Living in Greifswald
Greifswald has many lovely neighbourhoods that are great to live in. Whether you prefer to be right in the heart of the town centre with its many cafés and bars, or in a quieter spot just outside the middle of the town. As you can get almost anywhere by bike in just a few minutes, the location is less of a decisive factor when looking for a flat than, for example, the rent or the furnishings. In principle: if you're planning to move to Greifswald, it's best to start looking for accommodation well in advance. Demand is particularly high just before the start of semester.
Student halls of residence run by the Studierendenwerk (Student Services)
Students studying in Greifswald can apply for a place in a student hall of residence run by the Studierendenwerk (Student Services). The Studierendenwerk manages seven student halls of residence with 740 places across various locations.
If this sounds appealing to you, you should apply online for a place in a student hall of residence as soon as possible. It is worth applying early as places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis. The application period always begins six months prior to the start of the semester. You don’t need a certificate of enrolment or confirmation of acceptance for studies at this stage.
Important to note: an application does not guarantee a place! But applying early increases your chances.
Apply for accommodation
You can fill in the application form online or in person at the Studierendenwerk (Student Services).
Online form for applying for a place in a hall of residence
Information on the topic of housing on the Studierendenwerk’s website
Who provides advice and support?
Studierendenwerk doesn’t just allocate places in its own halls of residence, they will also help you find a private room.
The AStA (Students' Union) also has its own Department for Social Affairs and Gender Equality and provides support.
Before you start looking for accommodation:
- What size and furnishings should the flat have?
- How much rent can you pay?
- Is a shared flat an option?
- If you’d like a place in a student hall of residence: what is the deadline for submitting the application?
There are then various ways for finding a flat. In addition to the housing association websites, we also recommend platforms with classified ads, websites listing shared accommodation offers and social media groups.
Don’t be discouraged if you can’t find the perfect shared flat or flat at the start of studies! Many students move flats in Greifswald once or twice during their studies when demand isn’t as high as it is at the start of the semester.
Private housing market
Housing associations
There are two housing associations in Greifswald, each with different terms and conditions, but both of which are committed to providing student-friendly accommodation and offer flats in a range of locations, at various levels of rent and with different furnishings.
Social media and online portals
There are various online portals for finding flats or shared accommodation that cover the whole of Germany. For example, you can place an advert in Kleinanzeigen. Those who check the websites regularly and respond quickly to offers can gain a head start.
Search for a shard flat on wg-gesucht.de [de]
Search for a shared flat on wg-suche.de [de]
Search for a shared flat with google
Search for a shared flat with Bing
Search for a shared flat on Kleinanzeigen
Noticeboards
In the entrance areas of some of the halls of residence and Mensas (cafeterias), you’ll find notices from people seeking new tenants or flatmates for shared flats.
Private student halls of residence
If you haven't found anything suitable on any of the options named above, you can also look into the private student halls of residence.