Looking for a place in the residence hall? Find the online application here

Step 1 – Before you apply, there are two things you must do:

Check your eligibility for housing

Find out in the allocation directive whether you are eligible for a place in the residence hall.

• Allocation guidelines (DE) - English reading aid

Get an overview of our residence halls at the individual locations - e.g., location, amenities, proximity to the university, types of accommodation, rent, etc.:

Get to know the residential halls:

Step 2 – Apply online

Important note regarding applications

Please note:

• Your application is only valid for the semester for which it was submitted.
• For additions/updates to your existing application, we will provide you with a corresponding access link after reviewing your application.
• Multiple applications for the same semester and applications containing incorrect or incomplete information will not be considered and will be canceled immediately.

OurTip:

Submit your application diligently and only once – with complete and correct information.

Online-applications:

We will announce the specific deadlines and dates on our website in good time.

Your application will be successfully submitted when you:

• have completed the online form in full and
• have uploaded the following documents:
  • your identification document (ID card or passport)
  • Severe disability card - for severe disabilities of 50% or more

Are you already studying or have you already been successfully admitted to your desired university?

Then upload proof of your student status, e.g.:

• If you are already studying: 
  • Certificate of enrollment/study

Are you about to start your studies and have already been successfully admitted to your desired university?

• For NC-bound degree programs: 
  • letter of acceptance
• For NC-free degree programs: 
  • Payment request from your university and proof of payment (e.g., bank statement showing the enrollment fee)

Step 3 – Registration and review of your application:

Once your application has been received, the Studierendenwerk will begin reviewing it. Please be patient, as processing may take some time.

1. After successfully submitting your online application, you will first receive:

• an automatic confirmation of receipt by email
  • please keep this in a safe place—this confirmation serves as proof:
    • that your application has been received and
    • exactly when it was registered by Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg

2. After reviewing your application/your eligibility for housing, we will inform you of the status of your application:

• Status – Your application is incomplete and cannot yet be considered for allocation
  • as your proof of study status is still missing. Please refer to our instructions in Step 4
• Status – Confirmation of your online application:
  • Your application is complete and you are eligible for residence. In both cases, you will receive individual feedback with a link, that you can use to submit missing documents and change or add information.
• Status – Rejection of your online application:
  • Unfortunately, according to our allocation directive, you are not eligible for housing and we cannot consider your application. In this case, you will receive a rejection by email and your application will be canceled.

Our Tip: If necessary, check out alternatives such as flat-sharing portals or private accommodation offers near the university. It is worth taking a look at the website of the Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg – at

Further housing offers

Step 4 - Completing and activating your application

It is generally not a problem, if you submitted your online application before you enrolled at the university.

• As soon as you have proof of your student status, please submit it as soon as possible.
  • To do so, use the link you received in the email confirming receipt of your application.
  • Only upon receipt of this proof will your application be fully activated and can be considered in the allocation process.

Proof of your student status

You have been successfully admitted to your university of choice.

• Around 10 weeks before the semester begins, you will automatically receive an email reminder if proof of your student status is still missing.
• This allows you to keep track of everything and add to your documents in good time.

How can you cancel your online application for a place in a student residence?

If you are no longer interested in a place in a residence hall, please cancel your application as soon as possible.

• This will give other students who urgently need a place in the residence hall a better chance in the allocation process.
• You can send us a corresponding message informally in response to the confirmation of receipt of your application.                                                                    

Step 5 – Allocation of residential hall places

This is how the allocation of residence hall places works

• Start: around 7 weeks before the semester begins (your application should be complete by then)
• Offer by email as soon as a place in the residence hall becomes available
• Offer deadline: if you wish to rent the dormitory room, you must confirm within the specified period

Importend:

• If the offer is not confirmed within the specified period, it will automatically expire. 
• In this case, your application will be deleted.
• It is possible to reapply, but the waiting period will then start again from the beginning.

Our Tip: Please check your email inbox regularly—including your spam folder. Offers for residence hall places are made at short notice and must be confirmed within a few days.

Downloads - Important documents relating to your rental contract:

• General Rental Terms and Conditions
• House Rules for Student Residences
• Fire Protection Regulations

Step 6 - Prepare the rental contract and move-in

Once you have accepted a place to live, you can move on to the final steps:

• After your confirmation/acceptance of the offer, you will receive further information about signing the contract and key handover.
• Signing the rental contract
  • The contract is signed at the headquarters of Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg.
    • (Babelsberger Straße 2, 14473 Potsdam, entrance via Lange Brücke)
  • You will receive all the necessary information by email, including the appointment date and a list of documents.
• Reservation fee & Deposit
  • A €400 reservation fee is due upon acceptance of the accommodation offer.
  • At the start of the rental contract, the reservation fee will automatically be converted into your rental deposit.
  • Exception: If a bank transfer is not possible, you can pay the amount directly at the Student Services cash desk when you sign the rental contract.

Our Tip: Keep your receipt or proof of payment in a safe place. You may need it when moving in or if you have any questions.                               

SEPA direct debit mandate for rent payment

• The monthly rent is conveniently debited via direct debit.
• To ensure that this works:
  • Please bring the completed and signed SEPA direct debit mandate with you when you sign the contract, or
  • send it in advance by mail to Studierendenwerk West:Brandenburg.

Any questions?

You can find the telephone and in-person consultation hours at the bottom of this page.

The FAQ section contains lots of useful information about applying, rental agreements, and moving in.