The Mensafreitisch allocation (MFTV) is intended to support students in need by providing a daily canteen credit to ease their studies and reduce expenses. With the Mensafreitisch card, students can eat for a reduced price for half a year in the canteens operated by the Studentenwerk in Hanover (not valid at MHH or TiHo canteens).
This semester’s grant is valid from 01 January to 30 June. You may have one meal per day, which you can also pack and take away.
The exact credit amount will be communicated by the Studentenwerk if you are approved. It will likely be between €2.50 and €3.00.
If a meal costs more than the daily credit, you must pay the difference yourself. Credit cannot be saved up.
We will walk you through it.
Please read the following information carefully before filling out the application or signing up for a personal appointment.
The Mensafreitisch allocation is a social benefit for students in need.
“In need” includes students with financial difficulties such as a low account balance, low income, debt, or essential expenses that cannot be covered.
Students with an income below the current maximum BAföG rate are also considered if they are in emergency situations or under difficult circumstances. Examples include refugee students, students with chronic illnesses, physical or mental impairments, single parents or pregnant students, students facing severe difficulties finding a job, job loss, students with relatives in need of care, or similar hardships.
Further requirements: you must be enrolled at Hochschule Hannover, earn less than the maximum BAföG rate as mentioned, and you must not have received a Mensafreitisch in the previous semester.
You can apply before each summer and winter semester.
Our process has been improved: you can now apply digitally by email, by post with printed documents, or via an in-person appointment from 01 November (00:00) to 30 November (23:59).
Choose your preferred application method and follow our step-by-step guide.
The application options should take no more than 30 to 60 minutes of your time.
Step: Read the information provided on this website carefully.
Step: Fill out the Mensafreitisch application (this document) and the privacy policy either digitally or by hand in printed form.
Step: Attach the relevant bank statements from the last 3 months for all accounts you use (including current accounts, savings accounts, PayPal accounts, credit cards, Revolut or fee-free accounts, stock or securities accounts, savings or fixed-term deposit accounts) and a photo or scan of your current student ID, either digitally or printed, to the documents from the previous step.
Important: The monthly expenses and income you state in the half-year Mensafreitisch application must be visible in your bank statements. For any amounts over €20 where the purpose is unclear, please add a brief explanation on the statement.
Step:
Digital option: Attach the documents from the previous steps to an email titled “MFTV_Name_Firstname_StudentID” and send to beratung@asta-hsh.de.
Postal option: Place the printed documents from the previous steps in a labeled envelope and submit them at the mailroom.
Postal address:
Referat Beratung
AStA der Hochschule Hannover
Ricklinger Stadtweg 120
Hochschule Hannover
Checklist:
Application deadline is 30 November (until 23:59).
We will discuss all applicants as a team and will get back to you by 10 December 2025 at the latest with either an approval or a rejection.
Please check your inbox from time to time, including the spam folder, so we can reach you if we have questions or if information is missing. Feel free to contact us if you do not receive feedback or if you have follow-up questions.
If approved, you will receive a letter or email from the Studentenwerk explaining the exact procedure. The Mensafreitisch card can then be collected at the main canteen for a €5.00 deposit.
For applicants who prefer to submit and discuss the application in person, or who for personal reasons would like support in a one-to-one conversation, we offer in-person or online appointments during the application period.
From 01 November to 30 November, we offer four appointment slots Monday to Friday that you can book:
16:30 to 17:00
17:00 to 17:30
17:30 to 18:00
18:00 to 18:30
Step: Read the information provided on this website carefully.
Step: To apply for one of the appointment slots above, email three proposed times to beratung@asta-hsh.de.
Example: 03 November 16:30 to 17:00, 13 November 18:00 to 18:30, 17 November 17:00 to 17:30
You will then receive a reply confirming your appointment, including which documents to bring and whether your appointment will be in person or online.
Step: Print the relevant bank statements from the last 3 months for all accounts you use (including current accounts, savings accounts, PayPal accounts, credit cards, Revolut or fee-free accounts, stock or securities accounts, savings or fixed-term deposit accounts) and bring them to the appointment.
Important: The monthly expenses and income you state must be visible in your bank statements. Also remember to bring your valid student ID.
Step: The Mensafreitisch application (this document) and the privacy policy will be provided by us in printed form during the appointment and filled out together.
Application deadline is 30 November (until 23:59).
Next steps:
We will discuss all applicants as a team and will get back to you by 10 December 2025 at the latest with either an approval or a rejection. Please check your inbox from time to time, including the spam folder, so we can reach you if we have questions or if information is missing. Feel free to contact us if you do not receive feedback or if you have follow-up questions.
If approved, you will receive a letter or email from the Studentenwerk explaining the exact procedure. The Mensafreitisch card can then be collected at the main canteen for a €5.00 deposit.
If we have questions or if information is missing, for example due to unclear bank statements, we will contact you by email and may ask you to attend a substitute appointment in person.
If you have questions or need more information, please email beratung@asta-hsh.de.
Good luck with your application.
Here you can find the Mensafreitisch application for the WiSe 25/26 semester and the privacy policy as PDFs to download:
