Studierendenwerk Kassel

What Studierendenwerk Kassel does

Studierendenwerk Kassel is a statutory public institution (Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts) under Hessian law, founded in 1971 and renamed to its current gender-inclusive form in 2017. Supervised by the Hessian Ministry of Science and Arts, the organization holds an exclusive mandate under the Hessian Student Services Act to deliver economic, social, health, and cultural support services to the approximately 21,000 students of the University of Kassel across two campuses (Holländischer Platz in Kassel and Witzenhausen).

Its core service portfolio spans five integrated lines: university gastronomy (10+ dining facilities including Zentralmensa, Moritz, multiple cafeterias and cafés, serving 867,000 meals in 2024); student housing (~1,100 places across 26 residence halls, including a dedicated International House); student financing (BAföG and AFBG administration processing 4,823 BAföG applications distributing ~28 million EUR in subsidies in 2024, plus KfW/Bildungskredit advisory and the Kassel Stipendium); childcare (HoPla-Kinderhaus and studykidscare with up to 96 places plus Flying Nannies referrals); and advisory services (2,520 social consultations, 2,108 psychological therapy interviews, 599 legal consultations in 2024). The technology stack is operationally focused rather than platform-centric: a CampusCard payment system with Autoload SEPA direct debit for cashless transactions, iFeedback (BHM Group) for service-quality feedback, Matomo for web analytics, and online portals for housing applications, damage reporting, and the private Wohnungsbörse housing exchange.

The business model is a hybrid of public financing and commercial operations. Total 2024 financing of approximately €11-15M is split 50.9% from commercial turnover (dining, housing, catering), 19.6% from mandatory student semester contributions (€106/student/semester), 11.8% from Hessian Ministry grants, 8.1% other subsidies, 6.5% BAföG/AFBG reimbursement, and 3.2% other income. Cafeteria sales alone reached €1,338,011.41 in 2024. The organization employs approximately 220 staff, is governed by an Administrative Board chaired by University of Kassel President Prof. Dr. Ute Clement, and is led by Managing Director (Geschäftsführerin) Christa Ambrosius. GTM is effectively non-existent in the commercial sense — all enrolled University of Kassel students are automatically eligible customers — so distribution is purely institutional and on-campus.

Name

Studierendenwerk Kassel

Legal name

Studierendenwerk Kassel Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts

Website

https://studierendenwerk-kassel.de

Company type

Private

Founded year

1971

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Studierendenwerk Kassel is a statutory Hessian public institution that delivers integrated student services — dining, housing, BAföG administration, childcare, and counseling — to ~21,000 University of Kassel students across two campuses, financed via a mix of commercial turnover, mandatory semester fees, and government grants.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Higher Education Student Services

NAICS

Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (721310), Educational Services (611), Other Schools and Instruction (6116)

SIC

Retail-Eating & Drinking Places (5810), Services-Educational Services (8200), Services-Child Day Care Services (8351)

akta.pro primary industry

Third-Party Food Service Management & Outsourcing (EDALADAM)

akta.pro secondary industries

Guest, Visitor & Conference Housing Services (Summer/Break Housing) (EDAEAFAN), Concessions (Athletics, Theaters, Venues) (EDALADAH), Institutional Catering (Schools, Hospitals, Government) (THAFAIAE), Nutrition, Dietary Management & Allergen/Accommodation Services (EDALADAJ)

Keywords

• Student dining services
• Student housing management
• Higher education support
• Student financial advisory
• Campus childcare services

Headquarters

HQ city

Kassel

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices5 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Others

Revenue model

1. University Catering and Housing (Commercial Operations): Revenue from operating dining halls, cafeterias, student housing, and campus catering services. Cafeteria sales reached 1,338,011.41 EUR in 2024. This represents the largest commercial revenue stream.
2. Student Semester Fees: Each student contributes 106 EUR per semester to finance the work of the Studierendenwerk. This constitutes approximately 19.6% of total financing. The amount is collected together with other semester contributions by the University of Kassel.
3. Government Grants: Grants from the Hessian Ministry of Science and the Arts (Hessisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst) represent approximately 11.8% of total financing. Additional subsidies and other grants account for approximately 8.1%. Expense reimbursements for implementing BAföG and AFBG represent approximately 6.5%.
4. BAföG/AFBG Administration: The organization administers BAföG (federal student aid) and AFBG (advanced training assistance) applications on behalf of the government. In 2024, 4,823 BAföG applications totaling approximately 28 million EUR in subsidies were processed. Additionally, 2,508 Aufstiegs-BAföG applications were supported with approximately 12 million EUR in grants.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels9 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Studierendenwerk Kassel operates university gastronomy (multiple Mensas and cafeterias serving ~867,000 meals annually), student housing (~1,100 places in 26 halls), BAföG/AFBG administration, childcare services (up to 96 children in two kindergartens plus flexible daycare), and free social, psychological, and legal counseling for the approximately 21,000 students of the University of Kassel. Services are funded through commercial revenues (50.9%), student semester fees (19.6%), and Hessian government grants (11.8%), and delivered across two campuses at Holländischer Platz (Kassel) and Witzenhausen.

Product overview

Studierendenwerk Kassel is a public law institution providing comprehensive student services in four main areas: University Gastronomy (Hochschulgastronomie) with 10+ dining facilities including Zentralmensa, Moritz, various cafeterias and cafes across multiple campuses; Student Housing (Studentisches Wohnen) with approximately 1,100 places in 26 residence halls; Student Financing (Studienfinanzierung) including BAföG administration, scholarships, and study loans; and Childcare services with kindergartens and flexible care options. The organization also provides counseling services (psychological, legal, social), CampusCard payment systems, Campus-Catering, iFeedback feedback management, and a housing exchange platform. It operates as a single unified service organization rather than a platform-plus-modules architecture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• University Gastronomy (Hochschulgastronomie)
• Student Housing (Studentisches Wohnen)
• Student Financing Advisory (Studienfinanzierung)
• Childcare (Kinderbetreuung)
• Counseling Services (Beratung)
• Campus-Catering
• Private Online Housing Exchange (Wohnungsbörse)
• Freitisch (Free Lunch Donation)

Quantifiable outcome

• 867,000 meals served annually; vegan meal priced at 2.80 EUR subsidized through student contributions
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles6 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration3 records

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• University of Kassel (Universität Kassel)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1971The Studierendenwerk Kassel exists exclusively to serve the University of Kassel's students and staff. This is a statutory partnership defined under the Hessian Student Services Act. The university's president (Prof. Dr. Ute Clement) serves as chairwoman of the Studierendenwerk's administrative board. The university provides the student population, campus facilities, and institutional framework, while the Studierendenwerk provides all mandated student services.
• Hessisches Ministerium für Wissenschaft und Kunst (Hessian Ministry of Science and the Arts)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Hessian Ministry of Science and Arts is the supervisory authority for all Hessian Studierendenwerke, including Kassel. The ministry provides operational grants (11.8% of Studierendenwerk's financing) and sets policy framework through the Hessian Student Services Act. A target and performance agreement (Ziel- und Leistungsvereinbarung) governs the relationship.
• University of Kassel - Family Welcome and Dual Career ServiceminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Family Welcome and Dual Career Service at the University of Kassel handles Flying Nannies and Babysitterpool childcare referrals for students and employees. Contact: +49 561-804 2813, [email protected]. The Studierendenwerk complements university childcare with its own facilities.
• KfW (KfW Bankengruppe)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Studierendenwerk advises students on KfW-Studienkredit (KfW student loan) as part of its student finance advisory services. This is a referral/informational partnership where the Studierendenwerk directs students to KfW products as one option among various financing instruments.
• Elterninitiative Nora e.V., Krabbelgruppe Kindernest, Elterninitiative Kleine Strolche e.V., Kinderladen Fontanestraße e.V., Montessori Kinderhaus WunderlandminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFive additional daycare/kindergarten centers in Kassel listed as 'More Daycares' in partnership with the Studierendenwerk's childcare information service. These are independent operators whose services are recommended to students through the Studierendenwerk's childcare portal. Each serves different age groups (12 months to 6 years) with varying capacities (8-60 children).

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Studierendenwerk Hamburg: Statutory student services organization for Hamburg's universities and HAW. Operates dining halls, student housing, BAföG administration, and advisory services under Hamburg's higher education law — structurally and operationally comparable despite different federal state framework.
• Studierendenwerk Darmstadt: Direct Hessian peer providing identical statutory student services (dining, housing, BAföG, childcare, advisory) at TU Darmstadt. Same legal framework (Hessian Student Services Act), same supervisory ministry — making it the closest organizational and operational comparable.
• Kölner Studierendenwerk: Public student services organization for University of Cologne and TH Köln, providing the same statutory service mix (Mensa, housing, BAföG, advisory, childcare) under NRW state framework. Comparable in structure and mission even if regional regulation differs.
• Studierendenwerk Bonn: NRW-based peer providing student services for University of Bonn and Hochschule Bonn-Rhein-Sieg. Direct comparable for dining, housing, BAföG, and advisory services under similar federal-state mandate, though the operating environment and student demographics differ.
• Studierendenwerk Frankfurt am Main: Another Hessian Studierendenwerk serving Goethe University Frankfurt and Frankfurt UAS. Operates under the same Hessian statutory framework with comparable service portfolio — dining halls, student housing, BAföG administration, and childcare — though at significantly larger scale.
• Studierendenwerk Gießen: Mid-sized Hessian Studierendenwerk serving Justus-Liebig-Universität Gießen and THM. Operates under identical legal framework, with comparable service lines including Mensa operations, student housing, BAföG administration, and psychological counseling.
• Studierendenwerk Marburg: Another Hessian Studierendenwerk providing student services for Philipps-Universität Marburg. Identical statutory framework, comparable service portfolio including dining, housing, childcare, and BAföG administration — making it a direct operational comparable.
• Studentenwerk München: Largest Bavarian student services organization providing the same multi-service portfolio (dining, ~12,000 housing places, BAföG, advisory, childcare) for Munich's universities. Strong direct peer given the structural similarity in mandate and service mix, though materially larger in scale.

Broad incumbents

• Sodexo (Campus segment): Global contract food services company that operates university dining in many markets. Comparable in the food services dimension, but operates under commercial contracts rather than statutory mandate, and does not provide BAföG, housing, or childcare — partial overlap in dining services only.
• Aramark (Education segment): Major international contract caterer with higher education dining operations. Comparable as a commercial food services operator in university settings, but lacks the statutory monopoly, BAföG administration, housing, and childcare services that make the Studierendenwerk a multi-service platform.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/studierendenwerkkassel
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/studierendenwerk-kassel

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles8 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Studierendenwerk Kassel