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

Medical Consultation for International Students

Our social counselling.service also helps you find doctors in Freiburg with foreign language skills.

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