Housing: Uni Osnabrück

It is difficult for students to find accommodation in Osnabrück, especially at the beginning of each winter semester. You should therefore start looking for accommodation well in advance.

The first point of contact for student accommodation is the Student Housing Department of Osnabrück Student Services (Studierendenwerk Osnabrück).

Around 1,700 places in halls of residence are available to students at the two universities in Osnabrück. Accommodation options range from single rooms to shared flats and family apartments.

If you are interested in a room in halls of residence, you should apply as early as possible. You can submit an application as soon as you have decided to study in Osnabrück. A certificate of enrollment from Osnabrück University is not required at this stage.

Three students stand in front of the entrance to the old factory, a student hall of residence for around 300 people in Osnabrück.

Please note that an application does not guarantee you a place in one of the highly sought after halls of residence.

The cost of a single room in student halls of residence ranges from €255 to €490 per month. There is also an initial deposit of €500 or €600 per room (depending on the furnishings). The deposit is refunded if you leave the room in good condition when you move out.

International students receive special support in the halls of residence: residence tutors help them to settle in quickly.

Hall of residence "Mein. Dein. Unser Heim"

In addition, the student hall of residence "Mein. Dein. Unser Heim" run by the Protestant Foundations offers 25 residential units at Ziegelstraße 6.

Accommodation international exchange students

International exchange students from partner universities who are studying in Osnabrück for one or two semesters can find relevant information on housing under Exchange Studies at Osnabrück University.

Osnabrück Student Services (Studierendenwerk Osnabrück)

Student Housing Department

Ritterstraße 10
49074 Osnabrück

+49 541 331073-0

wohnen@sw-os.de

Open housing market

Most students at Osnabrück University find accommodation on the open housing market. Shared flats (WGs) are a popular alternative to single apartments, as the costs of shared facilities (bathroom, kitchen, etc.) are split. To avoid becoming a victim of an apartment scam, please read this Information sheet on how to avoid a housing scam (PDF, 563 kB) to help you recognize potential scammers in time.

Osnabrück Student Services (Studierendenwerk Osnabrück) arranges rooms in halls of residence and Offers on the open housing market. This service is free for students. For capacity reasons, Osnabrück Student Services can't check the offers.

If you are looking for accommodation, you will find many offers on the external Notice board of Osnabrück University. Another source of information is the internal Notice board on Stud.IP, where you can also place a free advertisement in the category "Wohnungen & WGs [Suche]".

Internet portals provide easily accessible information on available accommodation. Well-known providers include:

immowelt
ImmoScout24
WG-Gesucht
Ebay Kleinanzeigen
Housing Anywhere

The wunderflat platform offers furnished temporary accommodations. A service fee is charged.

The agency Zweitraum Osnabrück (formerly Mitwohnbüro Osnabrück) rents out furnished flats, apartments and houses on a temporary basis in Osnabrück. The agency service is commission-free for tenants.

Apartments are advertised in the housing market section of the "Neue Osnabrücker Zeitung" (NOZ) on Wednesdays and Saturdays. You can also advertise there yourself for a fee. The NOZ’s housing listings can be viewed online.

A number of housing associations offer flats without estate agent’s fee. Examples include:
Stephanswerk
Wohnen in Osnabrück (WiO) - Kommunale Wohnungsgesellschaft
Wohnungsbaugenossenschaft Osnabrück (WGO)
Vonovia
GARANT private Vermögensverwaltung

As a temporary solution for the initial period, you can look for a guest room or a guest bed on a temporary accommodation portal. Examples of providers are:
Deutschland-Monteurzimmer.de
Monteurzimmer.de

If finding a place to live in Osnabrück is proving more difficult than expected, you may want to consider looking outside the city. Osnabrück’s public transportation system, which can be used free of charge with the Deutschlandticket, connects the city with districts such as Hellern, Belm, Georgsmarienhütte, Lotte and Wallenhorst. It is also possible to join forces with other people looking for accommodation and set up your own shared apartment.

Three students walk through a brick archway from the old factory, a student hall of residence for around 300 people in Osnabrück.

Two students are standing in a room putting away a bookshelf.

Furniture

Sheets, towels and kitchen utensils are available from many shops in Osnabrück. The city and surrounding area also offer a wide range of furniture stores. Furniture can be delivered to your door for an extra charge.

Second-hand furniture and household items are more sustainable and affordable. Such items can be found, for example, at the non-profit organization Möwe or on Kleinanzeigen, a private sales portal where goods can also be exchanged or given away free of charge.

In cooperation with the car-sharing organisation “stadtteilauto”, AStA offers the possibility of renting a "student van (Studibulli)" for small fee to help you transport your new furniture.

Registration of residence

Anyone moving to Osnabrück to study must register or re-register with the city of Osnabrück within two weeks. For students who are already registered in Germany, the process is called re-registration (Ummeldung), while for students who are moving to Germany for the first time, the process is called registration (Anmeldung). Please use the corresponding links to book an appointment for registration or re-registration at Osnabrück’s Citizens’ Office (Bürgeramt) in advance.

At the appointment, you will need to present your identity card or passport and a Confirmation from your landlord/landlady (Wohnungsgeberbestätigung) (PDF, 195 kB). Your current details will be recorded electronically and you will need to sign to confirm that the information is correct.