Lower Saxony revives €2.50 student meals amid budget boost

A pandemic-era lifeline makes a comeback as cash-strapped students gain access to cheap, hot meals. Will this budget move set a national trend?

, and Administrator

2025 November 22 . 3:28 PM

1 min read

The picture is clicked in a restaurant where food eatables are kept on top of a table and there is... — The picture is clicked in a restaurant where food eatables are kept on top of a table and there is a menu card on top of a table.

Students in Lower Saxony will soon pay just €2.50 for a hot meal in university cafeterias. The discounted option, called the Lower Saxony Menu, returns in January after a funding boost from the state government. Officials expect high demand, with over 1.5 million portions served in 2023 alone.

The budget-friendly meal was first introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic, when many students relied on it. Now, the SPD and Greens coalition has revived the scheme as part of its priority funding list. A €5 million allocation will cover the costs for at least one year.

The Lower Saxony Menu will roll out in January if the budget passes as planned. Students will access the €2.50 meals through their local cafeterias for the next 12 months. The programme’s success could influence future funding decisions for student welfare projects.