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Accommodation for International Students

Photo: fotomek, fotolia.com

Finding accommodation in Cologne, a city of 1 million inhabitants, is tough and demanding for students, as in other large German cities.

The need of housing is high especially in the beginning of the semester, therefore we recommend to begin to search for an accommodation as early as possible from your home country. To help you with your housing search in Cologne, we have compiled the information and tips below.

 

How do I detect apartment fraud?

Unfortunately, it happens again and again that students who are looking for an apartment come across apartment fraudsters. Please pay particular attention to the following points when looking at online offers:

  • In Germany, you only pay the rent once you have signed the rental agreement. Therefore, please do not pay any rent or "agency fee" from abroad. The pre-payment of a deposit can happen, but make sure that it is a serious offer. 

  • Check whether the apartment address actually exists!

  • Be vigilant if a particularly cheap/large apartment is offered and the landlord is allegedly abroad.

  • The apartment key of private apartments will never be sent to you abroad. It will be handed over to you once you are in Cologne.

 

Wohnen für Hilfe (Housing for Help)

Photo: Axel Schulten

Housing Partnerships Between the Generations in Cologne
Live Together - Make Everyday Life Easier!

Senior citizens, families, single parents or people with disabilities, who run their own household and would like to have the company, support and security of a student, provide them with living space. In return, the students support the housing providers by helping with day-to-day taskss.

Possible for students enrolled at one of the Cologne universities such as the University of Cologne, the Technical University of Cologne, the German Sport University Cologne, the Hochschule für Musik und Tanz Köln, the Academy of Media Arts Cologne, the Cologne Business School or the Catholic University of Applied Sciences.

Further information (in German) at https://www.hf.uni-koeln.de/33042 | Contact: https://www.hf.uni-koeln.de/33125

 

Links
 

Student dormitories of Kölner Studierendenwerk (KSTW)

Emergency accommodation of the AStA of the University of Cologne

 

Organise your Stay in Cologne: