How Do You Want to Live?

Shared apartments are particularly popular with students. Rooms in shared apartments are often cheaper than having your own studio apartment, and even come furnished sometimes. You also live with people of a similar age and can start making friends right away. On the other hand, your own apartment provides peace and quiet, though it’s solely down to you to sort everything out. Dormitories feature both single apartments and shared apartments. What the Studierendenwerk can provide depends on how much students are able to pay. No matter the type of living arrangement you opt for, there are a number of things to bear in mind as you take this important step in your life.

How Do You Find Somewhere to Live and What Do You Need to Keep in Mind?

For studio apartments and shared apartments, there are many online platforms that can put you in contact with landlords. When looking for shared accommodation, you can often get in touch with potential future roommates directly and arrange a viewing appointment. These “castings” are all about getting to know each other and finding out whether you will get along. After all, the living arrangement will last months, if not years. When it comes to contractual matters with the landlord, you may have to provide evidence of a fixed income or a guarantee from your parents. That said, don’t let landlords out there take you for a ride. Time and again, dubious offers are posted online, where you are asked to pay up front without having seen the apartment at all. The Verbraucherzentrale provides tips on how to identify fake offers (link in German).

To live in one of the residential complexes provided by the Studierendenwerk, you have to apply for a room or an apartment. Make sure you send off your application in good time, as there are usually many applicants. The Studierendenwerk´s sites provide all the necessary documentation and an overview of available rooms in the 12 residential complexes. More than 2,100 residential spaces will be made available in Bremen, including the districts of Horn-Lehe, Neustadt and Mitte.

Where Do You Want to Live?

When looking for somewhere to live, you should also familiarize yourself with the districts of Bremen. Most of the residential areas are well connected, so you can reach the campus easily by bus and tram. If you prefer to walk to your lectures, then you should set your sights on staying near the campus, which is located in the Horn-Lehe district in the northeast of Bremen. The surrounding area includes the city forest and lake (known as the “Uni-See”), as well as the Rhododendron Park. This part of the city is also home to numerous companies and research institutes at the technology park. From here, the Hollerland nature reserve is only a stone’s throw away.

If you’re looking for culture or somewhere to party, the Mitte district is the right place for you. This is where you can find the “Viertel” (Ostertor and Steintor), an area buzzing with restaurants, bars, clubs, and cafes. There is always plenty going on here, especially on weekends. Popular for its beer gardens, the Schlachte promenade on the banks of the Weser is great place to meet fellow students. In this lively district, you should also pay a visit to the Schnoor neighborhood to check out its winding alleys, historical buildings, and shops.

Many students also live on the other side of the Weser due to its proximity to the Bremen University of Applied Sciences. The Neustadt district is known for its alternative cultural attractions and houses in the old Bremen style. Whether you want to relax in nature by Lake Werdersee, go shopping on Pappelstraße, or do something cultural at the Schwankhalle and the Schnürschuh Theater – this district has something for everyone. Tram line 6 will take you to the campus in about 30 minutes with no changes necessary.

Even if these three neighborhoods don’t appeal to you, you’re sure to find something you like it in one of the other 20!

Tip: Change Your Registration and Get €150

If you move to Bremen for your studies, you can receive a welcome payment of 150 euros. On behalf of the City Municipality of Bremen and the University of Bremen, bremen_service universität (bsu) is rewarding students that decide to move here. To be eligible for the welcome payment, you have to be enrolled at the university and re-register your first place of residence to Bremen for your studies – your first place of residence must not have been in the state of Bremen for the past 12 months. In addition, your first place of residence must be in Bremen for at least 12 months. You can find all the information on the bsu Online website or submit your application in the online form.