Studierendenwerk fee and catering prices to rise in summer semester 2025
Adjustment necessary to ensure the quality of services
Tübingen, 22.01.2025 – Following a decision by the Administrative Board, the Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim will increase the prices in university catering and the semester fee for the summer semester 2025. This is due to the sharp rise in energy, service, personnel and material costs, some of which have increased by over 30 % since 2019. Strategic procurement of goods and process optimisations are no longer sufficient to offset the additional costs. At the same time, subsidies from the state of Baden-Württemberg are stagnating, which is exacerbating the situation.
The moderate price increases in the refectories were not sufficient last year, which is why the Studierendenwerk now has to readjust with further measures to regulate costs. From 1 April 2025, we will again adjust the meal prices for students, university staff and external guests according to the table below. On average, meals will be around 25 cents more expensive from the coming summer semester.
The prices for snacks, cold drinks and smaller meals will also increase in the cafeterias. Care will be taken to ensure that the increase is as moderate as possible so that a cup of coffee or a sandwich will remain noticeably cheaper than from local suppliers.
The student union fee will be increased for the first time in the coming summer semester after several years of constant fees. This is the first increase since 2018, with the fee for students in Tübingen and Hohenheim rising from 56 euros to 79 euros – a figure that is still well below the national average of 86.15 euros compared to other student unions.
‘We know that these increases mean a considerable additional burden for students,’ explains Philipp Mang, press spokesperson for the Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim. ‘We weigh up every price increase carefully. Nevertheless, this measure is necessary in order to absorb the ongoing cost increases in many areas. This is the only way we can maintain the quality of our services for students in the long term and continue to offer affordable accommodation, reliable catering and free counselling services.’
Edith Hein, Managing Director of the Studierendenwerk, adds: ‘The fee and price increases are extremely difficult for us, but we see them as a necessary investment in the future comprehensive social support of our students. Our goal remains to offer students an environment that provides them with the best possible support for their studies.’
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What is the student union fee?
The student union fee is part of the semester fee that all students pay to their college or university each semester. This contribution is based on the principle of solidarity: all students pay it, regardless of whether they use the services offered by the Studierendenwerk – e.g. even during a semester abroad. Joint financing is the only way to ensure that, for example, meal prices in the canteens or childcare fees at daycare centres remain affordable and that all our counselling services are free of charge. Our services are open to all students and should be affordable for everyone.
Why are we increasing the student union fee and catering prices?
The main reasons are the massive increase in food, energy and service costs (e.g. for cleaning), the corona-related decline in sales in our refectories and cafeterias and the significant wage increases in the public sector. They are hitting the areas of housing and catering particularly hard.
We have analysed the economic situation of the Studierendenwerk in detail and investigated potential savings. Nevertheless, the increased costs cannot be fully offset. As the state of Baden-Württemberg is currently unable to provide any additional financial support, further measures to regulate costs were unavoidable.
The Stuwe is subsidised after all - how are the prices in the refectories calculated?
The Studierendenwerk receives state subsidies for its public mandate, but these only account for around 8% of total funding. Other public funds and subsidies account for around 12%. Semester fees cover around 13% of the funding. The remaining two thirds must be generated by the organisation’s own income. The Studierendenwerk operates on a non-profit basis and only covers its costs.
The regular subsidies from the state have not been increased since 2020, as these are usually set as part of a 5-year fixed sum. An adjustment was originally planned for 2025, but this is currently not possible due to the state’s tight budget situation. Although there was a one-off payment that cushions around 80% of the inflation-related additional costs for 2023, ongoing support remains at the 2020 level, which makes financing increasingly difficult.
The actual production costs for refectory lunches are higher than the prices paid by students. This causes an annual deficit of millions, which is why purchase prices, energy, personnel and subsidy costs are carefully weighed up in the calculation. One advantage for students is the VAT exemption, which means they pay lower prices. Income from university members and guests, on the other hand, is subject to 7% VAT. This saving is passed on directly to students through the price scale.
How much more expensive will the refectory meals actually be?
We have summarised the price changes for a large part of the meal plan below: