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the total cost of university studies at different locations and times. This research issue is only
in an intial stage among scholars in the fi eld. 44 Such calculations are indeed fairly complicated
and not just because of the problems concerning the sources, but also because of a wide
range of factors (geographical, chronological, and sociological) which determined these costs.
Another problem is related to the fact that the currencies of the time were complex and varied
signifi cantly in terms of purchasing power, weight and size, thus making any comparisons diffi
cult. 45 Apart from calculating the costs in general, facts such as illness, war, poor harvests,
etc. involving extra expenses need to be considered. In addition to that, the needs and the
expectations of students varied depending on their social status and fi nancial possibilities he
or his family enjoyed at home. Notwithstanding these diffi culties, some estimations have been
made. For instance, L. W. Brockliss has calculated that, in Paris in the fi fteenth and sixteenth
century, the total expenses for a student coming from a province averaged 75 fl orins annually.
46 Bernhard Ebneth attempts to calculate the costs of university studies in the fi fteenth and
sixteenth century based on individual examples. 47 He mentions an interesting description of
expenses included in a letter of thanks sent to the town council of Nürnberg in 1558 by a
student in Tübingen who received fi nancial support for his studies: 50 fl orins per year, in two
portions. The fi rst half of the yearly amount was spent as follows: 48
Expenditures:
From Nürnberg to Tübingen paid for food 1 fl .
Meals, which pro year cost thirty fl orins, from which I paid for the half of it 15 fl .
The room, which costs 8 gulden per year, I have paid for a half year 4 fl
I paid for the Lexicon Iuris, unbound, 14 batzen
To bind it, 6 batzen
For half a year to the shoemaker, 10 batzen
To the tailor for repairing my trousers and for a new pair of stockings, 2 fl
For a special pointed hat, 8 batzen
For some book paper, 5 batzen
For the production of a good ink, 1 batzen
For buying light, 1 batzen
The entire amount together, 25 fl .
This bill shows that accommodation and food were the most important expenses, taking
up ca. 80 % of the student’s budget. Another possible way to estimate the students’ fi nancial
needs used by Ebneth was to analyze the amount of money provided to students as stipend by
44
RIDDER-SYMOENS 1978, 87-115, here 100-101. See also TRIO 1984.
45
See NORTH 1989 and SPUFFORD 1989, passim.
46
BROCKLISS 1978, 528-530.
47
EBNETH 1994, 209ff.
48
EBNETH 1994, 212. In the original:
Ausgab.
Von Nürnberg bis ghen Tubingen v[er]zert 1fl
Mehr ein tisch, das Ihar vmb dreissig guldenn bestandenn daran das halb bezalt 15fl
Mehr ein stuben das Ihar vmb 8 gulden, das halb Ihar vmb vier fl bestandenn 4 fl
Mehr vmb den Lexicon Iuris gebenn vngebundenn 14 batzen
Mehr denselbigen einzupinden 6 batzen
Mehr das halb Ihar dem schuester 10 batzen
Mehr dem schneider fur besserung meiner hosen, auch vonwegen eins neuens par strimpffs 2fl
Mehr vmb ein gelezene spitzhauben 8 batzen
Mehr vmb etlliche puchpapir 5 batzen
Mehr fur ein gutts dincken (Tinte, n.e.) zumachenn 1 batzen
Mehr fur licht zukauffenn 1 batzen
Summa alles miteinander 25 fl .
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