Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin - HU-Docs

Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin | Projects | HU-Docs | Accommodation and Financing

Accommodation and Financing

Tips regarding accommodation in Berlin and financing of your doctorate. If links are broken, try the German version. Websites change their English start page often.

Accommodation

Here are 3 tips if you are looking for a flat in Berlin:

  1. It is normal to not get a reply. You should expect to write dozens or hundreds of requests before finding a flat. Just keep going, don't get demotivated if it does not work in the first month.
  2. Do not solely rely on the "default option" student dormitory. They are not bad but have long waiting times. Also, shared appartments are not always cheaper or easier to find than your own appartment. If you have a paid job, consider looking for an appartment, not only the "student" options, this can turn even turn out cheaper than a room in a private student dorm.
  3. Scams happen every day! Never consider a private appartment which you have not visited in person. Pictures are not enough! Never send money anywhere before having a signed contract. No serious actor in the German housing market will demand such things! Messages like "you can first rent it on airbnb and we will make a contract later" or "I happen to be in [...] but I will send you the keys via mail" are scam. Note that it is legally possible to have a non-written contract, but if you really decide to do this, you must absolutely know the person and the room face-to-face, not only via mail.

WG-gesucht (de-facto standard platform for shared appartments in Germany. Beware of scams! People get thousands of applications, don't expect a reply.)

Immobilienscout24 (de-facto standard platform for renting flats. Both private landlords and large companies. You should have all your documents ready. It can be worth paying the premium membership for a few weeks. Beware of scams by dubious landlords! )

Genossenschaften (various tenant-owned housing corporations. Usually very affordable and fair, but long waiting lists. You become member by paying a few 100€ which will be refunded when moving out)

studierendenWERK BERLIN ("officia"l student accommodation in Berlin, application usu. takes 1-2 years, probably the cheapest and most "fair" option, but often only basic quality and decades-old buildings)

Studentendorf (student dorms, one location in Adlershof, one in Schlachtensee. Especially the Adlershof one is relatively new and well-maintained, compared to many of the studierendenWERK ones)

House-of-Nations  (private student dormitory near Tiergarten, not too expensive for its location)

eBay Kleinanzeigen (private offers, mostly in German. Often people move out short-notice and seek somebody to take over their contract. Do not pay ridiculous amounts of money for a used kitchen or sofa they want to leave anyway! And beware of scams!)

 

The following links have not been verified by us and should be checked with discretion. Always beware of scams!

  • www.coming-home.org
  • www.die-wg-boerse.de
  • www.fineandmine.de
  • www.homecompany.de
  • www.hope-apartments.de
  • www.immonet.de
  • www.immowelt.de
  • www.mitwohn.com
  • housinganywhere.com
  • www.studenten-wohnung.de
  • www.wohnung-berlin.de
  • www.wohnwitz.com
  • www.zeit-raum.de
  • www.homesk.de/Search
  • www.wgcompany.de
  • berlin.craigslist.org

 


Financing

 

HGS brochure on financing

HU tips for financing

DAAD tips for financing

DFG funding overview for postdocs

FU suggestions for financing workshops

Paid jobs

www.hu-berlin.de/de/service/arbeit/stellen

www.jobstudent.de/

Job offers on www.adlershof.de

www.kaggle.com/competitions

Scholarships

StipendiumPlus young talent scholarship database

EURAXESS database

DAAD scholarship database

e-fellows scholarship database (in german only)

List of scholarships on the HU website

StudierendenWERK Berlin counselling on financing

https://www.giromatch.com/stipendium

STIBET scholarship for doctoral candidates (deadline July 31, 2022)