Berlin Accommodation Guide

Welcome to Berlin! Now, let’s get your student accommodation sorted.

With our Berlin Welcome Pack, you’ll have everything you need to get settled and get your move to BIMM University Berlin sorted, including a Berlin city guide, and all information about health insurance and accommodation:

we’ve covered everything from house-hunting tips, how to get to our college from different areas, information about letting agencies, and more.

Explore Welcome Pack

Plus, our friendly Student Services Team are here should you need further accommodation advice, so don’t hesitate to contact us.


Accommodation for 2024/25 Entry

BIMM University has partnered with top student accommodation provider, Amber, to service all our campus locations, ensuring you have exclusive access to the best living spaces in the city. Say goodbye to the hassle of searching for the ideal place to live and hello to a worry-free academic year.

What can you expect?

  • Prime Locations: Our accommodations are conveniently located near campus and local amenities.
  • Comfortable Living: Enjoy well-furnished and fully equipped spaces designed with students in mind.
  • Affordable Options: We offer a range of budget-friendly choices to suit your financial needs.
  • Safety First: Your security is our priority; our accommodations are equipped with modern safety features.
  • Peace of Mind: Our exclusive properties are verified, and price match guaranteed.
  • Early Bird Offers: Take advantage of rent reductions by booking early and unlock savings on moving and lifestyle expenses like restaurant charges, luggage fees, gym memberships, and so much more!
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How to secure your accommodation

  1. Apply to study a degree programme at BIMM University Berlin for the upcoming 2024/25 academic year.
  2. Firmly accept an offer of a place on a degree programme at BIMM University Berlin, conditional or unconditional.
  3. Browse through our available options using the unique link provided by BIMM University Berlin upon firm acceptance of your offer.
  4. Select your preferred accommodation and follow the easy booking process.

Please note: Applicants must be aged 18 or over and confirm BIMM University Berlin as their firm choice to be eligible for accommodation. If BIMM is your insurance choice, you will not be eligible to apply for accommodation, and we would advise checking out the alternative accommodation options below.

Finding accommodation in Berlin can be competitive, so make sure that you have all your documents ready and are prepared to spend a good amount of time looking for a flat share or apartment to avoid disappointment.

There are also some important aspects to understand before you embark upon the excitement of hunting down your digs.

Necessary documents include the following:
Schufa-Auskunft – this is not necessarily required for students coming from abroad, but it’s always a good idea to make sure you have some evidence of your credit rating. Otherwise, anything declaring that you aren’t in any debt will suffice
Mietschuldenfreiheitsbescheinigung – proof from your previous landlord that you have no debts relevant to your rent
Einkommensnachweise -proof of income/proof of parents’ income if they’re renting on your behalf
• Copy of your ID card/passport

Please familiarise yourself with the three different kinds of rental:

  • Mieten means to rent or to let, and refers to a direct contract between you and a landlord
  • Untermieten means to sub-let – renting a room from someone who themselves has a contract with the landlord
  • A WG, or Wohngemeinschaft, is a flat share, in which a group of people will come together to rent a property on equal terms

The first option is the safest, as under German law anyone signing a tenancy agreement automatically gains the protection of strong rights that prevent eviction, exploitation, etc. However, taking on a tenancy will likely be considerably more expensive than the other options covered here, and bestows a number of responsibilities upon you as a tenant – there are a fair number of checks to be passed as well.

Mieten contracts tend to be for longer periods of time, so may not suit a student lifestyle. Much more flexible are untermieten agreements, which are often more informal in nature and shorter in length, and frequently negotiable in terms of cost.

However, you have considerably fewer rights – it is sometimes the case that the landlord might not know you’re living there. Technically, this is not allowed and the landlord can end the lease without prior notice.

We have a number of partnerships with select accommodation providers, all within a short distance of our college. Let them know that you’re studying with us, and they’ll put you in touch with a member of their team who’ll be looking after all BIMM-related queries.

Student Accommodation Providers:

Letting Agencies and Apartments:

General Lettings

Private lettings

Please be aware that the agents listed have not been visited or vetted in any way by BIMM University Berlin and you should therefore use them at your own risk.

Perhaps the best option for students is the Wohngemeinschaft, where you would share a property with others, taking on equal responsibility and splitting costs between you.

These are very common within Berlin, and while some care is needed to ensure that you don’t end up living with people that you can’t get along with, they can be a fun and affordable option.

Finding Housemates

The European accommodation portal WGGesucht.de is a great free place to look for these, and local newspapers and community freesheets regularly advertise apartments and rooms.

Alternatively, you could sign up with one of the Mitwohnzentralen – accommodation agencies that specialise in filling rooms across the city, or even join and message the BIMM Berlin Student Facebook group to find others heading to the city who are looking for people to share with.

You can also search for other public groups to ask about flatshares etc, such as Toytown Berlin.

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The amount you’ll pay very much depends upon the type of accommodation you choose – for example, the privacy of a one-bedroom apartment will cost considerably more than a three-bedroom flatshare.

As with all cities, where you live will affect the price: opting for lodgings right next to a U-Bahn line in the centre of a key nightlife district will take more from your wallet each month than somewhere a little further out.

In general, students can expect to pay around €300 per person for a 3-bedroom WG (shared apartment), rising to around €800-€900 for a sublet, furnished apartment for themselves in an area in transport zone B, or around €1000+ per month in the centre of the city (transport zone A).

  • We recommend viewing a property at least twice. You’ll be more likely to notice problems the second time around
  • Take someone with you or let someone else know exactly where you are when you visit a property, just to err on the side of caution
  • It’s also a good idea to visit the area at night. If you do this, please ensure you stick to the point above and take someone with you
  • Make sure you and all your other housemates view the property. Don’t take someone else’s word that the property is right for you
  • Compare a range of different landlords and properties
  • Take your time and don’t let landlords pressure you – there is a surplus of good properties in the area and you will find somewhere you like
  • When you go to view, take notes and photos and use our checklist to make sure you don’t miss anything.
  • Get informed – knowing your rights will help you view properties more critically and put you in a stronger negotiating position

Our Viewing Checklist

Don’t be afraid to ask lots of questions – it’s a big decision.

  1. Does the place look well maintained?
  2. Will you be warm enough in winter?
  3. Will it be safe and secure?
  4. Does it have the space and facilities you
    need (i.e. washing machine, heating,
    fridge/freezer)?
  5. Are the current tenants happy with the landlord
  6. Is the property affordable and good value?
  7. Is the area suitable for your needs?

Student Advice

Why not hear from the students who have lived and breathed the process? Discover our Accommodation Top Tips Checklist by Ells Sivakumaran.


"Before you even begin looking at properties, work out with your housemates what you need from your accommodation. Whether that’s somewhere with great communal space, or lots of storage or big bedrooms. It’s just useful to be in agreement of what you’re looking for before you start the process."
Ells Sivakumaran, Event Management Graduate


"The thing I love the most is that the city is alive; things are happening all the time and if you fall asleep, you’ll miss it."
Nico Uris, Songwriting

BIMM University Berlin’s address is:

First Floor/Erster Stock,
House of Music, RAW-Gelände
Revaler Straße 99
10245 Berlin, Germany

You may wish to consider living slightly further away and commuting into Friedrichshain, especially if you’re already settled in Berlin. Remember that you’ll need to take into consideration the cost of travelling, and the time it will take to get into BIMM Berlin, when making any accommodation decisions.

We recommend the following areas, some of which are within walking distance of BIMM Berlin or a short commute:

• Friedrichshain
• Kreuzberg
• Fennpfuhl
• Lichtenberg
• Mitte
• Prenzlauer Berg
• Neukölln
• Treptow

Any questions?

For any questions regarding student accommodation or if you’d like more information on how to apply to BIMM University Berlin, please contact our Admissions Team on +49 (0)30 311 99 186 or email berlin@bimm-institute.de.

 

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