The university cafeteria needs to be spacious not just because of the large number of its visitors but also because spacing between tables should ideally be much more than the spacing between tables in an ordinary restaurant. Students often use these tables to read or complete an assignment along with a snack, lunch or dinner. The acoustic design of a university cafeteria should be such as to minimize noise level. Using non-reflecting wall coverings and providing sections of the cafeteria that can be opened to surroundings during busy hours takes care of this need. Music may never be permitted inside a university cafeteria for the same reason. Other sound proof sections of the student center can be designed to permit music.

It may be mentioned that a university cafeteria needs to serve nutritious food at subsidized rates. Its primary clients are students, who are not earning members of society. Two different models for running such cafeterias are prevalent. In the first one, the university gives out a contract to a private caterer. In the second, the university runs its own food services department and runs the cafeteria by hiring the required staff. Both models have inherent limitations. When services are contracted out to a private caterer he gets an assured and captive clientele without having to face competition of the open market. This can, and often does lead to deterioration in the quality of food and service. Although contracts are for limited periods of time, university food contractors tend to stick on for various reasons.