How to Find Housing in Germany?
Finding housing in Germany is complex but manageable. Step-by-step guide for Studierendenwerk dorms, WG (shared rooms) and private apartments, ready-to-use German email templates, and real experiences from international students.
15
Cities
15
Official dorm guides
4
Email templates
0
Community tips
3 Main Ways to Find Housing
Which one fits your situation best?
Studierendenwerk Dorms
Public student dorms. Cheap, furnished, but long waitlists.
- Rent between 180-550 €/month
- Furnished + internet included
- 2-18 month waitlist
- Limited spots
WG (Shared Room)
Most common student housing type. Find listings on WG-Gesucht, apply, meet.
- Fast (1-3 weeks)
- 250-700 €/month
- Social life
- Casting process is tiring
Private Apartment / Studio
ImmoScout, eBay Kleinanzeigen. Solo apartment if your budget allows.
- Private space
- 600-1500 €/month
- SCHUFA + Sperrkonto + 3 payslips
- Hard for foreigners
29 Studierendenwerk + 8 Private Companies + 4 Portals
Student dorms in Germany = 2 main categories. Public (cheap, long wait) and private companies (fast, expensive). We have all prices, capacities, waiting times and direct contact links.
How much in which city?
Current 2025 rent ranges (€/month) for the most popular student cities
Ready-to-use German Email Templates
Don't know German? Fill in these ready templates, copy-paste and send. Each one has a line-by-line explanation.
WG (Shared apartment) Inquiry
WG-Gesucht, ImmobilienScout24 veya benzeri sitelerde gördüğün WG ilanına ilk e-postan. Almanlar genelde bu mesaja göre seni eler.
Open template → Apartment ApplicationApartment Inquiry to Landlord
ImmoScout, eBay Kleinanzeigen veya özel bir ev sahibinden bulduğun apartman/stüdyo için resmi başvuru maili.
Open template → Dorm Follow-upDorm Application Follow-up
Yurt başvurusu yaptın ama haber alamadın. Nazikçe durumunu sor.
Open template → ViewingThank You After Viewing
Ev görmeye gittin, beğendin. Aynı gün kibar bir teşekkür maili göndermek seni diğerlerinden öne çıkarır.
Open template →Studierendenwerk Dorms
Official student dorm guide for 15 major cities — application links and waiting times.
Berlin
Studierendenwerk Berlin
Studierendenwerk Berlin: apply only via the Wohnheim-Portal; you need an admission/enrolment certificate from a Berlin higher-education institution and proof of paid semester fees. Choose three residences; answer the e-mail sent every 30 days within 5 days or the application lapses. Average wait 3 semesters, rents €265–680 (avg. €388, rents from Nov 2022, internet excluded) according to the Senate's answer of January 2023.
München
Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern
283-577 €/month
Studierendenwerk München Oberbayern: online application; according to the September 2026 list, single rooms in shared flats in Munich residences cost ≈ €283–577 and single apartments ≈ €363–538 warm, waiting 1–6 semesters by residence. Allocation by waiting list, no legal entitlement. Beware of fake listings asking for advance payment.
Hamburg
Studierendenwerk Hamburg
310+ €/month
Studierendenwerk Hamburg: 26 residences, about 4,770 places; all-inclusive rent (utilities and internet included; broadcasting fee paid by the tenant), furnished rooms from €310. Apply only via the online portal at least 3 months before moving in; up to 3 residences or all can be chosen. Deposit €400–800 by rent tier. No exact waiting time is published; an application creates no legal entitlement.
Frankfurt am Main
Studierendenwerk Frankfurt am Main
230-470 €/month
Frankfurt'ta yurt başvurusu için TOEFL/IELTS gibi belgelerin sertifika kopyalarını da hazır bulundur.
Köln
Kölner Studierendenwerk
220-450 €/month
Köln'de yurt rekabeti orta. Şehir merkezine yakın yurtlar çabuk dolar.
Stuttgart
Studierendenwerk Stuttgart
250-480 €/month
Stuttgart yurtları teknik üniversiteler (Uni Stuttgart, HFT) civarında yoğunlaşır.
Heidelberg
Studierendenwerk Heidelberg
230-460 €/month
Heidelberg küçük ama çok talep gören bir şehir. Yurt yetersiz, özel WG'ye de erken başla.
Bonn
Studierendenwerk Bonn
220-430 €/month
Bonn yurt başvurusu görece kolay. Şehir merkezi küçük, ulaşım iyi.
Mainz
Studierendenwerk Mainz
215-420 €/month
Mainz orta zorluk. Frankfurt'a yakın, ulaşım iyi.
Freiburg im Breisgau
Studierendenwerk Freiburg
230-450 €/month
Freiburg küçük ama yoğun talep gören şehir. Yurt başvurusu için erken hareket et.
Tübingen
Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim
220-420 €/month
Tübingen sadece üniversite şehri, yurt rekabeti yüksek ama bekleme listesi makul.
Karlsruhe
Studierendenwerk Karlsruhe
210-400 €/month
Karlsruhe görece kolay yurt bulunur, KIT yakınında yoğun.
Münster
Studierendenwerk Münster
220-420 €/month
Münster öğrenci şehri, yurt sistemi gelişmiş.
Leipzig
Studentenwerk Leipzig
190-370 €/month
Leipzig ucuz ve görece kolay yurt. Doğu Almanya'nın en hareketli öğrenci şehri.
Dresden
Studentenwerk Dresden
180-360 €/month
Dresden ucuz, yurt başvurusu nispeten kolay.
Community Experiences
Real experiences from international students. Scam warnings, landlord conversations, neighborhood tips.
No experiences shared yet.
If you went through housing search in Germany, be the first to share! The next student won't face the same difficulties thanks to you.
Golden Rules for Housing Search in Germany
Never pay upfront!
If a landlord says "send 500€ to reserve", it's 99% a scam. Don't send money before signing a contract, seeing the keys, and meeting the real person (a video isn't enough). Classic scammer line: "I'm in the UK, I'll give you the keys Airbnb-style".
Start early — minimum 4 months ahead
Apply for a dorm as soon as your acceptance letter arrives. Start the WG search 6-8 weeks before the semester begins. Finding something the last week is impossible.
Prepare your documents in advance
Sperrkonto confirmation, university acceptance letter, passport copy, and your CV (in English and German if possible). You should be able to respond within an hour when the Vermieter requests them.
Email in German, even if imperfect
Vermieter (landlord) usually ignores English applications or puts them at the bottom of the pile. Use our email templates — flawless German guaranteed.
Suggest a video call
If you're not in Germany, the Vermieter wonders "how do I know who you are?". Suggesting a video call (Zoom/WhatsApp) makes a serious impression.
The city center is not mandatory
If a dorm or rent in the center costs 600€, you can find similar quality 20 minutes away by S-Bahn for 350€. Public transport in Germany is great.
Do your Anmeldung within 14 days
After moving in, you MUST register at the Bürgeramt within 14 days. Getting the Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from the Vermieter is required. Without Anmeldung you can't open a bank account or extend your visa.
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