This blog post is for you if you’re looking for accommodation in Germany. I applied for my accommodation 3-4 months before I was traveling to Germany, as I knew it will take time. Fortunately, I got a student apartment owned by my University without any hassle. However, some of my friends still had to wait and stay in hotels for their first few days of staying in Germany as they did not find any accommodation upon arrival. Here are my tips to help you find accommodation quickly in Germany.

1. KNOW YOUR NEEDS

Firstly, be aware of what exactly you’re looking for, a single apartment or a shared apartment. If shared then how many flat-mates are you okay with? Are you ready to share your apartment or your room with someone? Are you okay with any gender in your apartment or not? Are you looking for a small, average size, or big place to stay? Answer these questions before you begin anything.

2. PRIVATE OR UNIVERSITY OWNED

Make sure you know whether you want to apply to private people ie. families renting a room where they live or an apartment they own or something that is owned and regulated by the university. There are pros and cons to both. In the former, you can get beautiful options at beautiful locations but it could be far away from the university. In the latter, you’d be, most likely, not always, close to the University or even right on campus but your apartment might not be as out of the World. Be ready to expect a standard room with not much innovative architecture.

3. HAVE A BUDGET

Accommodation is like buying a car, you can have anything given your budget allows. Single apartments within the city are mostly expensive as you’re on your own and have everything at your access in the city. Shared apartments outside the city or in a village come at a decent budget usually. Naturally, you have to then have a good public transportation service or a bicycle to reach different locations, including your university. Make sure you know your budget from the beginning. Having a budget helps you answer whether you can afford a shared or single, big or small, close to the city or far away apartment.

4. APPLY EARLY

Do not make the mistake of applying shortly before you travel to Germany. When the semester is about to begin, even the non-international students move to different cities and look for accommodation. There will be a high demand in the market so you sitting far away have fewer chances of getting something if the others are also looking for the same thing. The moment you receive your acceptance and you’ve finalized your admission, look for your apartment and try to finalize it.

5. CONTACT YOUR PEOPLE

This is something I’d recommend to anyone and everyone. Make the correct and efficient use of social media platforms and join groups of your country’s students in the university or other groups where you fit the criteria. Introduce yourself to them and enquire about accommodation and ask for help. Most of the time you’ll get someplace to stay from someone who has completed the course and is leaving or is looking for someone to stay for a semester, etc. This also saves you from getting into any fraudulent activities or scams for accommodation online. Also, since they’re living there, they can give you some helpful tips about the status of accommodation in the city/town you’ll be going to.