Cafeteria Payment System

You can pay cashless at all of our locations. You can use either your TU Card (TU Chemnitz) or your University Card (WH Zwickau), or you can use the chip card issued by the Chemnitz-Zwickau Student Services.

Note: We are currently preparing to introduce a new point-of-sale system with a payment app. We plan to roll this out starting in August 2026 at our locations in Chemnitz and Zwickau. For the time being, there will be no major changes in Glauchau, where customers can already pay by debit or credit card at the registers. This option will remain available.

• 1 How do I get my Mensacard?

  You can obtain the TU-Card/University Card from Chemnitz University of Technology or Zwickau University of Applied Sciences. In addition to enabling cashless payments in our dining halls and cafeterias, it offers many other university-specific features.

  For students from other universities, as well as trainees and state employees of Saxony, we issue chip cards from the Chemnitz-Zwickau Student Services. Eligibility for such a card is verified in advance, e.g., by presenting proof of employment for state employees, an employment contract, or an Imma certificate. If necessary, payment of a pro-rata semester fee may be required.

  These Studentenwerk chip cards are issued in Chemnitz at the cafeteria office in the Reichenhainer Straße cafeteria and in Zwickau at the Studentenwerk information desk (Äußere Schneeberger Straße 35).

  • Terms of Use for University Dining Facilities

  • Terms of Use for University Dining Facilities (Appendix 1)

• 2 How do I "initialize" my card before using it for the first time?

  1. Place the card on the card reader at the top left of the ticket machine.

  2. If your card has not yet been initialized, the display will show the message: "Your card has not yet been activated for use and must be initialized. Please insert the card."

  3. Now insert the card into the illuminated slot below the display.

  4. Once initialization is complete, the message "Initialization was successful" will appear on the screen and the card will be returned. You can now load money onto your card and use it to pay for your cafeteria meals.

  5. If the initialization of your card ends with the error message "Card not recognized/registered (E19)," please contact the cafeteria office in Chemnitz or the information desk in Zwickau.

• 3 Where can I find the upvoters?

  In Chemnitz:

  • Cafeteria at Reichenhainer Straße 55 (2 machines on the ground floor and 2 on the upper floor)

  • Cafeteria at Straße der Nationen (1 machine in the hallway)

  • Reichenhainer Straße 70 (1 machine in the foyer of the tower building)
    

  In Zwickau:

  • Scheffelberg Cafeteria (1 machine in the foyer)

  • Ring Cafeteria (1 machine in the entrance area)

  • Scheffelstraße Teaching Building (1 machine)

  • Reichenbach Campus, Klinkhardtstr. 30 (1 machine in front of the administrative director’s office)

  • Schneeberg Campus (1 machine in the main building in front of the Dean’s Office)

• 4 Which price tier applies to me?

  Student Price Group:
  Enrolled students at Chemnitz University of Technology and West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, as well as regularly enrolled students at other universities who have paid the university dining fee to the Chemnitz-Zwickau Student Services

  Employee Price Group:
  all employees of the State of Saxony (e.g., employees of Chemnitz University of Technology, West Saxon University of Applied Sciences Zwickau, the State Youth Welfare Office, SIB, the District Court, the State Office, etc.)

  Guest price group:
  all individuals not belonging to the groups listed above (e.g., participants in the Senior Citizens’ College, guest students, Fraunhofer employees, participants in TUCed courses, employees not directly employed by the State of Saxony)

• 5 How can I withdraw my remaining balance?

  You can have your remaining balance on all types of cards (SWCZ, TUC, WHZ) refunded at the cash registers in our dining halls and cafeterias.

  Studentwerk chip cards can be returned in Chemnitz at the cafeteria office at Reichenhainer Straße 55 and in Zwickau at the Ring cafeteria at Klosterstraße 9 or the Scheffelberg cafeteria at Scheffelstraße 39.

  If you have any questions, please contact chipkarte.c@swcz.de or chipkarte.z@swcz.de.

• 6 What should I do if my card isn't working?

  Cards that are no longer usable can be checked at the distribution points (see Question 1) and returned if necessary. Any remaining balance will be refunded to you.

  If you have any questions, please contact chipkarte.c@swcz.de or chipkarte.z@swcz.de.

• 7 What should I do if I lose my card?

  Our staff in the dining halls and cafeterias will be happy to assist you. Please contact the dining hall administration office at Reichenhainer Straße 55 in Chemnitz, or the cafeterias on Straße der Nationen (Chemnitz), Ring or Scheffelberg (Zwickau).

  If the card has not yet been found, it can be blocked. You will receive a refund of your remaining balance upon presentation of the receipt (Mensacard SWCZ) or the payout code (TUC or WHZ card).

  Depending on the circumstances, the verification process after presenting a defective card may take several days due to technical reasons. We appreciate your understanding.

  If you have any questions, please contact chipkarte.c@swcz.de or chipkarte.z@swcz.de.