Don’t Wait – Get a Card!

Already in 1996 the Student Administration Hanover introduced a non-cash pay system in its refectories and cafeterias in order to reduce the waiting times at the checkouts. The MensaCard is a mere money-card without any other functions. So: Get yourself a MensaCard and make things faster for everyone.

Students of the FHH and the HMTMH don't need a MensaCard, they can use their university cards in the refectories and cafeterias.

How to Get a MensaCard

As a student you just need
• Student card or registration certificate
• Document with a photograph (identity card, passport, driving licence)
• 5 € deposit
• money for topping up the card

The MensaCard for students entitles to get the cheaper student prices. They are only handed out if the student status is proved by a student card and a document with a photograph. You are charged a 5 €-deposit for the card which you’ll retrieve when you give the card back.

Where to Get the Mensacard

The MensaCard is available at the checkouts of all refectories and cafeterias except the Café Snob. At the Hauptmensa (main refectory) you can get it at the MensaCard-desk in the refectory’s foyer (Mo–Fr 12:00–14:00 h) and at the cash-checkouts.

How to Top up the MensaCard

You get the MensaCard without credit. Before you can actually use it, you must top the card up. At the main refectory (Hauptmensa) you top up the card right from the start at the topping up automaton while at the other refectories and cafeterias the first charging up takes place at the checkouts. You can pay 5–70 € to get the card topped up. Later on you can charge your card at the corresponding automatons as well as at the checkouts. You can top up the cards at the automatons with 5, 10, 20 and 50 €-bills. In some refectories there are special automatons for topping up the MensaCard using a electronic cash card ("ec-Karte").

How to Pay with the MensaCard

At the checkout you put your card onto the scanning device. The credit, the fee and the remaining credit show on the display. Please leave your card on the scanning device as long as the payment takes! If you don’t, there might be reading errors. In order to avoid queues at the checkouts you should make sure to have some credit left on your card. You can always control and, if necessary, increase your credit at the automatons.

How Long is the MensaCard Valid?

The card is normally valid as long as the actually shown student card was. This means that you must prove your status as a student about every 6 months. You just have to show your student card and a document with a photograph at one of the checkouts. It is advisable to take these documents with you! When you are leaving university you just give back the MensaCard and get your deposit back.

Can you also Spend Cash at the Refectories and Cafeterias?

Sure. You can spend at all our institutions though not at all checkouts. The cash-checkouts are specially signposted. In general we would like our guests to use the MensaCard in order to make everything work smoothly.

Do you have any Further Questions Concerning the MensaCard?

Send us an email to mensen(at)studentenwerk-hannover.de or call us directly under +49 (0) 511 / 76 - 88 969. Of course, our colleagues at the refectories and cafeterias are at your disposal as well.