Organisation
Organs
The organs of the Studierendenwerk Stuttgart are the Representatives' Meeting (Vertretungsversammlung), the Governing Board (Verwaltungsrat) and the Managing Director, who, since first of September 20202, is Marco Abe. Elected students can influence our work and represent the interests of the student body through the Representatives' Meeting and the Governing Board. If you are interested in this honorary office, please contact us!
Financing
We finance ourselves primarily from our own income - usually almost three quarters and during the Corona pandemic still around 60 percent. Other important sources are student fees at just under 20 per cent and state financial aid at around 8 per cent.
Studierendenwerk Stuttgart is a social, non-profit organisation. We strive to make our prices for rent, food and childcare as socially acceptable as possible for students. Unfortunately, due to current price increases and inflation, we are forced to pass on the costs. An increase in student semester fees is also necessary.
STUDIERENDENWERK FEE
What does the Studierendenwerk fee consist of?
Before we go into the actual Studierendenwerk fee, we would like to break down how the semester fee is made up, which you as a student pay each semester as a total amount to your college or university:
- 70,00 Euro administrative fee of the college/university
- 11,16 Euro (average value) Contribution to the "Verfasste Studierendenschaft
- 74,00 Euro Contribution to the Studierendenwerk Stuttgart
- 48,20 Euro contribution to the VVS-Studi-Ticket
The contribution that your college/university reports as the Studierendenwerk fee (currently 122.20 euros) is made up of two components: the actual Studierendenwerk fee, currently 74 euros, which is available for our work. In addition, there is the solidarity contribution for the VVS student ticket for the use of public transportation in the evenings and on weekends. We pass this share directly on to the respective transport association and have no influence on its amount.
To the composition for the Horb campus.
Why do students have to pay a Studierendenwerk fee?
This student contribution is a solidarity contribution. Each student pays it per semester and thus contributes to the basic financing. This also applies if you do not want to or cannot use the services of the Studierendenwerk (e.g. during a semester abroad). Only through joint financing is it possible, for example, to keep the price of meals in the canteens or daycare fees affordable and to ensure that all of our counselling services are free of charge. In this way, every student contributes to social equality and equal opportunities in their studies. Our services are open to all students and shoud be are affordable for everyone due to our non-profit orientation.
Fee increase for the summer semester 2023 - why is it necessary?
In the summer semester of 2023, the Studierendenwerk fee will be raised by 12.50 euros - to 86.50 euros in the future. We explain here why this measure is necessary:
The massive price increases - especially in the energy sector and in food - also have a serious impact on Studierendenwerk Stuttgart. They hit the areas of housing and gastronomy with full force. For external heating, electricity and gas alone, we expect additional annual costs of 1.8 million euros (as of the beginning of July 2022). The cost of goods, especially in university catering, will increase by 1.2 million euros per year. Additional costs of currently 3 million euros. A situation that presents us with challenges.
We have taken a close look at the economic situation of the Studierendenwerk and examined ways of coping with the price increases. On the cost side, we have pulled out all the stops to absorb the additional costs. However, the price increases cannot be fully covered by savings.
Since the state of Baden-Württemberg is also unable to provide any additional financial support at present, we have had to adjust the prices we offer for housing, canteens and daycare centers. However, in order to fully cover the additional costs, it is also necessary to adjust the student union fee for the summer semester of 2023.
When and by whom was the fee increase decided?
The Studierendenwerk fee is set by the Verwaltungsrat (Governing Board) - which is made up of elected representatives of the universities, students and external experts - based on a proposal by the management.
At the Governing Board meeting in July 2022, the economic situation of the Studierendenwerk was explained and how inflation as well as enormous price increases in the food and energy sector affect our services. A contribution increase of 25 euros would be necessary to cover only the additional costs incurred. The Governing Board voted to reduce this amount by making further savings and price adjustments in the service areas.
The decision was initially postponed in order to prepare alternative courses of action. After intensive discussion, a decision was made at a special meeting of the Governing Board on September 27 to adjust the Studierendenwerk fee by only 12.50 euros for the summer semester of 2023.
A refund of the contribution is only possible in two cases:
In the case of early exmatriculation or pro rata in the case of severe disability. Important: There are certain requirements and deadlines to be observed, which you can find in our contribution regulations (see below).