Studierendenwerk Freiburg
Studierendenwerk Freiburg-Schwarzwald is a Baden-Württemberg public law institution providing non-profit student services — dining, housing, financial aid counseling, childcare, and cultural programs — to roughly 45,000 students across ten partner universities in eight cities.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded-
- HeadquartersFreiburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Studierendenwerk Freiburg does
Studierendenwerk Freiburg-Schwarzwald (legal entity: Studierendenwerk Freiburg A. d. ö. R.) is a statutory public law institution (Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts) operating under the Studierendenwerksgesetz Baden-Württemberg and supervised by the Ministry for Science, Research and Art (MWK). It delivers non-profit student services to approximately 45,000 students enrolled at ten partner universities across eight cities in the Freiburg-Black Forest region: Albert-Ludwigs-Universität Freiburg, Pädagogische Hochschule Freiburg, Hochschule für Musik Freiburg, Evangelische Hochschule Freiburg, Katholische Hochschule Freiburg, Hochschule Offenburg, Hochschule für öffentliche Verwaltung Kehl, Hochschule Furtwangen, DHBW Villingen-Schwenningen, and DHBW Lörrach.
Its service portfolio spans four core pillars: (1) dining — 11 canteens and 9 cafeterias serving over 10,000 meals daily during lecture periods, with all canteens organically certified since 2021 and paid via the MensaCard chip system with Autoload top-up; (2) housing — student residences across all partner cities managed through the Wohnportal online platform, plus the 'Wohnen für Hilfe' program and a free housing market brokerage service; (3) advisory and welfare — BAföG financial aid counseling, psychotherapeutic counseling, social counseling for students with children/disabilities/international status, job placement, Kita childcare, and legal advice; and (4) international and cultural programming — the Internationaler Club, Buddy-Programm, Tandem language exchange, annual study trips to Beijing Institute of Technology, and cultural events including MONDO Musiktheater.
Revenue is non-commercial and assembled from student fees routed via partner universities, state subsidies from MWK, SemesterTicket pass-through (€98/semester for RVF public transport), tiered canteen pricing (€4.25 student / €5.95 employee / €8.95 guest), and subsidized dormitory rents. Distribution is exclusively direct through institutional channels — on-campus canteens, the Infoladen information center at Basler Straße 2 in Freiburg, the Serviceportal (swfr.de/login), and the Wohnportal — with no commercial intermediaries. The organization is led by Managing Director Clemens Metz (MBA, Dipl.-Betriebswirt DH), with no subsidiaries, acquisitions, or external investors.
Studierendenwerk Freiburg firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Studierendenwerk Freiburg
- Legal name
- Studierendenwerk Freiburg A. d. ö. R.
- Website
- https://swfr.de
- Company type
- Private
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Studierendenwerk Freiburg-Schwarzwald is a Baden-Württemberg public law institution providing non-profit student services — dining, housing, financial aid counseling, childcare, and cultural programs — to roughly 45,000 students across ten partner universities in eight cities.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Studierendenwerk Freiburg industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Student Support Services
- NAICS
- Rooming and Boarding Houses, Dormitories, and Workers' Camps (72131), Educational Support Services (6117)
- SIC
- Hotels, Rooming Houses, Camps & Other Lodging Places (7000), Services-Social Services (8300)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Student Residence Halls & Dormitory Management (On-/Near-Campus) (EDAIALAB)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- University Dorms & Affiliated Summer Housing (THAMAGAA), Traditional Dormitory Hostels (THAMAIAA), Student Housing Ancillary Services (Utilities Setup, Furnishings, Deposits/Guarantors, Cleaning) (EDAIALAJ)
Keywords
Where Studierendenwerk Freiburg is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Freiburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices3 records
Markets served
Studierendenwerk Freiburg business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Marketing or Sales, Others
Revenue model
- Student Fees and Institutional Funding: As an Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts (public law institution), Studierendenwerk Freiburg is funded primarily through student fees paid to partner universities, state subsidies, and service revenues from canteens, cafeterias, housing, and other student services. The organization does not operate on a commercial profit basis.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Student/Schüler meal price |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Employee meal price |
| Unit Pricing | Pay-as-you-go | Guest meal price |
| Subscription | Annual | Semester Ticket |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels5 records
Studierendenwerk Freiburg product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Studierendenwerk Freiburg is a public-law institution that provides subsidized student services to approximately 45,000 students at 10 partner universities across 8 cities in Baden-Württemberg. Its core offerings include 11 canteens and 9 cafeterias serving over 10,000 meals daily, student dormitories managed through an online Wohnportal, BAföG financial-aid advice, social and psychotherapeutic counseling, job placement, two Kitas (daycare centers), and an International Club with cultural and exchange programs. All services are delivered through directly operated physical facilities and an online Service Portal.
Product overview
Studierendenwerk Freiburg is a German student services organization (Anstalt des öffentlichen Rechts) serving approximately 45,000 students across 10 universities in the Freiburg-Black Forest region. The organization operates a comprehensive portfolio of student services centered around four core offerings: (1) Mensen und Cafeterien - dining services at 11 canteens and 9 cafeterias with the MensaCard chip card payment system and Autoload feature; (2) Wohnheime - student housing across multiple campuses managed through the Wohnportal online platform; (3) Beratungsleistungen - financial aid (BAföG), social counseling, psychotherapy, childcare (Kitas), and job placement services; and (4) Internationales und Kultur - international programs including the Internationaler Club, Buddy-Programm, Tandem-Programm, and cultural events. All services are accessible through a Serviceportal, with specialized portals for housing management.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Quantifiable outcome
- Over 10,000 meals prepared daily during lecture periods across 11 canteens and 9 cafeterias
- +1 more outcomes
Companies that use Studierendenwerk Freiburg
Customer profileNamed customers10 records
Segments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Studierendenwerk Freiburg technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Studierendenwerk Freiburg partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.
- Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT)coreSWFR maintains an international partnership with Beijing Institute of Technology (BIT) for mutual student exchange. BIT hosts a summer academy in Freiburg and SWFR organizes annual study trips to Beijing. Each year up to 15 students from each institution participate, engaging in language courses, cultural workshops, and excursions.
- Albert-Ludwigs-Universität FreiburgcorePrimary university partner; SWFR provides all statutory student services to enrolled students.
- Studierendenwerk KarlsruheminorCo-organizer of the Franco-German Songwriting Hip-Hop Workshop 'Grenzgänger' together with SWFR.
- CROUS Bourgogne-Franche-Comté (France)coreCo-organizer of Franco-German Friendship Meetings (e.g., 2024 in Dijon and Besançon) together with Studierendenwerke Freiburg, Mainz, and Chemnitz-Zwickau. Includes student workshops on communication, cultural visits, and exchange.
- German National Association for Student Services (DSW)coreSWFR participates in the annual Franco-German Photo Competition organized by DSW and its French counterpart CNOUS, with DFJW sponsorship.
- Eucor – The European CampusminorSWFR participates in events organized within the framework of Eucor – The European Campus, enabling students from Basel, Haute-Alsace, Freiburg, Strasbourg, and KIT to participate in cross-border programs.
- CROUS StrasbourgminorFrench partner institution for the Franco-German Grenzgänger songwriting workshop.
- Student Services Organizations (Studierendenwerke) of Mainz and Chemnitz-ZwickauminorCo-organizers with SWFR of the 2024 Franco-German Friendship Meeting in Dijon and Besançon, alongside CROUS Bourgogne-Franche-Comté.
- Centre de compétences transfrontalières NovaTris (UHA)minorCross-border competence center at Université de Haute-Alsace, co-organizer of the Grenzgänger workshop and the 'Stimmen gegen Rassismus' project (until 2022).
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves5 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Studierendenwerk Freiburg competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Studierendenwerk Konstanz (Seezeit): Statutory student services institution for HTWG Konstanz and the University of Konstanz, providing dining, housing, and student support under the same Studierendenwerksgesetz. Direct peer in mandate and operating model.
- Studierendenwerk Mannheim: Baden-Württemberg statutory peer serving the Hochschule Mannheim and Universität Mannheim with canteens, dormitories, and student advisory services. Closely comparable institutional structure and service portfolio.
- Studierendenwerk Heidelberg: Statutory student services institution serving the University of Heidelberg and PH Heidelberg, operating canteens, dormitories, and advisory services under the Baden-Württemberg Studierendenwerksgesetz. Closest peer in regional scope and institutional structure.
- Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim: Public-law student services organization serving the Universities of Tübingen and Hohenheim with the same statutory mandate, operating canteens, housing, and counseling services. Direct comparator under identical state legislation.
- Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe: Public-law student services organization serving universities in Karlsruhe, providing dining, housing, BAföG advisory, and cultural programs under the same Studierendenwerksgesetz framework. Direct peer in mandate, funding model, and service portfolio; also a co-organizer of the Grenzgänger Franco-German workshop with SWFR.
- Studierendenwerk München (Studentenwerk München): Largest Bavarian student services organization operating canteens, dormitories, childcare, and counseling across Munich's universities. Comparable public-law mandate; useful benchmark for scale and service breadth.
- Studierendenwerk Stuttgart: Baden-Württemberg peer providing canteens, dormitories, and student services to Stuttgart universities under the same public-law framework. Comparable scale and service mix, with shared state-level oversight.
- Studierendenwerk Mainz: Rhineland-Palatinate statutory peer providing student services in Mainz; co-organizes Franco-German Friendship Meetings with SWFR and CROUS Bourgogne-Franche-Comté. Comparable statutory structure and dining/housing service mix.
Regional players
- CROUS Strasbourg: French counterpart student services organization operating restaurants, housing, and student support across Strasbourg universities. Cross-border partner of SWFR on the Grenzgänger workshop; comparable mandate under the French CROUS network rather than the German Studierendenwerksgesetz.
Others
- Deutsches Studentenwerk (DSW): National umbrella association of all German Studierendenwerke, coordinating policy, advocacy, and cross-institutional programs (including the Franco-German Photo Competition in which SWFR participates). Comparable at the sectoral/association level rather than as a direct operator.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Studierendenwerk Freiburg social profiles
Digital presenceStudierendenwerk Freiburg compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance1 record
Studierendenwerk Freiburg financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Studierendenwerk Freiburg leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles7 records
Studierendenwerk Freiburg funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Studierendenwerk Freiburg M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Studierendenwerk Freiburg
What does Studierendenwerk Freiburg do?
Studierendenwerk Freiburg is a public-law institution that provides subsidized student services to approximately 45,000 students at 10 partner universities across 8 cities in Baden-Württemberg. Its core offerings include 11 canteens and 9 cafeterias serving over 10,000 meals daily, student dormitories managed through an online Wohnportal, BAföG financial-aid advice, social and psychotherapeutic counseling, job placement, two Kitas (daycare centers), and an International Club with cultural and exchange programs. All services are delivered through directly operated physical facilities and an online Service Portal.
Is Studierendenwerk Freiburg a public or private company?
Studierendenwerk Freiburg is a private company. It is classified as state government owned and is currently operating.
When was Studierendenwerk Freiburg founded?
Studierendenwerk Freiburg was founded in -1. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Studierendenwerk Freiburg based?
Studierendenwerk Freiburg is headquartered in Freiburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Studierendenwerk Freiburg make money?
One revenue line is on record: student Fees and Institutional Funding.
Who are Studierendenwerk Freiburg's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Studierendenwerk Konstanz (Seezeit), Studierendenwerk Mannheim, Studierendenwerk Heidelberg, Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim, Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe, Studierendenwerk München (Studentenwerk München), Studierendenwerk Stuttgart and Studierendenwerk Mainz. CROUS Strasbourg is listed as a regional player. Deutsches Studentenwerk (DSW) is listed as an others.
Does Studierendenwerk Freiburg have an API?
No public API is recorded for Studierendenwerk Freiburg.
What industry is Studierendenwerk Freiburg in?
Studierendenwerk Freiburg's product category is Student Support Services. Its primary akta.pro industry code is EDAIALAB, Student Residence Halls & Dormitory Management (On-/Near-Campus), with a secondary code of THAMAGAA, University Dorms & Affiliated Summer Housing. Its NAICS code is 72131 and its SIC code is 7000.