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If you’ve decided to pursue your master’s in Germany in English, chances are you’ve done a lot of research regarding the programs, tuition fees, and visa requirements. However, as most international students find out in the last few stages, German universities provide little support when it comes to finding a place to live.
When you visit the country to further your education, housing is solely your responsibility. There’s no automatic accommodation on the campus, you aren’t guaranteed any space, and there’s no set standard that applies everywhere.
To help you know what to expect, we’ll take you through the different types of accommodation.
Types of Student Housing in Germany
There are many accommodation options in Germany. The cost varies by type, but you should keep in mind that there are two types of monthly rent in the country: Kaltmiete and Warmmiete. The former is the basic rent with no additional costs. The latter is the basic rent plus extra costs such as gas, electricity, water, property taxes, and waste disposal services.
Student Residences (Studentenwohnheime)
These are also known as residence halls. They are essentially student dormitories, and are the first option for most students as they are affordable and reliable.
The housing here will vary in setup. You can get single rooms (common kitchens and bathrooms), shared flats (mini apartments shared between several students), and studio apartments.
These residences are usually furnished with the basics, such as a bed, desk, and wardrobe. Bedding and utensils aren’t included, so you’ll need to buy them when you arrive.
This type of accommodation is cost-friendly, usually in the range of €200 to €350 per month. The cost varies by the city, but utilities are usually included.
However, these spaces are limited, especially in the big cities. Apply as soon as you receive your admission letter, even if you haven’t gotten your visa yet. You can do so through your local Studierendenwerk (student union). Just Google Studentenwerk plus the name of your city to get the website.
Flatshares (Wohngemeinschaft – WG)
When talking about student housing, you’ll often hear the word WG. It stands for Wohngemeinschaft, which simply means shared flats. This is the most popular student housing option after residence halls, and it’s basically a shared apartment.
In such housing, you’ll live together with two, three, or four other students, each with their own bedroom but sharing a kitchen, bathroom, and living room.
WG accommodations typically range from €300 to €600 per month. Although they are more expensive than residence halls, availability is better. These accommodations are usually advertised by landlords or other students, and you can find them on platforms like wg-gesucht.de and studenten-wg.de.
Private Accommodation
If you prefer to have your privacy and have a larger accommodation budget, you can get private housing. These will give you a more comfortable stay in the country as you have the entire space to yourself, although it will also make it harder to socialize.
The cost here is significantly higher, ranging from about €800 to €1,300 per month. When house hunting, keep in mind that utilities are usually not included in the basic rent, so you’ll need to pay extra for heating, electricity, water, and internet. You’ll also need to put down a refundable deposit, typically 2 to 3 months’ rent.
To get private accommodation, you can use sites such as Immobilienscout24.de, Immowelt.de, and Kleinanzeigen.de. Note that you’ll need to provide more documentation (and possibly an interview) than in the other housing options.
Short-Stay Accommodation
If you don’t want to book accommodation without visiting it, or you simply haven’t found the right one, you can book short-stay housing as you get your bearings. You have several options here:
- Youth hostels (Jugendherberge) – a popular option.
- Budget hotels
- Airbnbs
- University guesthouses (some universities)
The general rates here are €20–€50 per night for hostels, €40–€80 per night for budget hotels, and €600–€1,200 per month for an Airbnb. These aren’t the cheapest, but they’ll give you peace of mind and ensure you select long-term accommodation you are comfortable with.
