Miscellaneous
NRW Studierendenwerke publish business report 2015
Studierendenwerk Aachen shows good results
The twelve Studentenwerke in NRW have published their business reports of 2015 and give detailed information about the social infrastructure they provide for the universities in NRW. The reports deal with the topics dining, housing, finances and childcare. They show that the Studierendenwerke fulfil their tasks and meet the requirements with creativity and flexibility.
The NRW government is aware of the increasing importance of the services provided. “The social environment and financial support are very important for successful studies. Therefore, we need the Studierendenwerke as smart, experienced and strong service providers”, said Svenja Schulze, NRW Minister for Science.
Studying in Aachen is affordable
In 2015, almost 10 percent of 581 000 students in 70 university cities in NRW studied in Aachen. Studierendenwerk Aachen, responsible for university dining, housing, finances and childcare, performs well relative to the other NRW Studierendenwerke: The average rent in a residence hall in Aachen is once again the lowest of all twelve Studierendenwerke. Also the social contribution fee of €68 is one of the cheapest. In Bonn, for example, every student pays a semester fee of €87, in Bochum of €105.
The services in Detail:
University Dining
In 2015, more customers ate in the dining halls of Studierendenwerk Aachen: 2,41 million meals were sold, in the previous year the number was 2.06 million. Students paid between €1.50 and €6.50 for a subsidized meal in the dining halls and cafeterias in NRW. The most expensive subsidized meal in the Aachen dining halls costs €3.90.
Student Housing
Last year, round about seven percent of all students in NRW lived in a residence hall provided by a Studierendenwerk. Out of 52 000 residence hall places in total, there were almost 4800 places in Aachen and Jülich. Eight percent of the students in Aachen and Jülich lived in a residence hall and the rent including utilities amounted to averagely €198. Again, Studierendenwerk Aachen had the cheapest rent in NRW: €46 less, approximately 19 percent, than the NRW average. As in all Studierendenwerke in NRW, the occupancy was close to 100 percent in Aachen.
In August of 2015, the construction of the „KaWo 3“ residence hall started. It is the biggest construction project initiated by Studierendenwerk Aachen in 20 years. 344 apartments are currently being built on an area of 12 000 square meters. Probably in the middle of 2017 the first students will move in.
Student finances
Last year, every sixth student in NRW received BAföG. In total, about 95 000 students received an average loan of €434 per month. In Aachen, also every sixth student was supported by BAföG. The average loan rate was €453.
There were 8 846 students in total who received BAföG, approximately 15.27 percent. In 2014, 15.54 percent of Aachen students were supported.
In the autumn of 2016 the loan rates are going to rise. “For students who do not live with their parents the maximum rate is going to increase by more than 9.7 percent, from currently €670 to €735 per month. Also the income allowance is going to increase by seven percent. The application numbers will probably rise by ten percent in the autumn”, says Helga Fels of Arbeitsgemeinschft der Studierendenwerke NRW. There will probably be 110 000 more students receiving BAföG in Germany.
Childcare
In 2015, the Studierendenwerke in NRW ran 30 childcare centers in 16 university cities and provided 1 500 places in total. Studierendenwerk Aachen provides 154 childcare places in five childcare centers.
The full report can be found on