The following tips and links will help you to find a place to live in Stuttgart and the surrounding area. It is best to start looking even before you have been accepted onto a study program. This increases the chances of finding suitable accommodation right at the start of your studies.
Different places to live
Get started on your search by making inquiries with the Housing Section of Studend Services Stuttgart and applying there for a place to live. This is best done before you begin your studies. Student Services also offers barrier-free apartments [de] for disabled students and two-room apartments [de] for students with children. In total, Student Services Stuttgart maintains 35 residential buildings with more than 6800 rooms located downtown, on the Vaihingen campus, in Ludwigsburg, Esslingen, and Göppingen.
The Vereinigung Stuttgarter Studentenwohnheime e.V. offers 2,578 residential spaces in seven halls of residence on the university campus Stuttgart – Vaihingen and on the Stadtmitte campus.
In addition to the Vereinigung Stuttgarter Studentenwohnheime e.V., there are even more hostels owned by private or clerical providers. You can find out more about this option on the website of the Studierendenwerk Stuttgart.
Spending only a few days in Stuttgart? Stay at reasonable rates in the International Student Hotel of Student Services Stuttgart. Another option for longer stays is to look for a room to sublet in a student residence. In some of our buildings, occupants can rent out their room during vacation or up to three months. Please inquire directly at participating housing facilities if you are interested.
Help, I can’t find a place to live!
The semester start is getting ever closer and you still have not found an apartment or room? If all else fails, find a hostel or Hosteling International youth hostel to bed down in temporarily.
Apartments subsidized by the state rent at well-below-market rates. To be eligible for subsidized housing, you must present the following with your application:
- Housing permit, which you obtain from the Stuttgart Office of Real Estate and Housing against presentation of certain documents
- Proof of residence
- Enrollment certificate
- if needed, a BAföG (German Federal Education Assistance Act) notice
- Parental declaration of financial support
- Declaration of own economic situation
- Non-citizens must also present a passport with valid residency permit
For more information about applying for a subsidized apartment please contact the Stuttgart Office of Real Estate and Housing [de].
Social housing is only allocated in specific situations (hardship cases). Unfortunately, the University of Stuttgart cannot assist you with the application process.
- Search here for private room referrals by Student Services [de]
- We also recommend checking the bulletin boards in university buildings.
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Some regional daily newspapers publish room and apartment listings.
Consider temporary solutions. For example:
- If needed, consider staying temporarily in a hostel or youth hostel.
- Don’t limit your search to Stuttgart itself—also consider the surrounding areas.
- Rooms or apartments available for temporary subletting are also an option.
Protect yourself from rental listing scams
With student housing in Stuttgart in such short supply, many housing rental ads on the Internet are posted by scammers. Check all offers carefully; some are not what they seem to be. Read our brochure and find out how protect yourself against scams.
Information for international students
Specific rules apply to room allocation in student dormitories for international students. Please be aware that an age restriction may apply when submitting applications for student dormitories. Information about the age limit and other topics (such as room amenities and furnishings, how to move into the dormitory, etc.) can be found on the respective student accommodation’s website. The University of Stuttgart itself does not operate any student dormitories and therefore cannot allocate any dormitory places.
Students enrolled in programs at our partner institutions
Erasmus, international, and double master’s students receive further information about the application process from their respective advisor in the International Office. DAAD scholarship recipients are kindly requested to send a scan of their scholarship certificate by email to the International Office and will then receive further instructions.
Doctoral students
Doctoral candidates are not eligible to apply for a place in the student housing complexes. You will receive helpful advice at the International Office's Welcome Center for International Researchers.
Further information
On the Welcome Center Stuttgart website, you will find additional information about searching for accommodation, financing options, and other housing-related topics. The illustrated dormitory dictionary from the deutschen Studierendenwerks also provides a helpful vocabulary list for student housing.