Darmstadt Business School offers a Buddy Service for our MBA applicants and students, which means that there is a contact person for all students (especially when getting started and during the first semester). Your Buddy will answer your questions and if needed, accompany you to your appointments at the residents’ registration office, opening a bank account, helping you find accommodation or whatever you may come across starting your studies. Please see the list below to find out how your Buddy can help you with your questions and concerns:

• In general: help with appointments at local authorities
• Directing you to the contact person for your enquiry
• Questions regarding visa and residence permit
• Opening a bank account/blocked bank account
• Translating at appointments with authorities
• Guiding finding accommodation
• Health insurance questions
• Local guide for Darmstadt and the surrounding area
• General questions regarding the MBA program

Please feel free to send an email with your questions to: buddy.mba@h-da.de, or contact us to schedule a meeting.

Below, you can find some examples of support, the Buddy Service can offer to you:

• Get in contact: As soon as you committed yourself to the MBA program at Darmstadt Business School, you can get in contact with your Buddy to clarify questions you might have regarding the university, Darmstadt or Germany in general. In addition, your Buddy can provide you with useful information about preparing your stay in Germany.
• Stay in touch with your Buddy: Please do not hesitate to contact your Buddy after you arrived in Germany or during your first semester in Darmstadt. Even if your Buddy cannot help you directly, he or she might know the best person to contact for your concern.
• Accommodation: Provide help and guidance in searching for accommodation.
• Documents: Helping you to understand important documents, which may only be available in German language (e.g. rental contract, health insurance documents, mobile phone contract, etc.)
• Bureaucracy: Accompanying you to authorities is possible if required (Foreigners Office)
• Campus: Help you to find your way around the campus and in Darmstadt.
• Integration: Show activities in order to integrate yourself in Germany and meet other students.

You are not alone, so don’t hesitate and send us an email to buddy.mba@h-da.de at any time. If you like to schedule an online-meeting or skype call, please let us know.
We’ll be happy to help you!

Please find more information about the things to do before moving to Germany and start your studies in the following sections of the FAQ. Don't forget to use the checklist "Before Departure", which will help you a lot to cover the important steps.

• Checklist: Before Departure
• Get a visa
• Get health insurance
• Register for accomodation
• Register for German language course
• Plan your travels
• Checklist: After Arrival

Moving to another country and getting started in a new city and country can be challenging. Moreover, you might face some challenges while living and studying in another (study) culture. To help you making this easier, we offer a Buddy Program for all our (international) MBA students.

The main goal of this service is to accompany you and support you throughout your first semester and to help make your transition to Germany as smooth as possible. We will be glad to help you with any concerns or doubts that you might have.

For more information on contact details and the support given by the Buddy Service, please see the section Buddy Program.

The first steps in learning German can easily be done online. Language apps like duolingo are a good opportunity to start with. In addition to the most known apps, there are a lot of options that go beyond the very basics. We found a good overview here (please note, that we did not check each app or the blog as such).
Besides, there are two online portals which we can highly recommend: Deutsche Welle and Goethe Institut.

As you will most likely come across some unfamiliar german terms, usually not taught on beginners level, we created a glossary for the most important things you may come across in the first time in Germany. You can find terms of the categories Application & Enrolment, Accomodation, University, General Administration and Living in Germany - each one with an english translation and a short desription.
In addition, you are welcome to register for a German Language Course at h_da as
soon as you got admitted to the MBA program.

There are a lot of things to think of and to organize before you depart to your studies abroad. With our checklist "Before Departure", you have an overwiev over the most relevant aspects to cover to make your start as smooth as possible.
The document covers the checklist, as well as basic information on each item of the list. If you want to print the list to tick what you have completed, please download the short version.

Welcome to Germany!
After you arrived in Germany, there will most likely be a lot of questions about what to do first - and what next. In our checklist "After Arrival" we provide you with the most important information from "How to get to Darmstadt?" to "Meet People" - and all the steps in between.
The document covers the checklist, as well as basic information on each item of the list. If you want to print the list to tick what you have completed, please download the short version.
We hope that this information will make your first days in Germany as easy as possible. If you have any additional questions, do not hesitate to contact your buddy or the staff at the university.
We will be happy to help you!

In Germany there a several different possibilities to find appropriate accommodation as a student. Unlike other countries, Germany does not automatically assign rooms to students when they enrol. Most likely you will have to find a place to live on your own.

Renting a flat, apartment or residence hall in Germany may appear a bit confusing at first glance, but knowing what you need and what to consider will help you to find an appropriate accommodation. One way to make the move to Germany easier is to look for an accommodation well in advance, ideally before moving to Germany since demand is highest at the beginning of the semester.

The first step to narrow down your search is to decide how you want to live in Germany. Are you looking for a student residence, a shared flat or do you want to live in your own apartment? Each form of living has its advantages and disadvantages and affects the renting price.

In most cases, a room or apartment in a student residence is the cheapest option. Since the there is only a limited number of rooms in student residences, you may also consider other options such as private flat shares or living in a single apartment.

The following sections provide you with the information needed to make an informed
decision on which form of living as a student suits you best.
For additional information please check:
https://www.study-in-germany.de/en/plan-your-stay/accommodation/
https://www.simplegermany.com/renting-in-germany/

In Germany, there are different types of student residences. Please find a short description of the four most common types below:

Public Student Residences
Public student residences are in most cases the most affordable type of accommodation for students. Often they come fully furnished and are available in different room configurations: flats, single rooms in corridor groups and rooms in flat shares. An early application is needed because the rooms are sought after by many students. The prices range from 300-500€ depending on size and whether the room is furnished or not. The two providers in Darmstadt are Studierendenwerk Darmstadt and HEAG Wohnbau. Please find more information in our guideline "Where to stay in Darmstadt?" or on the providers homepages:
https://studierendenwerkdarmstadt.de/en/accomodation-service/
https://heagwohnbau.wordpress.com/tag/studentenwohnheim/

Private Student Residences
In addition to the public residence halls there are many private providers of student residences in Darmstadt. Generally, they are fully furnished, well equipped and feature communal areas with communal kitchens, movie lounges or the like.
However, premium features like that come at a cost. Therefore the rent is more expensive compared to the public residence halls. The rent in private student residences usually starts at around 450€ and can go up to around 800€ depending on room size and features. Some of the private providers are Smartments, Uninest, The FIZZ and StolzeHaus. Please find more information in our guideline "Where to stay in Darmstadt?" or on the providers homepages:
https://www.smartments-student.de/en/locations/darmstadt-stephanstrasse
https://www.the-fizz.com/en/student-accommodation/darmstadt
https://unineststudents.de/en/locations/darmstadt/elementum
https://www.stolzehaus.de/

Shared flats
A shared flat (Wohngemeinschaft or WG) is the most popular form of accommodation among students in Germany. As the description suggests, several students (usually 2-5) share a privately rented flat in which each tenant has his or her own room while kitchen and bathroom are used jointly. The cost of water, heating, electricity and internet are shared as well. The shared rooms are usually furnished when you move in, but you may have to bring/buy furniture for your room. The prices for rooms generally range between 300 and 500€. In Germany it is common for flat shares to have a mix of female and male students and there is no guarantee that the configuration stays the way it is when you move in, since the flats are self-organized. The procedure usually involves to find a new tenant when someone is about to move out.
Platforms for finding rooms in shared flats are for example: https://www.wg
gesucht.de/en/ or https://housinganywhere.com/de/. 

Flat/ Apartment
If you prefer to live on your own, a small apartment may be the right choice for you. Check out vacancies on the internet well in advance before your course starts. Local newspapers also publish advertisements for accommodation (often at the weekend) which are usually offered online as well. You can rent apartments either furnished or unfurnished, whereas unfurnished flats are most common. Please note, that unfurnished can mean, that there is not even a kitchen or light bulbs. You have to contact a private landlord and ensure that you are registered for electricity, gas, telephone and internet. Before landlords sign a contract, they often want to see a proof of income or demand a security. Rent prices can vary considerably depending on the city area and amenities. You are unlikely to find an apartment for less than 400€ base rent, or "cold rent".
Platforms for finding apartments are for example:
https://www.immonet.de/
https://www.immobilienscout24.de/
https://www.immowelt.de/

If you search for accommodation, it is advisable to find out about what the rent includes and compare rent prices. This is most easy, if you search in an online portal, where you can filter for a certain span of rent.
There are two different forms in which the rent is shown in housing adverts: cold rent and warm rent. A so-called "cold rent/ net rent" is without additional expenses such as water, heating and waste disposal. A "warm rent/ final rent" includes this costs, which can amount to over 50 percent of the "cold rent".
You are usually required to pay a deposit (one to two months' base rent) before moving in to a new flat or student residence. Please do never pay any fee or deposit, before you and the landlord signed the rental contract!
Also remember other fixed expenses that have to be paid (for example telephone, internet, electricity and insurance). They are included in some of the student residences, but have to be paid extra if you rent a flat.
For an overview of the pricing range of several types of accomodation, please see the section "Which types of (student) accomodation are there?".

If you opt to search through an estate agent, you will have to pay a broker fee which is usually 2-3 times the cold rent of the apartment. Please note: if the landlord hires the estate agent, he will have to pay the fee himself and is not allowed to transfer this to you.

In Germany you always have to sign a rental contract to provide a certain degree of security for both the tenant and the landlord concerning the do’s and don’ts of the tenancy. This also applies, if you rent a single room in a student residence. In some shared flats, each tenant has an own rental contract, but sometimes only one tenant has a contract with the landlord and you will make an addition contract with the tenant regarding your room.
The contract contains details about the duration of the agreement, amount of the deposit, amount of the monthly rent, additional cost like heating/water/electricity (depending on use), house rules (regarding repair expenses etc.), pet rules and notice length (generally three months if either you or the landlord want to cancel the agreement).
Important: Please do never pay any fee/deposit, before you and the landlord signed the rental contract!

In order to rent a flat and to ensure your landlord you are a trustworthy tenant, you will have to present several documents. One of the most important documents is a copy of your passport or ID, which sometimes is already required to get an appointment for a viewing.
Additionally, you will have to provide bank statements or salary confirmations as proof of sufficient funds. If you have lived in Germany before, the landlord may also ask for your ‘Schufa record’, which resembles a document that registers your debt track.
If you cannot provide any of the afore mentioned documents, you will have to name a guarantor. The guarantor has to confirm to pay your rent if you are unable to pay for it on time for whatever reason. The guarantor should be German but it can also be either of your parents.

We do not recommend any specific residence, as it highly depends on your individual preferences which one suits you best. However, For international students of Darmstadt Business School, helpful guidance is available on our website: h-da.de/en/apartment-search
There you will find current housing options, information on student residences, tips for navigating the private rental market, and advice on how to apply for accommodation. We recommend starting your search as early as possible.

There are several things you should have in mind, if you choose to rent a flat instead of a room in a student residence or shared flat. One thing to consider is the number of rooms, since kitchens, toilets and hallways are not included in the number of rooms. This means a 2- room-apartment contains two rooms plus bathroom, toilet, kitchen and hallway.
Another thing to consider is whether or not the apartment is furnished or not. Furnished apartments are relatively rare and also considerably more expensive compared to unfurnished flats. However, if the offering states that the flat is unfurnished, that is literally what you get: there are no cabinets, no light fixtures often not even a kitchen unless there is an individual arrangement with the landlord and the previous tenant.

There are several different ways to rent a flat in Germany. The most common way nowadays is to search for flats through online property portals. This makes searching by different filters very easy and you are enabled to look for a flat that suits your needs and your budget. However, the disadvantage with online property portals is that the most common ones like Immobilienscout 24 and Immowelt are only available in German. There are other options, such as Housing anywhere that is
aimed more towards flat shares and temporary apartments but as the name suggests is available in English as well.
Another option is to search the local newspapers, as most of them do offer housing adverts (mostly once a week on saturdays).
You can also find apartments via an estate agent. This is easier than searching through countless offerings online but if you hire the agent it can cost an equivalent of two to three times the amount of the cold rent of the apartment in question.
However, you don’t have to pay anything if the estate agent was hired by the landlord. Another possibility to find a flat is by word of mouth. So if you tell as many of your fellow students and friends in Germany that you are looking for a flat in Germany, they will inform you. In general, it’s easier for the landlord as well as for the new tenant if the previous tenant recommends friends and acquaintances.

After finding an offering that suits you – regardless whether you found it in the newspaper, online or by word of mouth, the next steps are basically always the same: you have to contact the landlord to arrange an appointment for a viewing.
Keep in mind that you should give the landlord information on who you are, what you do and why you want to move in. Very short and impersonal messages can seem lazy and the landlord might not even invite you for a viewing.
Make sure to be on time for the viewing since there are many other potential tenants, first impressions count. The viewing is a good opportunity to get an impression of the overall condition of the flat and the facilities as well as for asking all of your questions. After the viewing you have to wait for the response on whether or not the landlord choses you to be the next tenant. (Note: it always makes sense to arrange several viewings to increase the likelihood of finding an accommodation on time).
If you are offered the flat, the next step is to arrange an appointment to sign the contract. For more information on the contract, please also see the section rental contract. In most cases you cannot move straight in after signing the rental contract since flats are rarely empty due to high demand. In general, you have a 3-month notice period when moving out in Germany so the landlord has enough time to find a new tenant. This is why you will most likely have to wait until the previous tenant has moved out before you can move in.

The below-mentioned options are aimed towards students that were either not able to find suitable accommodation before coming to Germany or simply travelled to Germany early to have more time to get to know their ways around Darmstadt or to sort out their visa. The residence halls of Studierendenwerk for example are always rented out from the 1st of September, which doesn’t give you that much time to organize some of the tasks that moving to a different country brings.

Hostels
In the case that you were not able to find an accommodation on time and need a
temporary solution, a Hostel is an inexpensive way to bridge a short time span in order to find an accommodation. Hostels are accommodations aimed towards backpackers, hikers and school classes. Prices can be as cheap as around 15-20€ per night but involve sleeping in a dormitory with several other people and a shared bathroom. The price depends on how many people are sleeping in one dormitory (the more people in one room, the cheaper it is). Single or double rooms are sometimes
available as well but they are significantly more expensive.
Darmstadt has one hostel, which is located in the east, directly beside the lake "Woog". Please finde more information on their homepage. Another option is the hostel in Frankfurt, which is only a 20 minute train ride from Darmstadt.

Air BNB and holiday apartments
Another option is to bridge time in order to find accommodation is Air BNB since it
can be a lot cheaper than staying in a hotel for example. Often people rent out private
flats or rooms on Air BNB for a certain period of time. If you choose a simple room of
flat, it can be quite affordable while having more privacy compared to a hostel.
https://www.airbnb.de/

Yes, there are. As most housing adverts are only avaliable in german, you will come across some terms you may not have heard of before. We created a glossary with the most important terms in german, the english translation and a short description, which will help you getting started in Germany.
For the terms regarding accomodation, please sort the glossary regarding category from A to Z. You will then find all accomodation-related terms right in the beginning of the list.