Here you’ll find an overview of the most frequently asked questions about dining at the Studierendenwerke. We’ve compiled the most important information to answer your questions on the following topics:
Cafeteria Card
General Information
In all of the Studierendenwerk’s dining halls and cafeterias, payments are made exclusively by chip card — cash payments are not accepted at our registers. It doesn’t matter where you study or whether you received your card from the university, college, or directly from the Studierendenwerk.
Important: The payment feature only works within a specific region. This means, for example, that you cannot use a card issued in Nuremberg to make payments in the Upper Franconia region.
You can top off your balance at a top-up station or check your current balance at any time. You’ll find these machines in all of the Studierendenwerk’s dining halls and cafeterias. (Insert a link to the top-up station/vending machine map, if applicable)
You can get guest cards for a 4-euro deposit at special guest card machines, and in some cases also at the cash desks or at the cash office. Returning the card is very easy: you can do so at the guest card machine, in the Frischraum, or directly at the ticket office—where you’ll also get your deposit back.
To ensure your card works for a long time, you should take good care of it:
- It is best to store it in a sturdy plastic case
- Do not bend or allow to warp permanently
- Protect against high temperatures and electromagnetic fields
- Avoid liquids and dirt as much as possible
If you do not use a guest card, you can only have your card balance refunded at the cashier’s office of the cafeteria administration in Bayreuth. Cashier’s office hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
If you lose a guest card, any remaining balance cannot be refunded. If you return a guest card, you will receive your deposit and any remaining balance in cash —the card will then be retained and can be reused.
To unblock a blocked card, please contact the university administration as well. If necessary, you will receive a new card there. You will also receive a form that you can take to the card and cashier’s office—where the remaining balance will be transferred to the new card.
If your card has been blocked due to an outstanding balance, you must pay the outstanding amount in cash at the cashier’s office or to a cashier so that it can be reactivated.
With the Autoload feature, you can have your payment card automatically reloaded at any checkout. For more information, visit the following link: https://swo.bayern/mensakarte/
A dish is awarded the KlimaTeller if it produces at least 50% fewerCO2eemissions than a comparable dish.
This method takes into account theCO2e emissionsof all the ingredients on the plate that are generated during their production—from the field to the kitchen.
The KlimaTeller allows students, staff, and guests to specifically choose their meals based on their climate-friendliness, thereby making it easier to eat in a more climate-friendly way in the cafeteria. In addition, it provides information on the connection between diet and climate, so that cafeteria guests can apply this knowledge in their own kitchens. The KlimaTeller can be identified on the menu by the KlimaTeller logo.
A cafeteria patron who chooses the recommended meal every day will benefit from a thoroughly healthy and balanced diet by the end of the week—fully in line with the recommendations of the German Nutrition Society (DGE). Here at SWO, we collaborate with the AOK health insurance provider, which advises us with its expertise in the field of health. The recommended meals are clearly marked with the AOK symbol.
Reusable cups and Rebowls
The Studierendenwerk Oberfranken has long been committed to reusable items
Since 2023, restaurants, bistros, and cafes that sell takeout food have been required to offer their products in both disposable and reusable packaging.
The Studierendenwerk Oberfranken, a pioneer in this field, has been using reusable containers in its dining facilities since 2019.
The transition began at the Bayreuth location with reusable coffee cups, which the SWO uses to offer takeout coffee. As part of this change, return stations had to be set up, and a designated area had to be created where the cups could be washed. These were the biggest cost factors in the switch to reusable cups. Environmental protection comes at a cost, so the SWO was happy to absorb these expenses.
In 2024, the Coburg location also introduced the reusable cup system.
In addition, meals are now also offered in reusable containers.
The Rebowl system was introduced when the coronavirus pandemic began. Even during these difficult times, the SWO wanted to fulfill its mission to provide services and continue offering meals to students.
Since the pandemic, takeout using Rebowl containers has become the norm. The bowls, which are issued for a deposit of about €5, can simply be returned at the SWO cash registers. No vending machines are required for this.