Student Housing
„Oh, you're planning to study in Munich? Well, have fun trying to find an apartment!“ Most likely you have heard this sort of thing already. Munich and its surrounding area is known throughout Germany as an expensive place to live. Affordable housing in Munich continues to be hard to find. This is true not only directly in Munich, but also in the entire metropolitan area surrounding the state capital. (Only in Rosenheim, which the Munich Studentenwerk [Student Union] is also responsible for, is it a little easier to find a place.)
Therefore the Munich Studentenwerk [Student Union] offers affordable rooms in its student dormitories in Munich, Garching, Freising, Oberschleissheim, and Rosenheim. The average price for a room is approximately 200 euros, including utilities and an internet connection. However, the 9,400 apartments and the 400 apartments in rented buildings are not enough to accomodate all applicants. Therefore, depending on which student dormitory, there are 
waiting lists of one to two semesters. Therefore, one cannot be sure of getting an apartment in one of the dormitories of the Studentenwerk [Student Union] directly at the beginning of one's studies. A better chance of getting a room is possible at the Wohnheimtag [Student Dormitory Day] of the Studentenwerk [Student Union] in mid-September, at which 100 to 300 apartments are distributed by raffle. Those who aren't lucky at the raffle can still find help at the private room-agency of the Studentenwerk [Student Union].
In general, the earlier you apply for housing at the Munich Studentenwerk [Student Union], the better your chances of getting an inexpensive place to live. Further options for finding a place to live can be found under „Student Life“ under the section Living.
Don't forget to register!
All students are required by the Meldegesetz [Registration Law] to register at the Einwohnermeldeamt [Resident Registration Office] within one week. This applies to students whose apartment is not their primary residence (be careful of the Zweitwohnungssteuer [Tax on secondary residences]!), and it applies to those moving from one residence to another within Munich. Finally, it also applies to people who move out of their rooms or apartments. Failure to register will result in a fine.
There are Meldebögen [Registration forms] in most stationery stores, for free at the Meldebehörden [Registration authorities] or on the homepage of your municipality:
Benediktbeuern Einwohnermeldeamt [Registration Office]Freising Bürgerbüro [Civil Office]Garching Rathaus [City Hall]Munich Bürgerbüro [Civil Office]Oberschleißheim Rathaus [City Hall]Rosenheim Städtisches Einwohnermeldeamt [State Registration Office
Simple registration for moving in, moving out, or a change of residence is possible not only at the Meldebehörden [Registration Offices], but also at universities and other institutions, is possible via the Meldebox [Registration box] on the internet: www.meldebox.de.
Careful: Zweitwohnungssteuer [Tax on Secondary Residences]!
Several municipalities have imposed a so-called Zweitwohnungssteuer [Tax on Secondary Residences] in varying amounts. A secondary residence is any residence that is kept in addition to the primary residence for the purpose of maintaining the personal lifestyle of the resident or one of his/her family members, independent of whether the residence is registered as a secondary residence. Students are not exempt from the tax on secondary residences. Of the university locations that fall under the guidance of the Munich Studentenwerk [Student Union], Munich, Freising and Benediktbeuern impose a tax on secondary residences; Garching, Oberschleißheim and Rosenheim don't. Further information is available on the homepage of your municipality.
