German Student Social Survey

Start of the project: 1981-Jan-01 - End of the project: 2018-Dec-31

The German Student Social Survey is a long-term study of the economic and social situation of students in Germany. It is unique throughout the world and has been carried out since 1951, usually at three-yearly intervals.

The German Centre for Higher Education Research and Science Studies (DZHW) and its predecessor institution HIS have carried out the Social Survey since 1982, in collaboration with the German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW) and with funding from the Federal Ministry of Education and Research (BMBF). Each time, the survey approaches a representative cross-section of students registered at a higher education institution in Germany. The Social Survey also includes international students who come to Germany for all or part of their studies.

Traditionally, the Social Survey includes questions on the following topics:

  • Study-related aspects - subject, degree, number of semesters, progress of studies
  • Social and demographic features - age, gender, marital status, parenthood, social background, migrant background
  • Student funding and living costs
  • Amount of time spent on studying and gainful employment
  • Housing type, housing satisfaction
  • Study-related periods abroad

The field phase of the 21st German Student Social Survey was carried out during the summer semester 2016 and for the first time took the form of an online survey. Further information (e. g. projects history, questionnaires, and reports) is available on the projects website.

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Publications

10.-21. Sozialerhebung 1982-2016. Daten- und Methodenbericht zum gepoolten Datensatz der zwölf Studierendenbefragungen.

Middendorff, E., & Wallis, M. (2023).
10.-21. Sozialerhebung 1982-2016. Daten- und Methodenbericht zum gepoolten Datensatz der zwölf Studierendenbefragungen. Hannover: DZHW.
Abstract

The report on the cumulative data set for the 10th-21st Social Survey (1982 - 2016) explains the data preparation process and describes the variables in the data set. The survey series has a unique regional scope, is based on large, random samples, and is thus a powerful source of data for studies of the aspects covered over time. It allows a differentiated examination of students with various characteristics, such as by type of university, university entrance, subject groups, gender, age groups, educational and regional origins, financial situation, living arrangements, partnership status, and parenthood. [...] Full abstract: https://doi.org/10.21249/DZHW:ssypool:3.0.0

10. Sozialerhebung. Daten- und Methodenbericht zur Studierendenbefragung 1982.

Middendorff, E., & Wallis, M. (2022).
10. Sozialerhebung. Daten- und Methodenbericht zur Studierendenbefragung 1982. Hannover: FDZ-DZHW.
Abstract

The Social Survey is a series of surveys on the economic and social situation of students in Germany that has been in existence since 1951. Every three to four years, a cross-section of students is surveyed on aspects of access to higher education, structural features of study, social and economic situation, including income and cost of living, employment, housing situation, as well as socio-demographic characteristics, partnership status and parenthood. The data package includes the data from the 10th Social Survey (1982), which was limited to German students in the old Länder. An additional questionnaire included Questions about the psychosocial situation. https://doi.org/10.21249/DZHW:ssy10:1.0.0

11. Sozialerhebung. Daten- und Methodenbericht zur Studierendenbefragung 1985.

Middendorff, E., & Wallis, M. (2022).
11. Sozialerhebung. Daten- und Methodenbericht zur Studierendenbefragung 1985. Hannover: FDZ-DZHW.
Abstract

The download SUF of the 11th Social Survey consists of 19,126 cases. German students who were enrolled at one of the 59 sample universities (27 universities, 32 universities of applied sciences) in the summer semester of 1985 were surveyed. An additional questionnaire, "Studies and Leisure Time," was used to explore the use of opportunities for independent study, other event and continuing education activities, and leisure time behavior in addition to studies. https://doi.org/10.21249/DZHW:ssy11:1.0.0

13.-21. Sozialerhebung 1991-2016. Daten- und Methodenbericht zum gepoolten Datensatz der neun Studierendenbefragungen.

Middendorff, E., & Wallis, M. (2022).
13.-21. Sozialerhebung 1991-2016. Daten- und Methodenbericht zum gepoolten Datensatz der neun Studierendenbefragungen. Hannover: FDZ-DZHW.
Abstract

The Social Survey is a series of surveys on the economic and social situation of students in Germany that has been in existence since 1951. At three- to four-year intervals, a cross-section of students is surveyed on aspects of university access, structural features of study, social and economic situation, including income and cost of living, employment, housing situation, and socio-demographic characteristics such as ethnic and social origin, partnership status and parenthood. The data package includes data from the core set of the 13th to 21st Social Survey (1991 - 2016). The five individual scientific use files available at the FDZ-DZHW [...] Full abstract: https://doi.org/10.21249/DZHW:ssypool:2.0.0

13. Sozialerhebung.

Middendorff, E., & Wallis, M. (2022).
13. Sozialerhebung. Daten- und Methodenbericht zur Studierendenbefragung 1991. Hannover: FDZ-DZHW.
Abstract

The Social Survey is a series of surveys on the economic and social situation of students in Germany that has been in existence since 1951. Every three to four years, a cross-section of students is surveyed on aspects of access to higher education, structural features of study, social and economic situation, including income and cost of living, employment, housing situation, as well as socio-demographic characteristics, partnership status and parenthood. The data package includes data from the 13th Social Survey (1991), which included students in the new Länder for the first time. An additional questionnaire included questions on the situation of students with children. https://doi.org/10.21249/DZHW:ssy13:1.0.0 Translated with www.DeepL.com

14. Sozialerhebung. Daten- und Methodenbericht zur Studierendenbefragung 1994.

Middendorff, E., & Wallis, M. (2021).
14. Sozialerhebung. Daten- und Methodenbericht zur Studierendenbefragung 1994. Hannover: DZHW.
Abstract

The Social Survey is a series of surveys on the economic and social situation of students in Germany that has been in existence since 1951. At three- to four-year intervals, a cross-section of students is surveyed on aspects of university access, structural features of study, social and economic situation, including income and cost of living, employment, housing situation, and socio-demographic characteristics such as ethnic and social origin, partnership status and parenthood. The data package includes data from the survey of German, educationally native, and educationally foreign students conducted as part of the 14th Social Survey (1994). https://doi.org/10.21249/DZHW:ssy14:1.0.0

15. Sozialerhebung.

Middendorff, E., & Wallis, M. (2021).
15. Sozialerhebung. Daten- und Methodenbericht zur Studierendenbefragung 1997. Hannover: FDZ-DZHW.
Abstract

The Social Survey is a series of surveys on the economic and social situation of students in Germany that has been in existence since 1951. At three- to four-year intervals, a cross-section of students is surveyed on aspects of university access, structural features of study, social and economic situation, including income and cost of living, employment, housing situation, and socio-demographic characteristics such as ethnic and social origin, partnership status and parenthood. The data package includes data from the survey of German, educationally native, and educationally foreign students conducted as part of the 15th Social Survey (1997). https://doi.org/10.21249/DZHW:ssy15:1.0.0

Die Sozialerhebungen des Deutschen Studentenwerks 1951 - 2016. Ein historischer Überblick über Akteure, Methoden, Themen und projektbezogene Publikationen der Untersuchungsreihe

Middendorff, E. (2019).
Die Sozialerhebungen des Deutschen Studentenwerks 1951 - 2016. Ein historischer Überblick über Akteure, Methoden, Themen und projektbezogene Publikationen der Untersuchungsreihe Hannover: DZHW.
Data Sets

FDZ-DZHW. (2024). Pooled Data Set 10th - 21st Social Survey 1982 - 2016. Retrieved from: 10.21249/DZHW:ssypool:3.1.0

FDZ-DZHW. (2020). 17th Social Survey (2003). Retrieved from: 10.21249/DZHW:ssy17:2.0.0

FDZ-DZHW. (2019). 18th Social Survey (2006). Retrieved from: 10.21249/DZHW:ssy18:1.0.0

FDZ-DZHW. (2019). 21st Social Survey (2016). Retrieved from: 10.21249/DZHW:ssy21:2.0.0

FDZ-DZHW. (2017). 19th Social Survey (2009). Retrieved from: 10.21249/DZHW:ssy19:1.0.0

FDZ-DZHW. (2017). 20th Social Survey (2012). Retrieved from: 10.21249/DZHW:ssy20:1.0.0

In cooperation with

Deutsches Studentenwerk

Funded by

Bundesministerium für Bildung und Forschung