I’m starting a new series about surviving at a German university. I did my undergrad in the US, so that’s my perspective for this. If you’re from a different European country, I imagine that a lot of what I have to say is pretty basic. However, we press on! Everything you know now was new to you once.
what is it? The Wohnheim, or dormitory, is a place you can choose to live in. They’re really popular with international students because they’re furnished and located close to campus. Unlike in the US, the Wohnheim does not belong directly to the university. Instead, the local Studentenwerk manages the dorms and the campus cafeterias.
eww….a dorm? It’s not what you’re thinking. You won’t have to share a room with a stranger. (Sharing a dorm room with a stranger is insane when you stop to think about it.) You can get a single with a kitchenette and bathroom, or there are a variety of shared options. Some are more like a traditional US dorm where many people share a kitchen and bathroom, while others are more like tiny apartments. My current living situation is in a dorm with one roommate. We both have private entrances to our side of the apartment with a jack-and-jill kitchenette and bathroom in the middle.
what if something goes wrong? Then the Hausmeister is your best friend. The Hausmeister (custodian) is in charge of making sure thing work properly in the building. A burner on our stove kept flipping the breaker every time we turned it on, so my roommate went to see the Hausmeister. One day later, we had a new burner! You’ll meet the Hausmeister when you move in and collect your key. Make sure to note his or her hours – their office is not always open!
dorms are expensive…. Not in Germany! I’m paying about EUR 215 per month including internet and utilities for my place. Not a bad deal! It would cost less if I had more roommates. (It should be noted that this is about what I’d pay for a normal apartment room. My city’s just cheap. But in other cities, the Wohnheim is a great and affordable option.)
what is provided? A great question! My room came with shelves, a desk and chair, bed and mattress, coat hanger, blinds, and a massive wardrobe. The kitchen had a sink, shelves, and two burners. The bathroom had a shower, toilet, sink, and mirror. You need to bring all other appliances and linens yourself, just like in the US. I made a few IKEA runs after arriving, and now my dorm room is a cheerful home!
So far I love my new dorm life. The worst part was definitely telling people back home that I was moving back into a dorm! It’s safe, clean, and comfortable – exactly what a student needs to thrive!
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Photo by Nguyen Dang Hoang Nhu on Unsplash
A Practical Pixie 