The Psychological Counselling Service (PBS) is an important point of contact for students experiencing academic and personal challenges. Demand remained consistently high in 2025: 907 students made use of the service (2024: 859 students), while the number of counselling hours provided increased slightly to 2,392 (2024: 2,324 hours). The most common reasons for seeking counselling were stress, depressive symptoms, and anxiety. Issues relating to self-esteem and difficulties with study organization were also frequently discussed.
Despite the sustained high demand, the average waiting time for an initial appointment was reduced to 59.7 days (2024: 63.3 days). In addition to individual counselling, the PBS offered lectures and workshops in cooperation with universities and higher education institutions on study-related challenges, including examination management and coping with exam anxiety.
Through partner counselling centres, 103 students received support in a total of 223 counselling hours.
The Studierendenwerk’s legal counselling service was in greater demand in 2025 than in the previous year. Legal adviser Sabine Gehweiler conducted 500 consultations with 426 students (2024: 487 consultations). Around one fifth of all consultations were held in English, serving the needs of international students.
Most students seeking advice (349 individuals) came from Tübingen. A significant increase was recorded at the Hohenheim campus, where 75 consultations were provided (2024: 49 consultations). Overall, the legal counselling service reached students at all higher education institutions within the Studierendenwerk’s area of responsibility.
Appointments continued to be divided evenly between in-person and telephone consultations.
Head of Legal Counselling
“In 2025, tenancy law remained the central focus of our legal counselling services. At the same time, enquiries regarding student financial aid increased significantly. Another notable development was the growing diversity of issues raised, including employment law, contract law, and residence law. This highlights both the wide range of circumstances students face and the breadth of support they require in their daily academic lives.”
The Studierendenwerk’s childcare centres support students in balancing family life and academic studies. In 2025, an average of 68 children were cared for at the Tübingen and Hohenheim locations (2024: 70 children), including 27 children under the age of three and 41 children aged three and above.
Maintaining the childcare services remained challenging, particularly in Tübingen due to a strained staffing situation. Thanks to the commitment of the employees, however, reliable operation could be maintained throughout the year. In Hohenheim, the staffing situation improved significantly, which had a positive impact on childcare hours and service availability.
The childcare centres were financed through municipal subsidies amounting to €1.139 million, parental contributions of €209,000, and €771,000 from the Studierendenwerk’s own funds. These resources were invested, among other things, in a range of safety measures, including the installation of a security fence at the Tübingen location.
The Studierendenwerk provides insurance coverage for students on their way to and from their higher education institution, as well as while they are on university premises and in facilities operated by the Studierendenwerk. In 2025, a total of 111 accidents were recorded under the statutory accident insurance scheme (2024: 95 accidents), representing a moderate increase in reported claims.
By contrast, the number of claims under the supplementary insurance policies remained low. One claim was reported under the household contents insurance policy and one under the cloakroom and bicycle insurance policy.
