“Strengthening the Social Foundation of the Higher Education System”: Demands of the Student Services Organisations
- General Assembly of the Student Services Organisations (DSW) on 3 December 2025 in Berlin
- Canteens and cafeterias: Four billion euros in federal/state funding needed for modernisation and renovation
- Student housing: Federal funds for the federal/state programme “Young Living” to be doubled no later than 2027; strong implementation by the federal states required
- Heating transition: Cumulative state funding required
- EU building directive must be implemented practicably, with grant funding
- Binding standards for the “Building Type E” must be regulated swiftly
- Community-oriented land policy: Municipal plots for Student Services Organisations
Berlin, 4 December 2025. The 57 Student Services Organisations organised within the German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW) are calling on the federal and state governments to launch a determined modernisation and renovation initiative for the social infrastructure of the German higher education system. At their 87th General Assembly on 3 December 2025, around 100 delegates from the 57 organisations adopted a joint political catalogue of demands titled “Strengthening the Social Foundation of the Higher Education System.” They emphasise that the renovation backlog accumulated over decades affects all university buildings—lecture halls, laboratories and libraries, as well as the canteens, cafeterias and student residences operated by the organisations.
Excerpts from the catalogue of demands:
- Federal contributions for the “Young Living” programme should be doubled by 2027 at the latest. All federal states are urged to implement the programme vigorously so that the funds reach local levels.
- To advance the heating transition in the approx. 1,700 student residences, the federal government should support non-profit providers such as the Student Services Organisations through increased funding. Sufficient cumulative state support is required for heating replacement and energy-efficient renovation, as the organisations cannot finance the necessary investments from their own resources.
- The transposition of the EU building directive into national law must be practical and include grant support for public, community-oriented providers like the Student Services Organisations to achieve climate goals.
- The legal framework for “Building Type E” should be finalised swiftly at the federal level to allow simple and cost-effective construction.
- Federal states and municipalities should provide inexpensive plots—preferably on a leasehold basis and close to campus—to the Student Services Organisations as part of a community-oriented land policy. Without affordable land, many organisations cannot build.
- The organisations estimate the renovation needs of their canteens and cafeterias at around four billion euros. Rapid clarification is needed on which funds can be provided from state-level special assets for infrastructure and climate neutrality as well as from the federal government’s quick-build initiative. States should quickly develop joint timetables for new construction, modernisation and renovation with the Student Services Organisations.
Resolution “Finally Modernise and Renovate the Infrastructure: Strengthening the Social Foundation of the Higher Education System” for download:
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Higher State Subsidies for the Student Services Organisations
- General Assembly of the German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW)
- Organisations call on federal states to increase subsidies/financial support to offset inflation and rising costs
- Without additional state funds, higher meal prices, rents and social contributions threaten—at the expense of students
- Additional funding for psychosocial counselling demanded
Berlin, 4 December 2025. The 57 Student Services Organisations within the DSW call on the federal states to increase their subsidies. The aim is to offset the effects of inflation and rising prices so that these costs do not have to be passed on to students through higher cafeteria prices, higher residence rents or increased semester contributions. The delegates adopted the resolution “Strengthening the Student Services Organisations, Supporting Students, Realising Equal Opportunities.”
The resolution states: “Through their services, the Student Services Organisations enable education, participation and equal opportunities. They are the social foundation of the German higher education system. This foundation is at risk of crumbling if the federal states do not increase financial support.”
Unlike universities, state subsidies make up only a small portion of their budgets. Most funding derives from students themselves—via revenues from canteens and cafeterias, rents in student residences, and student contributions. State funding has barely increased in nominal terms despite rising costs.
The weaker the state support, the stronger the organisations must rely on raising prices. This disproportionately affects students, whose financial situation is already precarious. According to the Federal Statistical Office, 50 percent of students have less than 930 euros per month and live under precarious conditions.
DSW President Prof. Dr. Beate A. Schücking states: “Without additional support from the federal states, equal opportunities and the statutory basic services provided by the Student Services Organisations are at risk. More public funding is essential to maintain affordable services across all university locations.”
An additional focus is psychosocial support: demand for counselling has grown significantly, and states must provide more resources for maintaining and improving these services.
Resolution “Strengthening the Student Services Organisations, Supporting Students, Realising Equal Opportunities” for download:
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Higher, Simpler, More Digital: The BAföG Reform Agenda
- General Assembly of all 57 Student Services Organisations in Berlin
- Reform agenda based on more than 50 years of BAföG experience
- Raise BAföG basic needs rate to the level of basic social security by winter semester 2026/27
- Dynamise needs rates, allowances and housing cost lump sums
- Simplify BAföG: eliminate performance verification after 4th semester, extend approval period
- Nationwide digitalisation of all BAföG processes: e-file, e-notice, e-communication
- Information campaign via a BAföG bot
- Strengthen BAföG offices through state support
Berlin, 4 December 2025. At the General Assembly, the Student Services Organisations adopted a comprehensive BAföG reform agenda. Based on decades of implementation experience, they call on the federal government to raise the BAföG basic needs rate to the level of basic social security by winter semester 2026/27. Needs rates and allowances should be dynamised, and the housing cost lump sum should be raised swiftly to match the Düsseldorf Table.
The organisations strongly advocate for simplification: data already available at public authorities should not need to be resubmitted; the approval period should be extended to three or four semesters; and performance records after the 4th semester should be abolished. All BAföG processes must be digitised uniformly across Germany.
Because more than half of eligible students do not apply for BAföG, the organisations support the Ministry’s plan to use an AI-based BAföG bot to address information gaps.
The BAföG offices perform a sovereign duty but lack the staff and resources needed to meet growing demands. States must provide better support.
BAföG reform agenda “Higher, Simpler, Faster – DSW Proposals for BAföG Reform” for download:
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Social Infrastructure is Key to Successful Internationalisation
- Student Services Organisations call for expansion of housing, counselling and support for international students
- Residence tutor programmes play关键 role in integration
Berlin, 4 December 2025. The 57 Student Services Organisations call on federal and state governments to provide reliable funding for the internationalisation of higher education. While countries such as the USA, UK, Canada and the Netherlands consider restricting international enrolments, Germany’s numbers continue to rise: in winter semester 2024/25, the number of international students surpassed 400,000 for the first time.
If around 40 percent of international first-year students remain in Germany long term, they contribute roughly 15.5 billion euros to public budgets. Successful integration and everyday support are fundamental to this success.
Student Services Organisations currently provide 45 percent of their nearly 200,000 residence places to international students—many of whom would have no chance on the private housing market. Tutor programmes within the residences help students integrate socially and academically, prevent isolation and facilitate access to local networks. Psychological and social counselling services are also in high demand.
The organisations call for strengthening social infrastructure through continued implementation of “Young Living,” state funding for tutor programmes, expansion of counselling services, and regional strategies developed with universities and municipalities.
They also demand unbureaucratic solutions regarding registration law and broadcasting fee exemptions, as well as better information for students before arrival—especially the key information that a university place does not automatically include a residence place.
Resolution “Successful Internationalisation Requires Stronger Social Infrastructure” for download:
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Germany Semester Ticket for Students: Decouple the Price from the Regular Germany Ticket
General Assembly of the 57 Student Services Organisations on 3 December 2025 in Berlin
Berlin, 4 December 2025. The Student Services Organisations call on the federal and state transport authorities to ensure that future price increases of the Germany Ticket are not automatically passed on to students. The price of the semester ticket must be decoupled from the regular price.
- Transport ministers should not automatically apply future price increases to the student tariff.
- A fixed maximum price for the Germany Semester Ticket is necessary.
The Germany Ticket will increase to 63 euros per month in 2026. For students, the price will rise to 37.80 euros per month (226.80 euros per semester). From 2027 onwards, pricing is to follow a new cost index reflecting energy and personnel costs. This automatic linkage places a heavy burden on students.
The Student Services Organisations demand that this automatic mechanism be suspended due to students’ precarious financial situation.
Resolution “Stable Prices, Affordable Tickets” for download:
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