Popular for its affordability, Germany is home to a huge international student population. Those who wish to study in Germany always look for accommodation options that can help them lower their overall expenses. While pursuing education, finding on-campus student accommodations in Germany is difficult as a lot of universities do not specifically have on-campus housing options.
There are various options for students to live in Germany, ranging from shared flats in residence halls to private housing. The local student union's (Studentenwerk) halls of residence are the most economical. The average monthly rent at Studentenwerk is 256.25 EUR. In case the cost of studying overboards your expected limits, you can always apply for scholarships available for international students in Germany.
As the cost of living in Germany, majorly comprises the accommodation expenses, international students are suggested to opt for the cheapest options available. Looking for shared apartments, or student halls is the best way to control your living expenses.
On-Campus Student Accommodation in Germany
Unlike universities in other European countries, German universities do not have a typical campus and also do not provide students with on-campus housing. Even if some universities do it is only a fraction of the student's body. As a result, students who intend to study in Germany must find accommodations by themselves.
Despite the lack of accommodation facilities on-campus, each university's Student Union (Studentenwerk) or International Office can assist students in locating housing in the campus town. For international students, the International Office is a prime source of contact. Another option is to look for housing listings on the university's notice board. Students can also place their own ads on the university board as well.
Cost of Student Accommodation with Studentenwek
Student halls maintained by Studentenwerk are the most affordable type of student accommodation in Germany. International students considering the expenses must look out for these and apply as early as possible as there is a high demand. Discussed below are the basic expenses involved when living with Studentenwek:
| Items | Monthly expenses |
|---|---|
| Rent | 325 EUR |
| Food | 154 EUR |
| Clothing | 48 EUR |
| Transport | 116 EUR |
| Health | 96 EUR |
| Telephone | 24 EUR |
| Leisure activities | 65 EUR |
How to apply for student accommodation in Germany with studentenwerk?
Students can apply through the university’s Studentenwerk portal as soon as they receive their offer of acceptance from a university. Another way you can also visit the official website of Studentenwerk to find the local studentenwerk portal of your university town.
Application Procedure:
- Find the local studentenwerk portal of your university town either through your university website or via the official Studentenwerk Website.
- Click on the online application form.
- Fill in all the details asked such as type of housing, university name, personal data, home address, etc.
- Upload the required documents and submit the form.
After completing the application form applicants will receive an email with the recorded data. The allocation criteria depend on the location. Some Studentenwerk allocates applicants based on lots, while others offer places based on the order of applications received. Special attention is given to students with disabilities or chronic illnesses. It is recommended to apply as soon as possible and before the deadline to get a high chance of accommodation.
Off-campus Student Accommodation in Germany
Students can choose from a broad range of housing options depending on their choices to live in Germany and each type of housing has its own pros and cons. The most popular types of student accommodations in Germany are student halls of residence and flatshares. Discussed below are some of the options available to live off-campus in Germany:
Studentenwerk Accommodation in Germany
The student halls of residence are the most affordable and popular housing for students in Germany. Nationwide the Studentenwerk has over 196,000 places for accommodations. The rent of halls at Studentenwerk depends on the locations, size and amenities provided. However, the average rent at Studentenwerk is 256.25 EUR per month.
The halls of residence in Germany are shared type and are specifically designed for students. Students in these halls live with other students and share a common bathroom and kitchen. Besides it also offers accommodation for specially-abled students, and furnished flats for students with children.
In addition to the low rents, these halls are located in close proximity to the university and many social contact opportunities and offer a variety of facilities. Due to its popularity students are recommended to reserve their place as soon as possible. Approximately, 40% of international students in Germany live in student halls of residence.
Students willing to stay in halls of residence must apply for accommodation through the Studentenwerk before the deadline passes and as soon as they receive their acceptance letter from the university.
Further details on housing applications and deadlines can be found on the studentenwerk portal. The advantages and disadvantages of Studentenwerk halls of residence:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Located close to the university and other opportunities | Shared bathroom and kitchen |
| Plenty of socialization opportunities | Limited length of stay |
| Reasonable cost | High demand |
| Safe and secure | Less privacy |
Flatshare Student Accommodation in Germany (Wohngemeinschaft-WG)
While pursuing higher education in Germany, flatshares are also known as Wohngemeinschaft and are commonly referred to as WG. It is a popular type of student accommodation in Germany for both domestic and international students. About 30% of students find accommodation in Germany with flatshares.
For a room in a shared flat, students pay up to 363 EUR per month on average. Many students in Germany, particularly those who have been unable to gain a spot in a student hall of residence, prefer flatshares.
Apartments are large and can house up to four students (more or fewer)depending on the apartment size. The kitchen, bathroom and sometimes living room are shared commonly, but each flatmate has his own rooms. Expenses such as cost of rent, electricity, internet are also shared between each other.
On many internet platforms, you can look for flatshares or publish your own wanted ad. Flatshare ads, for example, can be found on notice boards at higher education institutions. You can also post your own advertisement there. You can either rent an apartment with a group of friends or check whether someone is looking for a flatmate.
The advantages and disadvantages of flatshare accommodation in Germany:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| Less competitive | Shared bathroom and kitchen |
| More privacy | High rent in city centres |
| Affordable rent(approx 360EUR) | Disagreements with flatmates |
| Shared expenses | Might not be located near to your university |
| Direct contact with other students | Fewer socialization opportunities |
Private Student Accommodations in Germany
Students who prefer to live alone and enjoy a lot of privacy can rent their own house or apartment in Germany. In Germany, many landlords rent their properties. These sorts of accommodations are more comfortable, but they are also more expensive because you must pay for your own rent and utilities.
You can find many flats and apartments on house searching websites and in the local newspaper. University notice boards also display ads regarding the same.The rent for private accommodations in Germany ranges from 210 to 360 EUR per month.
The advantages and disadvantages of private accommodations in Germany:
| Advantages | Disadvantages |
|---|---|
| No conflicts between flatmates | Very expensive in city centres |
| More privacy | High expenses |
| You can choose your own place | You need to pay utility and other bills on your own |
| You can make your own rules | Might not be located near to your university |
Accommodations in Germany for Short-Stay
The option for short-stay is available to students who have not found permanent housing, who prefer to hunt for permanent housing after arriving in Germany, or who will only be staying for a short time. During their absence, many students re-rent their rooms for a brief time.
Studentenwerk and other student communities in some cities also provide overnight stays for a few days. You might also rent a room in a youth hostel or a private B&B until you can find permanent housing.
Cost of Accommodation in Germany
The cost of renting is determined by several factors, including the city in which you live and the size of the flat facilities provided. A student pays around €250 to €750 per month for student accommodation, but this varies depending on the region.
There are two types of monthly rents in Germany: Kaltmiete(basic rent) and Warmmiete.
- Kaltmiete is the rent you pay with no additional costs
- Warmmiete is the basic rent plus additional costs such as gas, electricity, water, property taxes, waste disposal services etc.
- In larger cities like Munich, Hamburg, Frankfurt am Main, Freiburg, and Tubingen, lodging is relatively expensive.
- In comparison to the west, accommodation in eastern Germany is a little less expensive. Private rooms are more expensive than living in halls of residence or flatshares.
Check out: Funding to Study in Germany!
In comparison to other European capitals, Berlin is less expensive. The rent, which is roughly 800 EUR per month for a small one-bedroom apartment, is the most expensive expenditure. On the other hand, the cost of a one-bedroom flat in some cities is relatively low, with Leipzig being Germany’s most cheap city. Leipzig is 40% less expensive than Stuttgart, and Dusseldorf is 20% less expensive than Stuttgart.
Sharing a room with several students is the most cost-effective approach to cut your expenses and save money on housing. It will divide bills, rent, utilities, and other expenses.
The below tables shows the cost of accommodation in Germany of few popular student cities:
| Apartment Type | 1-Bedroom apartment (city centre) | 1-Bedroom apartment (periphery) | 3-bedroom apartment (city centre) | 3-bedroom apartment (periphery) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Berlin | €925 | €657 | €1,836 | €1,241 |
| Hamburg | €963 | €681 | €1,825 | €1,351 |
| Munich | €1,311 | €1,004 | €2,290 | €1,750 |
| Frankfurt | €1,049 | €808 | €2,015 | €1,413 |
| Stuttgart | €928 | €765 | €1,704 | €1,277 |
Rents for Accommodation in German Cities
Discussed below are the cost of rents across various cities in Germany. One must note that living in an apartment can have varied expenses depending on your location. Cities like Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, etc are expensive as compared to cities such as Karlsruhe or Leipzig. The prices, of course, range widely and depend on the conditions which you want to live in.
Discussed below are the rents for apartments when finding accommodation in Germany:
| City | Average monthly rent |
|---|---|
| Munich | €1,094.30 |
| Stuttgart | €846.43 |
| Leipzig | €490.80 |
| Dusseldorf | €672.22 |
| Essen | €451.83 |
| Dortmund | €460 |
| Cologne | €727.14 |
| Bremen | €560 |
| Aachen | €534.65 |
| Berlin | €795.90 |
Utility costs depend on various factors such as the kind of lifestyle you adopt, the place of accommodation, etc. Big cities often cost more in terms of food, clothes, and other utilities compared to smaller cities.
The below table shows the utility costs of some of the popular cities in Germany.
| Particulars | Cost per month |
|---|---|
| Public Transport, Taxi | 70 EUR, 1.55-2.50 EUR per km |
| Electricity bill | 215.21 EUR |
| Internet | 30 EUR |
| Clothing | 100-120 EUR |
| Meal | 1500-2000 EUR |
| Health Insurance | 70-80 EUR |
How to find off-campus accommodation in Germany?
Finding a place of dwelling in Germany is a bit challenging. It's natural to be puzzled about student housing whether you're a first-time visitor to Germany or if you've just gotten your university acceptance letter. Depending on the sort of accommodation you seek, there are a variety of options for finding student housing in Germany.
Here are some options for seeking student housing in Germany:
Student Unions(Studentenwerk): The universities in Germany also assist you to connect with a local branch of Studentenwerk. Students are advised to apply as soon as they accept the offer of acceptance because each local students union has its own application deadline.
Online searching platforms: Online platforms are another option for finding accommodation in Germany. There are numerous websites that may assist you in locating the room and board of your choices. You can also post your own advertisements for finding rooms without any charges. Some of the most well-known websites are:
- www.studenten-wg.de
- www.student.com
- www.mrlodge.com
- www.smartments-business.de/en/reservations
- www.wg-suche.de
University International Office/Notice Boards/Social Networks: If you need assistance finding accommodations, you can contact the university's International Office. All German institutions have an International Office to support international students in a variety of ways.
Advertisements for rooms and flats are often posted on university notice boards in the canteen, dining halls, seminar halls, and other locations. You can also publish your advertising to discover the right lodging for you.
Daad Student Residence Hall Database: The Daad Student Residence Hall Database contains all kinds of information, addresses, application details of a large number of student residence halls in Germany.
Despite a variety of options available for student accommodation in Germany, it is always important that a student connects with their university’s international office for managing their expenses better and finding themselves the most affordable accommodations in Germany. Some of the factors to consider when moving to Germany as international students is to not pay any advance without signing a contract and always make your accommodation arrangements as early as possible.
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