The first steps

Student dormitory or a private room? If you are participating in an exchange program, your university may arrange a room for you. It’s best to ask your university directly about this.

Are you coming to Freiburg as a free mover (not part of an exchange program)? Then you will need to find accommodation yourself. Make sure to explore the different options available.

Living in a Student Dormitory

Even students who are not coming as part of an exchange program can apply for a dormitory room:  SWFR dormitories.

Living in a dormitory provides a lot of opportunities and can be beneficial in finding new friends. However, living in a dormitory also has unique characteristics and one has to follow certain rules. Usually the apartments or floors are shared by students who also share a kitchen and sanitary fittings. They have individual rooms though. The residents are collectively responsible for the cleanliness of the shared areas. This means that all students are required to clean. Of course, residents are also required to clean their own rooms by themselves.

The Studierendenwerk has developed a dormitory mentoring. Mentors specifically support all (international) newcomers and provide help and advice for daily life.  Furthermore, they’re offering a cultural and leisure time program for all residents in the dormitory. You can find more information here: Activities in the dormitories

Living Off-Campus

Students looking for private accommodation have several options: unfurnished or furnished rooms for sublease, small apartments in a landlord’s building, or shared apartments (WGs). WGs usually consist of three to five people who share household responsibilities.

The SWFR provide a free housing market with different kinds of accommodations.

The service package is an additional, bookable offering from the SWFR that provides support throughout the semester and helps you get off to an easy start in Freiburg. It includes, for one semester, a furnished room or apartment, student health insurance, guidance and program offerings from the Studierendenwerk, membership in the International Club including a Club Card, an excursion voucher, and a virtual info package for international students.

How does it work? How can you register? Everything is explained here: Service Package for international Students : Studierendenwerk Freiburg-Schwarzwald

Financing your studies is one of the most important aspects to sort out well before you begin your academic journey in Baden-Württemberg. Both for your visa and later for your residence permit, you will need to show that you can support yourself financially during your stay.

We know that studying and living in Germany can feel financially demanding, especially for international students. Living costs are comparatively high, and legal restrictions on part-time work may limit the income you can earn alongside your studies. This can make financial planning feel challenging at times.

In Baden-Württemberg, students from non‑EU countries are also required to pay tuition fees of €1,500 per semester. All of these factors make early and careful financial preparation essential, not only for your academic success but also to ensure that your stay in Germany is secure and worry‑free.

Here you can find further information and important guidance on financing your studies and the costs you will encounter in Germany.

At SWFR, we want to make your start in Freiburg as smooth and welcoming as possible. If you have personal questions or need individual support, our social counselling service is here for you, ready to listen, guide, and assist you at every step.

Register your residence at the Bürgeramt (citizen’s office).
Find more information about the registration in the city here on the website [only available in German]: Link for more information: Register residence in Freiburg​​​​​​​

For more questions, you can contact the social counselling.
Tip: You will receive a registration confirmation. Keep it safe, as you will need it for other matters.

If you plan to stay in Germany for more than a few weeks, you should open a checking account (Girokonto). Many banks offer free accounts for students. You will need this account for health insurance and if you want to take a part-time job. It also allows you to withdraw cash for free from many ATMs in Germany and pay cashlessly.

For more information and to check which documents you need, see Study in Germany: Bank Account, or contact the social counselling.

In Germany, you must show proof of health insurance when enrolling. There are basically two types of insurance: statutory and private.

We recommend that international students take out statutory health insurance, even if private alternatives appear cheaper at first glance. Often, private insurance does not fully cover the necessary protection, and if you are exempted from statutory insurance, you cannot switch back during your studies.

More information: Health Insurance : Studierendenwerk Freiburg-Schwarzwald

For students from non-EU countries (including Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, who are generally exempt): you usually need a residence permit for study purposes, including proof of financial resources (visa or residence permit), especially if you plan to stay in Germany for longer than three months.
A German visa is always issued for a specific purpose. As a prospective student, you apply for a student or applicant visa at the German embassy or consulate in your home country. If you enter Germany on a tourist visa, you cannot convert it into a residence permit in Germany.

All important information about entry can be found here: DSW Internationale Studierende: Entry into Germany

For more information and to check which documents you need, see Municipal registration and residence permit | Study in Germany

Register at your university’s student office (Studierendensekretariat).
You usually need the following documents:

• Admission letter
• Passport/ID card
• Enrollment application form
• Proof of health insurance
• A recent biometric passport photo
• Semester fee (and tuition fees for international students, if applicable)
• Exmatriculation certificate if transferring from another German university

But it is important to notice that enrollment procedures vary by university, so check your university’s website or student advisory service for details.

To get around Freiburg and the surrounding area flexibly, you can purchase a semester ticket. With the semester ticket, students can travel for an entire semester throughout the Regio-Verkehrsverbund Freiburg (RVF) network. Students can use it not only for commuting to university but also for leisure.

More info: Semester ticket : Studierendenwerk Freiburg-Schwarzwald

• International Club: Offers students from around the world opportunities to meet others and learn about different cultures. Activities include club evenings at the MensaBar, Café Multilingua, cooking and crafting workshops, interactive German courses, and readings.
• Buddy Program: Supports international students by pairing them with a buddy who helps with everyday tasks after arrival in Freiburg. Students can also volunteer as buddies.
• IC Walking Dialogues: In the Walking Dialogues of the International Club, you can learn the German language in a relaxed way through interactive experiences in and around Freiburg.
• Language Tandem: Practice a foreign language or spend free time together with a tandem partner. Language opens doors to new cultures and friendships.
• Language courses: A language course helps you find your way more easily and make new contacts. Check whether a course at the Language Teaching Institute suits you or explore other programs (see above) to broaden your experience.

For students, there are many great offerings in and around Freiburg. An app where you can find many of them is myUFR. There, you can find cool activities of all kinds. For example, check out what happens in the Mensa in the evenings and expand your knowledge with exciting workshops or board game nights at Mensamania. Of course, there are also many other possibilities for what you can do, when, and where.

Dormitory Mentoring: The dormitory mentoring regularly organizes a variety of events in your dorm, such as information and meet-and-greet evenings, creative workshops, excursions, and sports events, which promote intercultural exchange and strengthen the sense of community in the dorm.

MensaBar: Culture for students - culture by students: During the semester, we organize a varied cultural programme with concerts, slams, MONDO music theater, international evenings and parties in the MensaBar (Rempartstraße) and, in summer, open-air events in the beautiful MensaGarten in Rempartstraße.

Sports offers and university sports: Our sports & leisure offer is meant to bring you a change from your daily study routine. Whether climbing courses, dance classes in the cafeteria and ski courses - everything is affordable even for a small budget. The group setting also allows you to exchange experiences with other students, which is often helpful. Whether it's a day course, a series or a whole weekend - there's something for every taste and budget

You can also check out the diverse courses of Hochschulsport Freiburg.

StudiTours: Want to get out of Freiburg? Then you will surely find something with StudiTours. They offer low-cost trips for students, including hikes, city trips, and excursions to sights. Organized and accompanied by student tutors to explore the area and meet new people.

There are also Family Tours, aimed at students with children.

Workshops: Our workshops are group offers that provide you with professional support and information. We have a wide range of offers, especially for study difficulties in the area of stress management, exam nerves, to improve time management, but also for relaxation and self-care. The group setting also allows you to exchange experiences with other students, which is often helpful. Whether a day course, series or a whole weekend - there is something for every taste and budget.

Music, museums, theater, and cinema: Take the opportunity to experience great exhibitions, theater plays, concerts, or movies. Many venues offer students discounts or even free admission to exhibitions.

Tip: It is therefore always good to ask for a student discount. For many activities, you can participate, listen, or admire what the event has to offer for less money with your UniCard.

Cafés: Many SWFR Cafeterias have their own cozy cafés where you can enjoy excellent coffee. In addition, there are numerous charming cafés in Freiburg. To discover them, just stroll through the city center, your district, or ask other students and friends which café they like best.

Old town: Walk through the small alleys, discover cozy cafés, restaurants, and shops, and enjoy the historic architecture.

Mensa Tanzbrunnen: If you enjoy dance and music, then see what’s happening at the Mensa Tanzbrunnen right next to Mensa-Rempartstraße.

Short hikes: There are many opportunities to go on a short hike from Freiburg to the surrounding mountains, such as Schlossberg, Schönberg, or Rosskopf. The Kaiserstuhl is a beautiful wine-growing region near Freiburg – perfect for hiking and wine tasting, accessible by train.

A part-time job can be especially helpful for international students to gain experience and earn a little extra money. Unfortunately, it is usually not enough to fully cover both your studies and your living expenses. For international students from non‑EU countries, it is therefore essential to secure your financial resources before starting your studies.

In addition, the following regulations apply from March 1, 2024:
International students from non‑EU countries are allowed to work 140 full days or 280 half days per year in Germany. This is noted on (the supplementary sheet to) your residence permit. Alternatively, employment of up to 20 hours per week is permitted. In these cases, you do not need additional approval from the immigration authority.

NOTE: In addition to the 140 full / 280 half workdays, the following types of employment are also allowed: work as a research or student assistant at the university, at the student services organization (Studierendenwerk), in student representation (AStA/STURA), or other jobs closely connected to your studies, such as at an institute. As long as your studies are not at risk, these activities may be carried out without time limits. For freelance or contract work (Honorartätigkeiten), however, approval from the immigration authority is required.

If you want to know more, you can find further information here: DSW: Job regulations for international students in Germany Contact the social counselling.if you have questions.