In the small spa town of Bad Meinberg in North Rhine-Westphalia, the people sitting in the seminar room sport fewer piercings and low-cut jeans than you'd see in a normal university classroom. In fact, many of these people have grey hair and tend toward wearing sensible shoes.

They've come to the European Center for University Studies for Seniors (EZUS) to pursue a college degree, even though this time it's not going to prepare them for a career. That stage of their lives is already behind them. Instead, it allows people who might have missed out on getting a degree but are still intellectually curious enough to pursue studies, and perhaps find a pastime or even vocation to pursue in the autumn of life.

"This group is getting larger and larger and we have to use their potential," Paul Wolters, EZUS director, told the dpa news agency, referring to the phenomenon of lower birth rates and increased longevity which is leading to a sharp increase in the number of seniors in Germany. "The participation of older people in the society is becoming more important."

At the outset, the school's students -- 25 have signed up for the first class -- can pursue a general studies degree, which includes areas such as theology, history, social studies, economics, political science, natural sciences, art and music. The course of studies lasts two years, costing 400 euros ($510) per trimester. Students have classroom time two days a week and are expected to display a fair amount of individual initiative.

Sauna just down the hall

Although there aren't any fraternity houses around and keg parties are likely rare, the senior students will still find plenty to occupy themselves when they're not hitting the books.

The school has chosen Bad Meinberg as a location because it wanted to give students a possibility to use the facilities of the local spa. In fact, the Jacuzzi is just steps away from the seminar room, since the classes take place in one of the spa building's wings.

While seniors have long had the chance to audit classes in regular German universities, they haven't always felt welcome. "In our center, we office systematic degree course that is designed specifically for this group," said Wolters.

At the end of the course of studies, students can receive a "university degree certificate," which isn't the same as a traditional university degree, but show that the individual has completed a continuing education program. Eligibility requirements are a minimum age of 50 and some kind of professional qualification.

Besides the general studies degree, there are plans to introduce a "senior consultant" study track, which would train seniors to offer their talents and experiences to companies as consultants, advising them, for example, how to make products more appropriate for people with reduced physical abilities. Another planned course is "citizens' involvement."