Ministry: Audit Office Demanded Closure of Thuringia College - Thuringia College to close after years of declining enrolment and high costs
Thuringia College in Weimar is set to close after years of declining student numbers and high operating costs. The state's Audit Office reviewed the institution's performance and recommended its shutdown. Officials have now confirmed that no new students will be admitted from the 2026/2027 academic year onward.
The college has struggled with low graduation rates and shrinking enrolment. Last year, only 25 students completed their courses, while just nine out of 27 earned their Abitur. Over the past decade, student numbers have nearly halved, falling from over 100 to just 64.
Annual expenses at the college reached around one million euros, a figure deemed unsustainable given its output. Despite the closure, all currently enrolled students will still finish their studies as planned. Thuringia still offers alternative routes to higher education for adults. The VWA Erfurt, for example, provides six-semester programmes in Business Administration and Administrative Business Administration. These qualifications allow entry to state universities and Master's degree courses without requiring an Abitur. Other options include adult education centres and distance-learning programmes.
The decision to close Thuringia College follows a review by the State Audit Office. With no new admissions from 2026, the institution will gradually wind down. Adults seeking higher education qualifications in the region will need to turn to other providers, such as the VWA Erfurt or distance-learning schemes.
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