The new semester at Berlin’s universities officially started on October 1, with lectures beginning one or two weeks later, depending on the university. The first challenge for those starting their studies in Berlin: finding an affordable place to live. An overview of the situation in the capital.

What Are the Chances of Getting a Place in Student Housing?

Poor to moderate, because the waiting lists are long. Of the 9,124 places in the Studierendenwerk’s student residences, far from all are currently available. At the end of September, shortly before the semester started on October 1, around 4,000 students were on the waiting list, with the figure still rising. According to the Studierendenwerk, anyone applying now should expect to wait around a year.

How Much Does Student Housing Cost, and What About a Room in a Shared Flat?

The major advantage of student housing is the price. In Berlin, the average rent is €352 per month, compared with €262 in eastern Brandenburg and €330 in western Brandenburg. Rents like these are almost impossible to find on the open housing market. According to calculations by the research institute Empirica AG, a room in a shared flat in Berlin costs an average of around €600 at the start of the 2026 winter semester. This means room prices have risen by almost 54 percent over the past ten years (2016: €390).

Are There Alternatives for Those Who Cannot Get a Place in Student Housing?

Yes, including the “Wohnen für Hilfe Berlin” programme run by the association Sonay soziales Leben. The project is a Senate-funded matching service that offers affordable housing in exchange for help with everyday tasks. The Berlin programme only launched at the end of June 2026 and is generally open to anyone interested. “It is therefore not aimed exclusively at students and older people,” said a spokesperson for the Senate Department for Urban Development. Both people offering accommodation and those looking for housing can apply for a housing partnership. According to the spokesperson, 170 applications from people seeking and offering accommodation have been received since the programme began and are currently being processed.

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The first housing partnerships are expected to be arranged in early October. The type and extent of the assistance are agreed individually. As a rule of thumb, students provide one hour of help per month for every square metre of living space provided – so for a 15-square-metre room, that means 15 hours of help per month. Usually, only utility costs are charged on top.

As well as checking universities’ digital or physical noticeboards, it can also be worthwhile searching online platforms such as WG-Gesucht, Kleinanzeigen or ImmobilienScout24.

How Can You Get a Berlinovo Apartment?

Berlin’s state-owned housing company Berlinovo also offers accommodation specifically for students. Berlinovo currently has around 4,580 places for students, of which around 400 are available to rent – rooms in shared flats and individual apartments in Neukölln, Lichtenberg, Reinickendorf, Pankow, Mitte and Treptow-Köpenick. According to the company, availability changes daily. Anyone can apply via the Berlinovo website using the “Mietanfrage” (“Rental Enquiry”) button.

Applicants are selected at random. Requirements include a valid certificate of enrolment from a state-recognised university or higher education institution in Berlin or Brandenburg, as well as identity documents and proof of creditworthiness.

“Another 84 apartments will become available in November 2026 in our new building at Schlieperstraße 64 in Reinickendorf,” says Berlinovo spokesperson Ulrich Kaliner. The offer is exclusively for students.

What About the Model “Refugee Accommodation Today, Student Shared Flat Tomorrow”?

For years, Berlin has repeatedly discussed gradually opening refugee accommodation to students. Has this now happened following the decline in the large influxes of refugees from Syria and Ukraine?

No, says the Senate Department for Labour, Social Affairs, Equality, Integration, Diversity and Anti-Discrimination (SenASGIVA). In theory, only communal accommodation for refugees could be considered for student use. “We actually need these places for refugees at the moment,” says Senate Department spokesperson Stefan Strauß. The Senate’s aim, he says, is instead to end emergency accommodation for refugees and house them in communal accommodation. Among other things, emergency accommodation in the hangars of the former Tempelhof Airport and the use of hostels and hotels are to be phased out.

Are There Any Other Housing Options Provided by the State of Berlin for Young People?

Yes, although they are not specifically for students. In July, the first residence for apprentices opened at Storkower Straße 220, where students also live. It offers 154 places for apprentices and almost the same number for students. According to the Senate Department, further buildings with accommodation for apprentices are expected to open soon.

This text was originally written and published on the 2nd of October in German. It was translated into English with the use of artificial intelligence (AI).