Where to find a temporary accommodation ?

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The new student places at the universities are being financed jointly by the German states and the federal government. But that won't give the students a cheap meal or guarantee they find an affordable place to live. Foreign students are expected to suffer especially. They often live in dormitories, because non-Europeans find it difficult in the private housing market. On average, foreign students also have to live on 100 euros ($132) a month less than their German counterparts. That's why they prefer the less expensive dorms rooms over a room in an apartment, according to a study done by the German National Association for Student Affairs.                                                                                                                                                                                                          Source

What is the current situation ?

Recently one of my friends was searching for an accommodation in Stuttgart. After writing many unanswered e-mails to the house owners, he got an appointment for house visit (Besichtigen). He went there with great hope and wanted to convince the owner to rent him the house (Einzel Zimmer) on any cost. After a long deal with navigation, he reached the house address, rather than having a sign of relief, he was perplexed to see a huge crowd of around 20 young lads standing in front of the house with a buzz. With raised eyebrows he approached them and inquired for the reason. Making his speculations true they were all there waiting for the same appointment. After a brief description of the terms and conditions the owner asked the people to leave if they are not satisfied with them. Anyways he has to take a lucky draw to choose the candidate. This kind of experiences are not totally new for the students of urban universities, but it is intensifying more rapidly. 

So start searching for an accommodation two or three months earlier. New students will find it difficult to find an accommodation from their country, as almost all the German house owners would like to meet their tenants in person before renting their house. So one has to venture for the rooms right after receiving the admission letter. Don't wait till the visa approval, then it would be more difficult for you to find one. In case if you are skeptic about the Visa, then at least contact some current students studying in your preferred universities, for initial temporary accommodation. Also you can book youth hostels (jugendherberge) for initial stay.

- Nelapati