Seezeit intends to extend its canteen meal support scheme, known as the Freitisch, to all the university locations it serves. The student services organisation announced the extension on 30 September 2026. The grant is intended for students experiencing financial difficulties.
For the 2025/26 winter semester, the announcement records 122 approved applications and more than €4,700 spent on meals. Those figures concern the previous winter semester; they are not a report on the current one.
Check the conditions and enquire in good time
The financial assistance page specifies up to €100 in credit on a canteen card. The scheme is intended for enrolled students at partner institutions who need financial support and do not receive other benefits such as BAföG. The social advice service assesses applicants’ circumstances using bank records from the previous three months. Applications are possible during the first two weeks of each month. Support is limited to two consecutive months per semester and depends on funds being available.
Initial enquiries can be sent to sozialberatung@seezeit.com. Seezeit’s social advice service is free and confidential. It also advises on other funding questions, working alongside a degree and studying with children. Video appointments are available by arrangement. Its Konstanz office is in university building K, level 3, room K312. Students facing several financial difficulties at once can discuss them together in the same appointment.
Where the funding comes from
The organisation’s donations page lists the Universitätsgesellschaft Konstanz among the scheme’s long-standing supporters. Revenue from the jobs board also contributes to student assistance programmes. At the university, students can make a small donation with their canteen card at the terminal on level K5. An everyday campus facility can therefore also become a place where students support one another.
Another source of funding is the collection of returnable bottles. In an announcement dated 1 December 2025, Seezeit described the earlier pilot at the HTWG canteen: more than 3,500 bottles had generated around €280. The collection was then announced for further locations. These historical figures describe the pilot project and should not be read as the current donation total.
What this means for your own planning
The limited duration makes the Freitisch a way to address a specific financial squeeze. When planning your budget, it therefore makes sense to consider at the same time how expenses will be covered in the following months. Anyone who needs support should read the conditions and make initial contact early. Advice can also be helpful when you are still unsure which scheme fits your circumstances. There is no need to arrive at the first enquiry with a fully worked-out funding plan.