the labor market and does not feel such pressure from the environment and institutions,” he explains.
Janka, who will finish her architecture studies in a few days, comes from a village near the Czech border, but last year she and her boyfriend rented an apartment in Bartislava. He does not plan to return home to his parents. She is thinking about working in the Czech Republic and has decided to formally continue her studies there.
This is not an isolated case. “In our group alone, I know of four other people who have the same thing,” he says. Janka has already applied and knows where to go. “Let’s say construction, just another field – because of the software licenses,” he explains.
According to her, however, it is not a decision in the style of school or work. She herself works part-time in addition to school. “It’s about making that transition to real working life easier,” he explains. As an example, he cites a classmate who enrolled in another program mainly so that he could stay in the dormitory.
While student housing costs, depending on the city and the type of room, from approximately 60 to 200 euros per month, commercial rent is considerably more expensive. A separate room in a shared apartment often costs 300 to 500 euros per month, while tenants also have to account for a deposit, utilities and other fees.
The advantage is also lower living costs thanks to discounted meals in the school canteen or free internet connection, as well as the good location that dormitories usually have. In addition to student accommodation, the future architect Janka also mentions preferential access to software, which they use for both study and work. It is not only about specialized programs for technical or creative fields. Schools often also provide office packages, cloud storage or other services that graduates would have to pay for themselves after graduation.
They have nowhere to rush
Another future architect, Bianka, did not submit another application, but she extended her studies in a different way. During college, she decided to take advantage of the Erasmus program and go on a study abroad.
When she applied, she already knew that her stay abroad would postpone her school graduation date. Some subjects completed abroad could not be fully included in her study program and she will have to complete them at her home university upon her return. Instead of six years of study, he will spend seven years at school. However, such an outcome was part of her plan from the beginning.
“I’m in no rush,” he says. However, he also knows people who extended their studies in the way just mentioned – by applying again. She understands it and she herself admits that affordable housing is probably the biggest motivation. “In the beginning, nobody has saved up for adult life. There is a big difference between prices for students and for workers,” he states.
Staying a student, at least “on paper”, is also worth it for the possibility of cheap travel. With the loss of the student card, the right to travel benefits also ends. However, full-time students under the age of 26 can use free rail transport and discounted tickets in urban or suburban transport. In many cities, they pay about half of the regular “adult” price. In addition, students have discounts on cultural events, sports fields or even in restaurants.
Continuation of studies by recent graduates also solves the problem of paying health insurance contributions. It is true that if a young Slovak has not found a job in advance or does not continue with further studies, he must register at the labor office within ten calendar days. Otherwise, he has to deal with the health insurance himself and there is a risk of underpayment.
However, insurance companies point out that after obtaining a degree, it is not possible to automatically maintain health insurance paid for by the state just by enrolling in another bachelor’s or equivalent study. “If a natural person has already obtained a second-level university education and does not continue his studies at the third level, for the purposes of public health insurance, he is no longer considered to be insured by the state due to his studies at a lower or the same level,” explained the manager of the PR insurance company Dôvera Branislav Cehlárik.
The General Health Insurance Company expresses itself similarly. She reminds that student status ends the day after the state exam, not graduation. The graduate should therefore check who pays for his health insurance.
Not everyone has encountered it
Future pharmacist Lívia from the Comenius University says that she does not know of similar cases in her area. According to her, in her field, most graduates decide between practice and doctoral studies. Continuing at school is therefore mainly related to professional direction and interest in a scientific career.
Kristína from the Matej Bel University in Banská Bystrica, who has her final exam in a few days, has a similar view. She herself is thinking about continuing her doctoral studies mainly because of the possibilities of foreign internships, but she admits that the ongoing status of a student would also be a big advantage.
“It is not entirely easy for a young graduate to start a new and independent life without the help of his parents,” he says. “When you don’t have a job, the first months until you get your first paycheck are financially demanding,” he describes. As an example, he gives free train travel, this would be beneficial for recent graduates, for example, when they are looking for a job and commuting to several job interviews. According to Kristina, how strongly the student will feel the loss of benefits also depends on the environment he comes from and whether he can rely on the financial support of his family.
Photo: SHUTTERSTOCK, Studio Romantic
Graduates Illustrative photo
Universities do not see the problem
The editors also approached Slovak universities with questions about whether they register such students. Not all of them responded to the questions, but those who answered agreed that they encounter similar cases only sporadically and, according to them, it is not a significantly widespread phenomenon.
Respondents confirmed that they often apply mainly to Czech universities, where continuing studies after completing a master’s degree is usually free of charge. In the case of Slovak universities, the situation is different, as further studies after obtaining a second-level degree are often associated with tuition fees. Nevertheless, enrolling in some faculties can be financially worthwhile.
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If a graduate uses student status to obtain boarding accommodation, the savings can significantly exceed tuition costs. For example, at the Faculty of Education of the Comenius University in Bratislava (UNIBA), the tuition fee for further studies is 900 euros per year, while the difference between the price of a dormitory and a commercial rental can reach more than 300 euros per month. In that case, the savings on housing will exceed the cost of school fees within a few months.
“Yes, there are such students, but it is not a significant number,” says Lujza Laudárová from the department for external UNIBA. Since the study is subject to a fee after exceeding the standard length, according to her, the motivation is primarily the need to supplement one’s education.
The University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra (UKF) also records only rare cases of graduates who, after obtaining a master’s degree, enroll for further studies. “Studies are charged a relatively high amount and, as a rule, students decide to study for the purpose of expanding or obtaining a new qualification,” said vice-rector for education Jana Duchovičová.
However, according to UKF’s practical experience, graduates do not apply for further studies in order to extend the benefits associated with student life. “We did not get the impression that it was abuse or an attempt to preserve advantages,” Duchovičová added.
The other universities approached gave similar answers. “So it is mainly an effort to acquire new knowledge and competences in a different field than the one they originally studied,” said the spokeswoman of the University of Prešov (UNIPO) Ingrid Timková. At the same time, the university admitted that it does not systematically investigate the reasons for further study and does not keep statistics on the extent of this phenomenon.
Even the Žilina University in Žilina (UNIZA) does not systematically monitor this phenomenon, said Renáta Švarcová, head of the education department. However, according to her, if the graduates decided to apply for further full-time studies, in principle, it would not be free of charge at any public university.
