The social contribution is a solidary contribution which has to be paid by every student for every semester to the universities.

It is used for financing all services of the Studentenwerk which you can find on this homepage, e.g. for building new halls of residence, for financing our refectory services, for our legal advice service (free of charge), for our psychotherapeutic counselling service (free of charge) and many more. You can get more information on further services offered on this website through "services".

The German Studentenwerke are public bodies (AöR), which means that they are non-profit service and economic institutions. They are aimed at promoting students socially, economically and culturally.

To be able to do this they need money. The social contributions of students amount to about 12 per cent of the money needed. The larger part, almost 60 per cent, is raised by the Studentenwerke themselves (figures: 2003). Find out more about the social contribution here.

We serve more than 30,000 students of all universities in Karlsruhe and Pforzheim.

In BAföG issues we additionally serve further universities. If you would like to know whether we serve your university, just click "I’m studying at" on the left. You will then get a list of all universities served by us. When you click your university you will see the services offered.

You need to fill in an application form for either Karlsruhe or Pforzheim. You can find the form under “accommodation” (click here) or get it in our department of accommodation affairs (Adenauerring 7, rooms Z06 and Z06, Karlsruhe).

Six months before the date you would like to move in at the earliest because the application is valid six months after it reached the Studentenwerk. You can file an application or move into a room all throughout the year.

It is not easy to give an answer to this question. You will have better chances if you are flexible concerning the different halls of residence. It is also of advantage if you are flexible concerning the date you would like to move in as at the beginning of the semesters there is always a lack of rooms. Best chances are in August or in February/March.

Our private accommodation service (free of charge) is located in the basement of the Studentenhaus (Adenauerring 7, Karlsruhe, Monday to Friday 7:00-17:00, Saturday 08:00-12:00). You can also visit this service here on the Internet (in German only).

Or just take a look in the local newspapers: "Badische Neueste Nachrichten", "Der Kurier", "Karlsruher Anzeiger", "SperrMüll".

Basically you can apply no earlier than six months before you would like to move in. During the semester or at the beginning of the summer semester you will have better chances than just before the beginning of the winter semester. We generally recommend a long-term application. In case of doubt just give us a call (0721 6909-192).

No. We do not use genetically modified products because we are critical of genetic engineering and think of the current state of research as being insufficient.

You can write us an email to an verpflegung@studentenwerk-karlsruhe.de or contact Nicole WElz / Thomas Mosthaf (0721/6909-115).
You can also give us a written feedback. Every refectory has feedback forms and a customer complaint/suggestion box.

Yes. All our refectories offer at least one vegetarian meal. For detailed information please take a look at our menus under „catering“.

Yes, if the schedule permits it. Student cultural groups, other recognized student groups and university institutions have priority.

We offer a Kindergarten on Adlerstraße for children between the ages of one and six and a day care facility for children between the ages of three and six on Hertzstraße.

When you cannot make use of our services (any more), e. g. when you quit university or spend time abroad. We will refund the social contribution until maximum 40 days after the semester has started.

Students of all faculties, men and women, irrespective of their age.

Basically with all kind of problems. If a matter is conceived as a problem this alone is a reason for doing something about it. If your own resources are not sufficient it is just sensible to look for help. Lack of self-confidence, having no partner, having difficulties with the partner, depression, difficulties with your family, friends, professors, etc., addictions, lover’s grief, fears, panic … there’s a long list. As already said: if something becomes a problem, the PBS will try to help you, irrespective of how small and trivial your problem seems to be compared to the problems of others. Our experience has shown that students’ problems differ in many respects to every-day problems.

Around 1000 students on average.

Psychological counselling is free of charge as the PBS is largely financed through social contributions.

The PBS serves Karlsruhe University, the University of Education, the Universities of Applied Sciences (Karlsruhe and Pforzheim), the University of Design and the University of Music.

As counselling service the PBS can adapt psychological and therapeutical methods to the wishes of the clients. Our staff is trained in different therapeutical fields: client-centred therapy (conversation therapy), behaviour therapy, psychodrama, creative therapy, hypnotherapy.

Usually a conversation takes 45-50 minutes. Groups and conversations for couples and families take 11/1 to 2 hours. Under special circumstances and if desired the sessions might take longer; this will be arranged between you and our staff.

There are always alternatives. There are several counselling institutions and psychotherapists in Karlsruhe. The PBS, though, is adapted to the needs of students, is free of charge and, in contrast to other psychotherapists, there is no waiting time. The PBS gives you the opportunity to learn more about other counselling institutions, therapy offers, etc.

Currently the PBS team consists of two men and four women. We will be happy to meet your wishes.

The PBS practices absolute data protection as psychologists are bound to professional discretion. Personal information is not given out to third parties – not even to relatives. All information is secured and locked. Only you can release us from professional discretion if necessary. There are, however, cases where psychologists have to abandon professional discretion. In case of acute danger for your own life or the life of someone else or if they have to appear in court – psychologists do not have the right to refuse to give evidence.

This question needs a longer discussion. In short: counselling does not last as long as a therapy, is more based on problems and actions and your own initiative is required. Counselling and therapy basically differ more in form than in content.

This depends on your concerns. During the first session we will find out which possibilities you have. Usually there will be one appointment per week, the number of sessions varies.

Of course, if that is possible. Many people use their social contacts very effectively when it comes to problem solving. Only if these resources are not sufficient (or are not there at all) counselling becomes necessary.