4. Start to prepare
Finding accommodation
As a rule, students arrange their own accommodation in Germany. Affordable alternatives to a flat of your own are a room in a dormitory or a shared flat.
Unlike in some other countries you won’t automatically be given accommodation when you register at your university or college. Depending on where you’re planning on moving to and how much money you have available, it’s not always easy to find a place to live. You should start looking as soon as you can, ideally before you arrive in Germany. You can get help on how to find a place from your university’s International Office (‘Akademisches Auslandsamt’).
Private accommodation
As is the case everywhere, private accommodation varies dramatically. From an empty room to a fully furnished flat, the private market offers pretty much everything. There are many online portals where you can look for a flat or a room. Rooms, for example, in a shared flat, are usually less expensive.
The first few nights
If you don’t have accommodation when you arrive in Germany, you should figure out before you leave your home country where you can stay for the first few nights. There are many different possibilities, and the International Office can offer information and advice.