Tübingen is a small town with a big university. Therefore, finding accommodations can be a challenge. It's best to start looking for accommodations early. In fact, your search should begin well before you arrive here.
Distance between your accommodations and your institute.
Public transport (website partially in German) connections available around the area; or you if you want to go by car or bike.
How much money you want to spend for housing (you may want to check our Local Infos page for pointers on living costs, including rent).
Housing in Tübingen is unfortunately not cheap. The most expensive area is the city center (Zentrum/Innenstadt). Housing of course gets cheaper once you move to the outskirts of the city into areas like Derendingen, Lustnau, Pfrondorf or even different towns such as Rottenburg. To get an overview, please have a look at our site Neighborhoods and Outskirts.
It's very easy to reach the Morgenstelle or the MPI campus with the different bus lines from the city Center. This also goes for changing busses at the central train station in case you live in an outskirt.
We have listed some websites throughout this section for you, but newspapers, house brokers, major bus stops (like at Ahornweg or Uni/Neue Aula, where people sometimes put up housing adverts) are also useful means to find accommodation!
The most common types of accommodation you can find in Tübingen are:
Of course, you have to decide for yourself on the kind of housing you prefer. To help you make a decision, we have collected some information here.
Student housing (Studierendenwohnheime) provides one of the cheapest options for furnished accommodation in Tübingen. Dormitories are managed by the Studierendenwerk Tübingen-Hohenheim, which allocates accommodation and strictly prioritizes undergraduate and Master's students. If you are a visiting researcher, you are only eligible if you're matriculated as a (doctoral) student, and even then it is very unlikely you'll be able to secure a spot (it may be easier for couples or families). If you want to try your luck anyway, you can always apply.
The student dormitories are a quite vivid and colorful place to live. You will meet people from different faculties, grad students, university students and of course Erasmus students from many different countries and walks of life. By sharing the kitchen with several people, you have many opportunities to socialize and have fun. Of course, you should also consider that it might get loud from time to time, and if you are unlucky be aware that the shared facilities like the kitchen or toilet/bathroom (if applicable), could be left dirty!
Tübingen's largest dorm complex is the student village at Waldhäuser Ost (WHO), but there are many other dormitories which are spread all over the town. Some of these also include family housing and WG-style accommodations.
If dormitories are not your thing and you would rather live in a more private environment, yet not alone, then you have the possibility to live in a shared apartment (Wohngemeinschaften, WGs). These are flats shared between two or more people, with a common kitchen and bathroom. Everyone usually has their own room.
By the way - German flat mates are of course an excellent way to learn German!
You will often find ads for WG rooms at the major bus stops (like at Ahornweg or Uni/Neue Aula), but the most convenient way of looking for a room in a WG is to search the web. Some search-term suggestions include "WG Tübingen", "Wohngemeinschaft Tübingen", "Zimmer suchen Tübingen". These should lead you to the most common search portals, where you can also place an ad yourself. You can also try the Facebook group "Uni Tübingen WG Boerse".
WGs vary in size, location, number and age of occupants, as well as price. Usually you have to arrange for your own furniture for your room (sometimes the last occupant might even want to sell off a lot of theirs to the next one), but more often than not, the kitchen and other common facilities are already furnished.
This could be a good option if you don't want to invest too much!
Before you go to see the flat, you already have a lot of information to help you decide. The ad usually provides either a contact number or an email address to contact your potential future flat mates. Remember that, in most cases, it's the occupants of the house that decide whether you get the room, and the landlord has usually nothing to do with this process. Also, responding fast to these ads helps, as there are usually many people interested in the room.
After you have found your ideal room and managed to arrange an appointment to meet the other residents. There are often 10-20 other "candidates" for the same room, so, it is wise to look for more than one WG rather than stopping at the first one that appeals to you.
Moving day is often at the start of the month, but sometimes they want you to move in as soon as possible. If you are moving in the middle of the month, be careful that you only pay the rent from the day you move in! You often have to pay a security deposit (Kaution) when you move in, either to the landlord directly or to the previous resident's account. This is usually from EUR 200-500, or twice to three times the basic monthly rent without utilities, so make sure you can cover this expense when you sign the contract.
If your WG contract is for an unlimited period, you are generally required to notice to your roommates three months prior to your departure date. However, in most cases, if you can find another occupant before this time, you can move out earlier. Your deposit is reimbursed to you either by the landlord or the next tenant, but don't count on this process being very immediate - it can take as long as six months!
If you don't want to carry your furniture with you, then you could try and persuade the next tenant to keep most of your things.
If you prefer to live on your own, you will have to spend a little bit more. Even though prices in Tübingen are relatively high for German standards, flats are still affordable. However, be aware that most flats are unfurnished (except for the kitchen), so you will incur in some extra expenses in furnishing your home.
Keep in mind that you are responsible for managing everything on your own. So you might consider a membership of the Deutscher Mieterbund, an association that helps tenants with any problem related to rental contracts, handing over the apartment at the beginning or end of the contract, additional expenses, etc.
Also bear in mind: not all landlords speak English and your contract as well as all other communication regarding your flat will be in German. It is often helpful to bring a German colleague when you go to view an apartment - they can translate for you and know what questions to ask.
If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to contact your Personal Support.
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