How to find Housing for Exchange Students in Aachen, Germany

Aachen is a premier academic center in Germany, drawing thousands of international students to institutions like RWTH Aachen University and FH Aachen (University of Applied Sciences). Despite its welcoming student environment, securing a short-term room presents real challenges. Local landlords frequently require multi-year commitments, making fixed, single-semester sublets difficult to lock down. Additionally, unverified online listings and social media groups frequently target incoming international students seeking housing from abroad. But Aachen is a nice place to go on exchange to, and housing shouldn’t keep you from going! Scroll on to find more info about finding housing as an exchange student in Aachen, Germany.

Strategic ways to start your search for exchange accommodation in Aachen

Leverage institutional resources: (Rheinisch-Westfälische Technische Hochschule Aachen (RWTH), FH Aachen (Applied Sciences)) Consult the housing and international offices at RWTH or FH Aachen early. Even prior to formal registration, university coordinators can direct you toward vetted local dorm contacts or short-stay advice.

Consult the municipal channels of your host city Aachen.Review the official Aachen city portal for municipal housing guidance and local market regulations.

Verify Listings: A lot of exchange students eventually turn to Facebook and other social platforms to find housing. These are often littered with scams, some more noticeable than others. Avoid wiring money or signing contracts before a listing is verified or checked through an official university housing service.

Utilize student-focused platforms: Exchange Rooms simplifies this search. Incoming exchange students to Aachen can search through listings from outgoing German students going on exchange elsewhere and temporarily subletting their room in Aachen. All students on Exchange Rooms are verified using their official student email address.

Key local neighborhoods & housing options

Understanding the city layout helps refine your search to regions that match your commute and budget:

• Westviertel & Pontviertel: Located directly adjacent to RWTH's main campus and the student nightlife along Pontstraße, these areas are popular but feature high rental demand.
• Frankenberger Viertel: Known for historic brick architecture, parks, and dining, offering a balanced neighborhood vibe slightly south of the main center.
• Burtscheid: Located southeast of the central train station (Aachen HBF), providing quieter residential streets while remaining well-connected.
• Dormitories & WG-Rooms: The Studierendenwerk Aachen manages state-subsidized dorms (typically €300–€450/month), though waitlists are long. Private flatshares (Wohngemeinschaften or WGs) average €400 to €600 per month including utilities. Studio units generally range from €550 to €850+ per month.

Estimated Cost of Living & Local Transit

A realistic monthly budget for a student in Aachen sits between €900 and €1,150:

Housing / Rent

€400 – €650

Covers WG rooms or small studios.

Groceries & Cafeteria

€200 – €300

Utilizing student Mensa cafeterias keeps costs lower.

Health Insurance & Admin

€120 – €130

Mandatory state health coverage for students in Germany.

Transportation

Enrolled status includes local transit

Semester fees include a Regional/Deutschland-Ticket covering local buses (ASEAG) and regional trains.

Aachen's dense city layout makes cycling one of the fastest ways to get around campus. The local public transport network, managed by ASEAG, offers frequent bus services across all major quarters and into neighboring Dutch and Belgian border towns.

The reciprocal listing approach

If you hold a lease in your home city, post your own room on Exchange Rooms before departing. Send your listing link directly to the international office at your host university in Aachen. Connecting with local Aachen students heading to your home institution attracts local demand and local listings that solve housing needs on both ends.

Even without a room to list, creating an account helps build the peer network, improving access to short-term sublets across Aachen's university community.

Exchange Rooms

Exchange Rooms can help you secure housing in Aachen. Search for rooms in the area or learn more and make an account!

Good luck finding housing, we’re rooting for you!