Accommodation

Rent and application:
We have a contract with Studierendenwerk Darmstadt, a non-profit organization that runs a range of student residence halls in Darmstadt. Each semester, they provide us with a set number of pre-booked rooms in two of their residence halls, for which you can apply. The rooms are part of shared apartments and exchange students share their apartment with between two to four other students (these may be other international students or local students). The monthly rent for the rooms is between 400 and 550 euros. Additionally, students have to pay a deposit of 2.5 monthly rents (which you'll get back after moving out of your room).
So, how can you apply for one of our International-Office rooms? For this, just fill out the form we'll send you by email in June (if you're coming for the winter semester), or December (if you're coming for the spring semester).

Please be aware that:

• there is no guarantee that you will be assigned a room
• the rooms are rented out for one semester only (even if you're staying for two semesters)
• the Media Departmen is located in Dieburg; classes from the Business Department are partially taught at the Dieburg campus. Our International-Office rooms are located in Darmstadt, not Dieburg (Dieburg is about 30 minues away from Darmstadt)
• the move-in date is at the beginning of September, or beginning of March, respectively. If you arrive in Darmstadt a day or two earlier before the start of your rental contract, please make sure to book a hostel, hotel or Airbnb room for the first one or two nights.
• special deal: For the months of August, and February, you do not have to transfer a monthy rent for the room, if you have rented the room for the full period (March through August or September through February)
• the application procedure for our special International-Office rooms is through h_da's International Office, not through Studierendenwerk Darmstadt's website.

Karlshof & Berliner Allee:
If you apply for one of our International-Office rooms, your room will very like be located in the "Karlshof" residence hall (address: Alfred-Messel-Weg) or in the "Berliner Allee" (LAB) residence hall (address: Berliner Allee).

Important:
Applications for these rooms are managed by us, i.e. h_da's International Office. They are not offered on Studierendenwerk Darmstadt's website. This is when the application process for these rooms typically takes place (there's no need to be anxious - you'll be notified by email):

• winter semesters (start of exchange in September): mid-June or end of June
• spring semesters (start of exchange in March): mid-December

You may apply for a general room in one of the many student residence halls in Darmstadt through Studierendenwerk Darmstadt's Accommodation Service. Applications for these rooms are managed by Studierendenwerk Darmstadt's Accommodation Service, not by h_da's International Office. A condition to apply for their rooms is that you're officially enrolled at one of the universities in Darmstadt. You'll find all the relevant details on their website.

Important: International-Office rooms versus general Studierendenwerk rooms
It is up to you whether you'd like to apply for one of the International-Office rooms or for a general Studierendenwerk room, but please be aware that the conditions for the two types of rooms are different:

• Rental period: Both types of rooms are rented out for 6 months. However, the exact rental period is different for the two types of rooms: The lease for our International-Office rooms starts at the beginning of September, and the beginning of March, respectively, because your exchange semester with h_da starts either at the beginning of September, or the beginning of March. The end of the rental period is end of February, and end of August.
  The lease for the general Studierendenwerk rooms on the other hand starts on 1 April and 1 October and runs until the end of March, and September, respectivey.
• Cancellation procedure: The lease for the general Studierendenwerk rooms needs to be actively cancelled by you if you want to move out; the lease for the International-Office rooms ends automatically.
• Number of payments: For the International-Office rooms there is a special deal with Studierendenwerk Darmstadt, according to which you do not have to transfer any monthly rent for your room in August, and February, respectively. For there general Studierendenwerk rooms, there is no such deal.
• Feeback on your application: It is very likely, that you will not get feedback on your housing application frrom the Studierendenwerk, as hundreds of students send their request. It is also not determined, when they send you feedback (it can take several weeks or even months).

Please bear these aspects in mind when applying for a general Studierendenwerk room.

h_da's general housing website provides you with a list of list of private residence halls and other housing providers. If you're interested in a room in a flatshare (called "Wohngemeinschaf" or "WG" in short in German), wg-gesucht is probably your best bet.
We also have a Facebook group called "h_da housing exchange”, where you can get in touch with h_da students who are about to spend a semester or two abroad and who would like to sublet their room – it’s worth taking a look! (But please note that h_da is not liable in any way for the offers published on these websites!)