Living in Cologne is extremely popular and, accordingly, finding a place to live can be complicated. On the one hand, it makes a lot of sense to register early with the Kölner Studierendenwerk, both for a place in student housing and for private accommodation, on the other hand, rooms are sometimes only posted on the portal WG-gesucht portal shortly before the move-in date.

You can also find detailed information about living in Cologne on the website of the International Office.

Places in student housing

It is possible to apply for a place in student housing at the Kölner Studierendenwerk. Further information and the online application form can be found here.

An acceptance cannot be guaranteed, but foreign students are given preferential treatment in the selection process. In addition, an inexpensive room in student housing is recommended in any case, especially due to the price situation on the "free market". Unfortunately, we do not have influence on the dormitories as university, since the Kölner Studierendenwerk is an independent institution that takes its decisions independently from the University of Cologne.

The application deadline is 15 July or 15 January. We recommend that you send in your application before the closing date, as early as possible.

WG-Gesucht

The easiest and most common way to find accommodation in Cologne is through the website wg-gesucht. It offers a comprehensive search for temporary and unlimited rooms in shared flats, as well as complete flats. It should be noted that, especially in the case of temporary accommodation, rooms are sometimes only posted a few weeks before the move-in date.

The site is also available in English.

Youth Hostel

If you decide to look for accommodation on the private housing market, you can of course do this by phone/email from abroad. However, you should take a look at the flats before signing the rental contract. In any case, you should search several weeks before the desired move-in date, as the demand is very high. During the search, you can stay relatively cheaply at the DJH youth hostel. You can find all the information here.

WIMDU and airbnb

As an alternative to the DJH youth hostels, various hostels or hotels, it is possible to rent a room temporarily via the portals WIMDU or airbnb.