How do I find student accommodation (dorm or flat) in Germany?

Start early and use several channels at once; in most university cities demand is far higher than supply, especially from July to October before the winter semester.

The main options, cheapest first:

• Studentenwerk / Studierendenwerk halls: the public student-services organisation of each city runs subsidised halls. Apply online as soon as you have your admission letter (some accept applications before admission). Waiting lists in Munich, Hamburg, Berlin, Cologne and Frankfurt can be several months; smaller cities often have rooms available at the start of the semester. Priority rules differ by city; international first-year students are often favoured.
• Shared flats (WG): a room in a Wohngemeinschaft is the most common student housing. The main portal is WG-Gesucht; current flatmates choose the newcomer, so a short personal message in German and a quick reply time matter more than documents.
• Private student residences: furnished rooms with all-inclusive rents, English-language booking and contracts. Convenient for the first semester but usually the most expensive option per square metre.
• Private flats: ImmobilienScout24, Immowelt, Kleinanzeigen and local newspapers. Landlords expect a complete application file (ID, proof of income or financing, Schufa or an equivalent from your home country, a short introduction).
• University housing offices and welcome services: many universities keep lists of private landlords and run temporary-housing programmes for the first weeks.

Safety rules: never pay a deposit or rent before you have seen the room (or had someone see it for you) and received a signed contract; be suspicious of landlords "abroad" who want a transfer first; a legitimate deposit is at most three months' basic rent.

Bridge solution: book a hostel, a short-term furnished room or a sublet for the first weeks and search on site; viewings in person increase your chances considerably. For how much rent to expect per city, see our student rent map.