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If you’re planning an exchange or a full course in this German city, choosing student accommodation is one of the most practical and popular decisions. In this article we offer useful information about student accommodation in Münster, covering advantages, disadvantages, available options (private and university), and we give you tips on finding affordable alternatives and answer your questions about this type of accommodation.
One of the first things to bear in mind is that the city receives a large number of students every year (more than 55,000 in total!). For this reason, finding accommodation at a good price and with good features can be somewhat complicated, especially if you leave it to the last minute. We recommend that you start your search and make your reservation as soon as possible, so you can choose from more options and find the one that's right for you.
Below we mention the most notable pros and cons of living in this type of housing:
There’s a wide range of private student residences in this German city. They’re usually located in different parts of the city, so they’ll be convenient depending on the faculty of the institution where you’re going to study. Some of the neighbourhoods where you can find this type of accommodation are Gievenbeck, Hansaviertel, and Geist.
Some offer only studio flats, which have their own bathroom and a kitchenette. These flats vary in size, with the smallest being the most economical. Other residences offer a choice between single rooms that are part of a shared flat (from two to six people) or entire flats with one, two or three bedrooms.
Take a close look at the common areas available in each residence. Some may only have a laundry room with washing machines and dryers that can be used for an extra fee. On the other hand, many of the private residences in Münster do have modern facilities to encourage community building among residents. These may include gyms, study rooms, leisure areas, cinema rooms, terraces and even shared kitchens.
As for the services that are included, pay close attention to the conditions, as sometimes the rental price doesn’t include utilities and you have to add an extra charge at the end of each month (which can exceed €200!). However, some private residences in Münster are all-inclusive, meaning that all costs are included in the rental price.
One detail to bear in mind about these private residences is that some offer the possibility for friends and family to rent a space for a few days.
In Münster, as in other German cities, universities don’t generally offer their own accommodation. However, there are organisations such as the Studierendenwerk Münster that manage affordable university residences for both German and international students.
The types of accommodation they offer vary between single rooms with shared bathrooms and kitchens, studio flats for one person, and shared flats for two to six students. All of them may or may not be furnished, so you need to check carefully to see what’s most convenient for you.
With regard to shared facilities, we can tell you that in university residences in Münster there isn’t usually a wide variety of them, although they differ greatly from one another. For example, in halls of residence where the accommodation consists of flats, there are usually only laundry facilities to be shared among the residents, as each flat has its own living room. On the other hand, in those consisting of single rooms, there’s usually a shared kitchen on each floor of the building and a living room to share with the other residents.
Rent in Studierendenwerk Münster student residences includes all utility costs, such as electricity, water, heating, and Internet. The use of washing machines and dryers in laundry rooms usually incurs an additional cost.
One very important thing to bear in mind about these university residences is that they usually have waiting lists. However, compare between the different types of accommodation carefully, as some have waiting lists of more than six months and others have shorter ones.
Another noteworthy detail is that there are at least two residences that are exclusively for women. In other words, only women live in these residences and no places are allocated to men.
As you might expect, this institution doesn’t have its own halls of residence, but it does offer options through the Studierendenwerk Münster. However, bear in mind that it’s not located on a single campus, but in buildings located in different parts of the city. This affects which are the best neighbourhoods to live in near the university.
If you’d like to know about accommodation near the University of Münster, read this article.
Tools such as Erasmus Play allow you to compare verified residences in Münster, helping you choose the one that best suits your budget and desired location. Once you have secured your accommodation, you’ll be able to focus on exploring the city, enjoying its rich cuisine and experiencing life in one of Germany's liveliest university cities.
Some of the most common requirements are: being enrolled at a university or educational institution in Münster, submitting proof of enrolment or a letter of acceptance from the university, completing the specific application form for the desired residence, meeting the application deadlines set by the residence, and paying an initial deposit or security deposit according to the conditions of each residence.
Generally, university residences tend to be cheaper than renting a room in a shared flat. The cheapest prices for halls of residence range from €200 to €400 per month, while a room in a shared flat costs an average of €500 to €700 per month. However, high demand for halls of residence means that it can be difficult to get a place, so it’s advisable to apply in advance.
As soon as you can! In this German city, demand for student accommodation is very high, especially at the start of the academic year. We recommend that you start the booking process as soon as you receive your letter of acceptance from the university. Many residences open their applications months in advance, so starting your search early increases your chances of securing a place. In addition, some have waiting lists, so registering early is key.
Here, private halls of residence are usually mixed, with no distinction between genders. However, the Studierendenwerk Münster offers accommodation options exclusively for women. For example, the Hansa Haus hall of residence is for women only.
They usually include basic services such as electricity, water, heating, and internet in the rent. They may also offer access to common areas such as kitchens, study rooms, and laundries (although the latter are subject to a fee). In private residences, some additional services such as gyms or recreation rooms may be available, which is why their cost is usually higher.