Student residences offer a comparatively inexpensive and often well-connected accommodation option. Places are allocated by the Studierendenwerk Dortmund. Alternatively, private accommodation can be found via various online platforms, real estate portals, local advertisements or private contacts.

• Studierendenwerk Dortmund: The Studierendenwerk operates several halls of residence for students enrolled at universities in Dortmund. Demand is high - so apply as early as possible via the online portal for advertised offers. Please note: Unfortunately, doctoral students are not eligible to live in these halls of residence.
• Alternative halls of residence: In addition to the Studierendenwerk, there are private halls of residence such as the Papageienhaus, the Roncalli Haus in Bochum or BaseCamp.

The private housing market offers the greatest variety, from single rooms in shared flats (WGs) to entire apartments or houses. Platforms such as Immobilienscout24, WG-Gesucht or local estate agents can help you find offers. Please note that the providers mentioned here are only examples and the list is not exhaustive. Private rentals are often associated with higher prices and additional costs such as higher deposits. Be prepared for competition, especially for centrally located or inexpensive properties.

Municipal and non-profit housing providers

There are various municipal housing providers in Dortmund that offer affordable housing. These include

• Spar- und Bauverein Wohnungsgesellschaft (Tel.: 0231 182030, website)
• DoGeWo - Dortmunder Gemeinnützige Wohnungsgesellschaft (Tel.: 0231 10830, website)
• City of Dortmund - Office for Housing - Housing Supply (Tel.: 0231 50 16200, website)
• Vivawest Wohnen GmbH (Tel.: 0231 396930,  website)
• LEG Wohnen NRW GmbH (Tel.: 0231 41902134, website)
• GWS-Wohnen (Tel.: 0231 9413140, website)
• GWG Hombruch-Barop-Dortmund (Tel.: 0231 7920510, website)
• Julius Ewald Schmitt Grundstücksgesellschaft (Tel.: 0231 2269950, website)

Other options for living space

In addition to traditional rental apartments, there are alternative options: Furnished apartments etc. for researchers.

• Mitwohnzentrale (Home Company) (Tel.: 0231 19445, website)
• AStA-Wohnungsbörse: A platform especially for students.

Please note: The apartments listed here are only examples. The list does not claim to be exhaustive and does not constitute a recommendation or preference for any of the options listed. Please check each offer yourself to ensure that it is up-to-date and suitable.

• Immobilienscout24
• eBay Classifieds
• Housing Anywhere
• Home Company
• WG wanted
• Student housing market
• Zymma
• Intermediate rent
• Immo
• Immowelt
• Interlodge
• Locanto

Note: The portals listed here are intended solely as examples. The list does not claim to be exhaustive and does not constitute a recommendation or preference for any of the options listed. Please check each offer yourself to ensure that it is up-to-date and suitable.

Youth hostels, hostels or Airbnb can be a solution for the transitional period or in the event that you have not found accommodation before your arrival. Please note, however, that these options do not usually issue a landlord's confirmation of residence and you will therefore not be able to register temporary accommodation with the Office for Migration.

In addition to the options mentioned above, you can also search for more expensive accommodation on platforms such as wg-gesucht.de. These websites offer a wide range of options, from shared rooms to complete apartments. Once you have found more expensive but not temporary accommodation, you can search for cheaper options again from there without any time pressure. For this purpose, I also recommend taking a look at Das Zeitwohnportal, a platform that specializes in temporary furnished accommodation. This can be a good solution for finding accommodation quickly while you continue your search for a long-term apartment.