01

Begin with the local student housing service

Look up the Studierendenwerk responsible for your study location and read its residence application rules early. Eligibility, application timing and allocation methods vary. An application or admission offer does not guarantee accommodation.

  • Check whether you can apply before admission and which evidence is needed later.
  • Search private accommodation alongside halls when appropriate, and arrange a realistic plan for your first nights.
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02

Compare the full cost and rental terms

Compare the complete monthly cost, including utilities and other charges, and read the rental agreement before committing. Check what is furnished and what you must arrange yourself.

  • Review payment dates, any deposit and the contract's duration and termination terms.
  • At key handover, record existing damage or missing items, including photographs.
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03

Register the address after moving

Germany's general rule requires registration with the municipality within two weeks after moving into a dwelling. Temporary-stay exceptions exist, so use the actual city's official instructions for your circumstances.

  • Prepare the identity documents and move-in evidence your municipality requests.
  • For example, Berlin requires a Wohnungsgeberbestätigung from the accommodation provider; a lease does not replace it.
  • Do not assume online registration is available to everyone. Check eligibility and appointment arrangements locally.
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04

Keep the remaining arrival tasks distinct

Address registration, university enrolment and immigration formalities are separate tasks. Use the Federal Foreign Office's Visa Navigator and the responsible German mission for the entry route that applies to your nationality and circumstances.

  • Use the university's checklist for enrolment, student accounts and orientation.
  • Check your health-insurance confirmation before treating university registration as finished.
  • The country where you earned a qualification and your nationality answer different questions in this process.
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Official sources

Check the current programme call before submitting. The links below were used to prepare this guide; a prior-cycle call does not confirm the deadline for your intended intake.

  1. Applying for a place in a hall of residence ↗www.studierendenwerke.de
  2. Tips for finding accommodation ↗www.studierendenwerke.de
  3. Federal Registration Act, section 17 ↗www.gesetze-im-internet.de
  4. Federal Registration Act, section 27 ↗www.gesetze-im-internet.de
  5. Register sole or main residence ↗service.berlin.de
  6. Visa Navigator ↗www.auswaertiges-amt.de
  7. Do I need a visa for Germany? ↗www.auswaertiges-amt.de
  8. Checklist for first semester students ↗www.uni-hamburg.de
  9. Mandatory health insurance: digital transmission ↗www.tum.de

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