Thousands of students still without rooms at the start of the semester

Why so many students are left without rooms

The housing shortage among students is not a new phenomenon, but it is worsening. On the one hand, the number of students is increasing: Aachen attracts thousands of new first-year students every year, RWTH is growing internationally, and the University of Applied Sciences is also popular. There are also exchange programs, interns and expats.

On the other hand, the supply is lagging behind. New construction projects take years, renovations eat up costs and reduce supply during the construction phase. At the same time, in view of the market situation, private landlords are raising prices or turning apartments into vacation and short-term apartments.

The result: Small, affordable apartments ranging from 20 to 40 square meters in size are extremely scarce and that is exactly what students, visiting researchers and project staff urgently need.

The situation in Aachen at a glance

Several factors are aggravating the situation in Aachen:

• RWTH is one of the largest technical universities in Europe. In the winter semester 2024/25 alone, more than 47,000 students were enrolled and the trend is rising.
• Many of them come from abroad. They often rely on their apartment to be fully equipped as soon as they move in, as they are unable to arrive with furniture.
• The private housing market is overloaded. Advertisements for small apartments are often offline again within a few hours.

It is particularly critical in the city center, near the university and in popular districts such as Burtscheid or Laurensberg. If you want to buy an apartment here, you need luck, contacts or a very early application.

What does that mean for you in practice?

If you come to Aachen at the start of the semester, you shouldn't hope that you'll find a cheap shared apartment or an unfurnished one-room apartment in the short term. There is a high probability that you will have to join long waiting lists.

Many students therefore end up in emergency solutions: interim rental of overpriced rooms, couchsurfing with acquaintances or temporarily in hostels. This costs nerves, time and often more money than expected.

International students in particular report that starting their studies without a permanent place of residence is an enormous burden. How are you supposed to focus on lectures and exams if you don't know where you'll sleep next week?

Furnished apartments as a lifeline

This is where an alternative that is often underrated comes into play: furnished apartments. At first glance, they look more expensive than classic shared rooms or unfurnished apartments. But when you look at all factors of furniture, ancillary costs, Internet, energy, renovation obligations, the bill often looks completely different.

A furnished apartment offers you:

• Immediate availability without a set-up marathon
• Planning security because additional costs and Internet are usually included in the price
• Save time because you can move in immediately and concentrate on your studies
• Flexibility in terms of contract terms, which is ideal for exchange semesters or project phases

The result surprises many: A furnished apartment can even be cheaper in the end because the high one-time costs and hidden additional costs are eliminated. But above all, it gives you security in an uncertain situation.

Testimonials: How others did it

“I came to Aachen from Spain and had no chance of finding a dormitory room,” says Ana, 21, who is studying mechanical engineering in her third semester. “After two weeks of couchsurfing, I found a furnished apartment. It was more expensive than a room in a shared apartment, but I was able to move in right away and finally start studying. ”

Commuters also benefit. Markus, 34, says: “I spent nine months here for my project in Aachen. An unfurnished apartment wouldn't have made sense. With the furnished apartment, I had all the bed, kitchen, Internet and was able to concentrate fully on my work. ”

The Good Shepherd as a concrete solution

Anyone who has to move into Aachen at short notice often has little time and patience for experiments. This is where the Good Shepherd comes in:

• furnished apartments: move in directly without moving stress
• All inclusive rent: additional costs, internet, electricity all in one price
• modern equipment: kitchen, storage space, laundry facilities, WiFi
• Central location: ideal for students and commuters
• Flexible terms: suitable for studies, internships or project phases

This is how chaos on the housing market becomes a manageable, predictable model.

Act instead of hope

The headlines may sound alarming and they reflect reality: Thousands of students start each semester without a fixed home. But you don't have to be one of them.

The most important findings:

• Aachen's housing market is overloaded, and short-term miracles are unlikely.
• If you wait, you risk high costs and stress.
• One furnished apartment to rent in Aachen is a clever strategy: immediately ready to move in, can be planned and often even cheaper than expected.
• With offers such as the Good Shepherd, there are concrete solutions to help you start the semester safely and relaxed.

Find out now about available apartments in the Good Shepherd and start your studies in Aachen stress-free.

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