FAQ – Accommodation

• IMPORTANT: if you are accepted for a study program in Darmstadt a room is not automatically included (unless explicitly stated). You will have to look for a room yourself.
• In order to find a room/apartment in Darmstadt you will require some time (several weeks is not uncommon). Darmstadt is a popular place to study and live, therefore low-priced accommodation is not easy to find.
• The Studierendenwerk Darmstadt has several student residences. You can apply online for accommodation. Please be aware that the number of rooms/apartments we offer is limited and in high demand. That is why it is necessary to look for other options at the same time.
• Popular websites to find a room/apartment are for example: www.wg-gesucht.de, www.immobilienscout24.de, www.studenten-wg.de
• Our tutors from comeTOgether support you in searching and applying for private rooms/ apartments. They have also a list with private accommodation offers. In the office you can use the internet and phone for free. Check their site for the current opening times.
• Social Counseling has a list of the student residences of the Studierendenwerk and other options regarding accommodation in Darmstadt.
• You can get more tips on finding accommodation:
  • In the compilation of the accommodation service: Tips
  • The AStA of the TU Darmstadt also offers some information regarding accommodation.

Further information for international students:

• The “Katholische Hochschulgemeinde Darmstadt (KHG)“ offers to accompany you for free, when you are viewing apartments or shared accommodation. The Buddies support you in getting in contact with possible landlords and accompany you when visiting the accommodation.

In Darmstadt and the popular Rhine-Main region, you can expect monthly rental costs (including utilities) of €350-650.

Please bear in mind that you will need additional money to move in:

• A deposit is almost always required. This usually amounts to 2-3 months' cold rent (cold = without utilities).
• If the room/apartment is not furnished, you will need to buy furniture (bed, wardrobe, desk, chair, etc.).
• You might need to pay for the replacement of an existing kitchen.
• Renovation costs if applicable (painting, repairs, etc.).

• You should start as early as possible to look for a room/apartment. Within six months your chances are good to find an affordable room. In the beginning, you might have to make concessions.
• For the first days/weeks you should make a reservation at a hostel or hotel.

It depends on many factors: Which dorm you did apply for, how many applicants are ahead of you in the waiting list, when the room will be available, how much money you can spend, etc. You can ask the Accommodation Service .

When you are looking for a room, it helps if you also go outside of the city-center and widen your search area.

The map below shows places and suburbs not too far away from Darmstadt city-centre that are well connected to the universities and Darmstadt itself via public transport.

Unfortunately, there are also dubious accommodation offers.

You should be skeptical of a given offer if:

• you are asked to transfer a deposit before signing a tenancy agreement,
• you are asked to send money abroad,
• the offer is only for women.

Also good to know:

• Attending apartment viewings is free of charge!
• Rooms in student fraternities/sororities are often exceptionally cheap. Be careful and inform yourself well about the fraternity/sorority: the social structure/hierarchy there can be very restrictive and political attitudes are often stark.

• The security deposit has to be paid before renting a room/apartment (normally together with the first rent). In case you are behind with your rent or you returned the rented accommodation in a “bad” condition, landlords can retain parts or all of the security deposit. You will get the security deposit back, when you vacate the room (unless there is good reason for the landlord to keep it, see above).
• The amount of the security deposit is usually 2-3 monthly rents, without expenses.

Even for native speakers these abbreviations are not always easy to understand. We provide you an English-German translation, which explains the abbreviations connected to accommodation in Germany.

• International students of TU Darmstadt have the possibility to contact the “Welcome and Housing" Department.
• If you can afford it in terms of money, you can commission a real estate agent to look for a room/apartment for you. Usually, the estate agent’s commission for this service is 2-3 monthly rents (excluding expenses).
• Important: Make a reservation before your arrival, at least for the first days/weeks, at a hostel/hotel/guest house. There you will normally also have Wi-Fi (necessary when looking for accommodation).
• A guest house or hostel can also be a medium term solution to the problem of finding accommodation, especially during the most difficult phase of the year in September/October/November.

You must register at the Darmstadt Residents' Registration Office no later than two weeks after moving in.

Among other things, you will need a landlord's confirmation of residence for this. The landlord must confirm in writing that the tenant has moved in (or out - if you are deregistering instead).

The landlord is the person who actually lets someone else use an apartment. Tenants of the Studierendenwerk's dorms will receive the confirmation from our on-site housing service when they sign their rental contract.

• A wide range of public transportation is included in the “Semesterticket”. Students can use different kinds of public transportation for free in large parts of “Hessen”. You can find a good overview where and how the “Semesterticket” works on the website of the TU-AStA. (please be aware that certain “fast” trains and buses are not part of the “Semesterticket”, check in advance)
• The bus connection is very good. Normally, you will be able to reach Darmstadt main train station within 25-40 minutes. The bus is called Airliner and connects the airport directly with the main train station (Darmstadt Hbf) and the central square (Luisenplatz). A one-way ticket costs 8 € (not included in the “Semesterticket”).
• Using the train you can go from the station “Flughafen/Fernbahnhof” via Frankfurt main station to Darmstadt. You can find suitable connections on the website of the “Deutsche Bahn”.

Do you have a disability and/or a chronic illness and therefore need assistance to get from the airport to Darmstadt?

There are several places you can turn to.

For students of the TU Darmstadt:

Sabine Hopp - contact person* for students with disabilities and/or chronic illnesses: E-Mail

AStA - Social Department: E-Mail

For students of the h_da:

Isabell Schader · Tel (06151) 533-60310 · E-Mail

For all students of the TU and the Hochschule Darmstadt:

Intercultural Tutor*innen Team · ITT-Assistance: E-Mail

Social Counselling · Tel (06151) 16298-59, -60 · E-Mail · Website