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Accommodation
- Can I book my accommodation through FUBiS?
- What kind of accommodation options does FUBiS offer?
- What should I bring, what is already in the room?
- Do I have internet access in my accommodation?
- Are meals included in the accommodation price?
- Where can I buy food and other convenience goods?
- How long do I need to get from my accommodation to the university and to the city center?
- To whom should I turn if there are problems with my accommodation?
- Can I bring guests to FUBiS? Can they live with me in my accommodation?
Can I book my accommodation through FUBiS?
Students face various challenges when looking for housing that is available for short-term lease, meets basic standards and still remains affordable. As an optional service, FUBiS serves as an intermediary between students and a range of accommodation options that match these criteria. Please note that your lease will be short-term. In Germany, it is customary that short-term leases are relatively more expensive than long-term leases - one can expect to pay more than twice as much for a short-term stay. Cost advantages that FUBiS might be able to negotiate with housing providers are passed on to the student.
What kind of accommodation options does FUBiS offer?
FUBiS offers participants the possibility to book an accommodation upon registration. You have the choice between several housing options:
- Single room in a student dorm. Students live together in an apartment-sharing cluster with other students with whom you share the kitchen and the bathroom.
- Single apartment in an apartment building. Students have a room including a small kitchen and a bathroom. The apartment is approximately 30 m² and also disposes of a balcony.
- Homestay accommodation. Students have their own room with a bed, cupboard and desk. The size and other furnishings of the rooms can vary. Breakfast and one additional meal a day are included in the price.
- Seminaris Campus Hotel (Term III only). Students live in an on-campus hotel room for 1 – 2 people. Breakfast, internet and access to the hotel gym and sauna are included in the prices. Only available for Term III.
You can find further information on the housing options here.
An overview of the costs can be found here.
Please note that FUBiS only acts as an intermediary between landlord and tenant. FUBiS is not responsible for any agreement between both parties.
If you plan on arriving before the beginning of the FUBiS term or extending your stay after the term, we recommend finding an individual accommodation for the extra day before/after the official program dates. If you plan to have a friend or family member stay with you (especially for an extended period of time) during your stay in Berlin, we advise you to arrange for an accommodation individually because the accommodation options offered through FUBiS are for FUBiS participants only and are intended for just one person. Some helpful tips can be found here.
What should I bring, what is already in the room?
The rooms are simply furnished with enough to serve basic needs. Every room has a bed (including bed linen), a cupboard, a desk and a chair. The kitchens are fully furnished and equipped with all the necessary cooking utensils.
You also have access to washing machines and tumble driers which can be used for a small fee. Bed linen is included but towels are not, so please bring your own towels.
Do I have internet access in my accommodation?
Generally, there is no internet access in the accommodations because this does not belong to the standard housing facilities in Germany. However, all FUBiS participants will have access to the computer labs and the Wi-Fi network available on campus. In addition, there are many affordable internet cafés in Berlin, as well as cafés that offer free wireless to their customers.
Another solution is to purchase a “surfstick” - a USB-stick-like modem that lets you connect to the internet via cell phone networks. Many cell phone providers have surfstick options, but only some have prepaid options without a minimum contract duration. Also, there are data volume restrictions and the stick itself can be quite expensive (50 € to 70 €), so make sure to go over terms and conditions carefully.
Are meals included in the accommodation price?
If you choose to be housed in a single room in a student dorm or a single occupancy apartment, meals are not included in the price. However, you will have a furnished kitchen in which you can prepare your meals. If you are staying in a homestay, breakfast and one additional meal a day are included in the price.
Where can I buy food and other convenience goods?
Near each accommodation there is a supermarket where you can buy food and other convenience goods. There are also many possibilities to go shopping near the university. Please note that on Sundays shops are normally closed in Germany and that they usually close between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. on weekdays.
How long do I need to get from my accommodation to the university and to the city center?
Each accommodation can easily be reached by bus and metro ("U-Bahn"). With the public transportation system you need approximately 30 minutes to get from your accommodation to Freie Universität Berlin. You should plan about the same amount of time for getting to the city center. Berlin is a very big, spread-out city, and commutes of 60 minutes by bus or metro are quite normal.
To whom should I turn if there are problems with my accommodation?
Like most German universities, Freie Universität Berlin does not own its own dorms.
If you have problems which deal directly with your accommodation (e.g. a broken appliance), please contact the staff of your accommodation and they will be able to help you. The contact person for your housing as well as the e-mail address, telephone number and the office hours will be sent to you before the beginning of the FUBiS program. Should a problem not be resolved, you can also turn to the FUBiS team.
For homestay issues, please contact the FUBiS team and the homestay coordinator. You will receive the contact information of the homestay coordinator before the FUBiS program begins.
Can I bring guests to FUBiS? Can they live with me in my accommodation?
All courses are open to registered FUBiS students only. Please understand that we do not admit any auditors in order to guarantee that the course can take place as planned and not to disturb other course participants. Participation in the extracurricular activities is possible (at the guest’s expense) upon agreement and availability. The rooms in the student dorms and the single occupancy apartments are intended for only one person and are furnished with only a single, twin-sized bed. Therefore, guests cannot stay over night. The same is valid if you are placed in a host family.
