Finding accomodation
Contact
Advisors for international students (International Office)
Office hours
Links & Downloads
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Living at a Student Dorm - Illustrated Dictionary Studierendenwerk Deutschland and Studierendenwerk Bielefeld
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Finding accomodation
Please do not come to Oldenburg without arranging for a place to stay before you arrive. The University of Oldenburg does not own or manage any dorms and thus cannot provide or guarantee your housing!

1. The housing situation in Oldenburg
In Germany, you do not automatically receive a place in a hall of residence when you are accepted for a degree programme. Students are responsible for this themselves. Finding accommodation is one of the biggest challenges, as the number of students is growing, but the number of affordable accommodation options is not. The Studierendenwerk Oldenburg runs halls of residence for students at favourable rents, but the number of applicants always exceeds the number of places, so you can expect having a to wait several months or even semesters for a place.
Be prepared to find a room on the private housing market. The search is usually easier locally than from abroad. So be prepared to use AirBnB offers, cheap hotels or guest houses for the first few days and weeks. Plan an appropriate budget for this.
2. Step by Step: How to find a place to stay?
Step 1
If you have not yet found permanent accommodation before your arrival, you can book cheap hotels or hostels as a temporary solution:
Jugendherberge , long term stay option possible
Step 2
We recommend that you always apply for a place in a hall of residence regardless of long waiting lists. This is possible as soon as you have been admitted by the University of Oldenburg.
Step 3
At the same time, start looking for accommodation on the private market in and around Oldenburg.
Wg-gesucht.de (flat & flat share)
Kleinanzeigen – Wohnung (flat)
Kleinanzeigen – WG (flat share) Private accommodation Studierendenwerk Oldenburg
Notice board in Stud.IP (you need a university account)
Facebook: International Students in Oldenburg
Facebook: Wohnung/ Haus Oldenburg&umzu (homes in and around Oldenburg)
Facebook: Wohnungen in Oldenburg (appartments in Oldenburg)
3. Housing Guide Presentation for all new international students
4. Beware of scams! How to recognize and avoid housing scams
- If it looks too good to be true, it probably is!
- If every attempt to see the flat is declined
- If a deposit or rent payment is required to secure the flat due to “the high demand”. The scammers may promise a refund in case you do not like the flat.
- If they send you a copy of their passport to prove their identity (fake ID) and also request you to send them a copy of your passport.
- If communication is only possible via email or WhatsApp but not by telephone or video call
- If they cannot prove they are the owner, they probably aren’t: a lease contract draft does not prove the legitimacy of an offer. Scammers will usually provide foreign bank details supposedly belonging to a relative.
Source: RWTH Aachen University
5. Accommodation Support Workshops
Every Friday from September to November, the tutor team of the International Office offers online accommodation support service starting at 6 pm Central European Time (CET). You will receive information on how-to live-in Germany as a student, various forms of accommodation, tips on searching, information on the current housing situation, emergency support options and current offers. You can ask questions and have yourself included in a database. The link to the event will be available here during this time. However, you should not wait for these workshops, but start your own search as soon as possible.