Shared apartments, spare rooms and roommates in Dortmund

Luckily for international students, many universities in Dortmund, such as the FH (Fachhochschule Dortmund) and the TU (Technische Universität Dortmund), offer classes in both German and English. This means that there are students from different parts of the world in the city, so if you live in a shared apartment, your roommates will surely be of different nationalities. Enjoy the opportunity to learn from this multicultural environment!

Advantages and disadvantages of sharing a flat in Dortmund 

These are the pros and cons of living in a shared apartment in this German city:

Advantages of sharing a flat in Dortmund 

• There are shared flats in different parts of the city, so you can choose the most suitable area for you. You should check where your university is and choose the best neighbourhood, such as Nordstadt and Kaiserviertel if you are going to the University of Applied Sciences in Dortmund.

• The affordable rental cost will allow more of your budget to be dedicated to activities or visiting other nearby cities and countries, such as Belgium, Denmark and the Netherlands.

Disadvantages of sharing a flat in Dortmund

• Winters in this German city are usually quite cold, hovering around 0ºC on average every day. Check if your spare room has a heating system, as well as if the utility bills are included in the rental price.

• You will have to adapt to the schedules of your roommates and the rest of the building. Avoid fines and don't make too much noise late at night!

Erasmus App for your exchange programme in Dortmund 

You have at your disposal a variety of apps for Erasmus+ that you will be able to take advantage of to plan your Erasmus. In some of them, you will be able to read guides on how to carry out certain procedures, as well as access advice from students from previous years.

Most students advise you to learn at least a little German before arriving in the city, so you can delve into the culture easily, they also advise you to eat in the "Mensa" of the university which will help you save money on food.

How to meet people in Dortmund

Befriend your flatmates and learn from them! In addition, you can use one of the following ways to meet people:

Student associations in Dortmund 

Each university offers the possibility of joining an association or club, such as the English Theater Group or the Student Association Intercultural of the TU (Technische Universität Dortmund). In addition, one of the most well-known organizations for Erasmus is the ESN Dortmund. From it, they organize different activities and events to ensure that students integrate and immerse themselves in the local culture. 

Facebook groups for Erasmus in Dortmund 

In the Facebook groups, you will be able to find out about all the activities that are going to take place in the city. For example, the ESN Dortmund shares the calendar in which they mention the dates of the welcome week, city tours, karaoke events and “Flunkyball”, among others. Sign up and participate in these events!

Whatsapp groups for Erasmus in Dortmund 

In these groups, you will be able to meet other students who are going to be in the German city at the same time as you, as well as ask questions and seek help regarding procedures that you have to do.

Tips for living in a shared apartment in Dortmund

Keep in mind these tips for living in a shared flat in Dortmund:

• Take the opportunity to practice your German if you have a roommate who speaks that language. You can also take the free courses that universities usually offer to international students.

• Get the public transport ticket called "Semesterticket", so you will be able to save on public transport costs and choose an accommodation with a convenient location according to the train or bus lines.

Frequently asked queries about sharing a flat in Dortmund

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