The student services organisations in Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania are leaving canteen prices for students unchanged for the 2026/2027 winter semester The institutions confirmed this to the NDR on 8 November 2026 and in their own statements. The locations affected are primarily Greifswald, Rostock and Wismar.
The Greifswald Student Services Organisation said that prices for students had not been raised recently. Adjustments in January 2026 applied exclusively to university staff and external guests. At the same time, the organisation has seen a noticeable increase in the number of meals served this year. The higher demand is supporting revenue and therefore easing short-term pressure on the calculations for student prices, the spokesperson said.
The Rostock-Wismar Student Services Organisation also confirmed that prices for students are currently stable. According to the organisation, some items are priced on the basis of the cost of ingredients plus a fixed mark-up. Staff, energy and procurement costs remain a risk for university catering, but no specific price increases for students are planned for the current semester.
The decision comes amid ongoing fluctuations in supply chains and energy costs. The State of Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania is simultaneously funding modernisation and new construction in university catering. These investments are intended to reduce operating costs over time and ensure that the service remains socially accessible. Student representatives have also long pointed to the difficult financial situation of many students; they therefore broadly welcome the pricing decision, though it remains provisional.
The stability now confirmed applies to the current 2026/2027 winter semester. Whether, and to what extent, prices will be adjusted afterwards depends, according to the student services organisations, on future cost trends and budget decisions at state and university level. The institutions made no statements on specific prices or developments in other federal states.
With this decision, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania follows a nationwide trend in which student services organisations are responding to rising costs differently from region to region. While some locations in Germany have recently made adjustments, Greifswald, Rostock and Wismar are opting for stable prices for students for the time being, supported by higher utilisation and ongoing efficiency measures.
Editor: Mira Cadena (Article created with AI assistance).