Food ordering habits of European students explored in new Foodora study

With most students now having returned to universities across Europe after the summer break, Foodora has published a study that examines how cost and cuisine preferences shape food ordering patterns among young people.

The Back to Uni report examined trends across 13 universities in Austria, Czechia, Hungary, Finland, Norway, and Sweden, using data from the autumn 2024 semester.

Different approaches

It found that while Europe’s students are largely price-conscious, they approach food delivery and promotional habits differently depending on their country. Norwegian students are more likely to integrate delivery into daily life, with orders rising by more than 80% when classes resume, including a 124% jump at Trondheim’s NTNU.

At country level, Norwegian students use fewer discounts (-5.3%) and spend slightly less per meal (-5.6%) when ordering food.

Swedish students increase orders by 67% after returning to campus – with a high of 72.4% in Uppsala University – and are slightly more willing to spend (+2%) than their Norwegian counterparts, while also leaning on discounts (+7.1%).

In Hungary, meanwhile, promotions drive order growth (+9.1%), with orders rising by 15% and students spending more per order (+5.2%). Czech students order slightly less often but spend more per transaction, while Austrian and Finnish students rely less on delivery services.

Food types

In terms of the most popular food types, American cuisine, such as burgers and pizza are the leading choices for student food delivery orders across the board, with Asian food – including Vietnamese, Chinese and sushi – the most-ordered by students in Austria and Czechia.

Certain campuses stand out in terms of the food types they prefer, the study found – at the University of Vienna in Austria, health-conscious students are opting for bowls rather than burgers; students from the University of Szeged in Hungary order primarily international cuisine; and sandwiches rank unusually high at the Universities of Oslo and Trondheim in Norway.

“For students, ordering with foodora is about freedom and affordability,” commented Herbert Haas, chief international officer at foodora. “They can skip cooking and use that time to study or relax, all without stretching their budget. “Burgers and pizza are especially popular because they’re not only comforting and easy to share, but often come with discounts through foodora PRO or special offers, making them even more attractive.” Read more here.