Student accommodation
Advice on finding an apartment in Berlin
Finding a new 'home away from home' takes time and a fair amount of preparation. During the summer, those officially enrolled on our courses will gain access to our student Facebook group, where our community also posts about rooms on their radar or available spots in their own WG (shared apartment). Start as soon as possible and aim for a long term solution. Those enrolled on one of our short summer courses can also ask for access to a WhatsApp group in which current long-term students may sublet their apartments over summer.
There's a great in depth guide to moving to Berlin here. It's not specific to students but it provides lots of good background info. You should also check out the recommended areas map we made, specific to our students.
Special discount codes for Student Housing will be shared with you in our Welcome Pack once you are fully enrolled.
Student housing
Special deals for Catalyst students:
The Social Hub - Student Stay
Centrally located in a prime spot in the Mitte district - with the Museum Island and the Holzmarkt nearby. With plenty of transport connections to help you navigate easily through the city. A fully-furnished room, private bathroom, spaces to work and relax, gym use, free bike-sharing, laundry, 24-hour security... all yours, in one great value package. On-site laundry facilities; all utilities (yes, all of them!); access to an on-site gym, linen and cleaning services and even a free night’s stay for parents, are also all included in the monthly rate.
Catalyst students receive 3% discount on all semester bookings for all length of stays visible on their website. Discount code will be shared with you once you have enrolled.
Neon Wood
Fully furnished apartments with high-speed internet, 24-hr laundry lounge with a spacious community lobby. Neon Wood currently has 3 locations in Berlin, with Frankfurter Tor offering the most convenient location for Catalyst students as the 21 Tram (the public transport line to Funkhaus) is right outside the door!
We have an allocation of apartments reserved for Catalyst students at the Frankfurter Tor and Adlershof locations.
Spotahome
A property listing site with studios, apartments and rooms in shared apartments, starting at around €450/month. Catalyst students receive a 25% discount on the service fee (one-time fee) and priority access to customer support. Apply on the website here or by completing the contact form here to access specialist guidance.
The discount code will be shared after enrolment.
Home In Berlin (Bürgermeister-Reuter-Stiftung)
Rooms, studios and apartments in Tempelhof and Lichtenberg, including shared apartments exclusively for women.
Rooms start at €549/month, plus applicants for their residence at Alfred-Jung-Straße in Lichtenberg receive a 5% discount on the first 6 months rent by emailing their Catalyst enrolment letter to rental@hib-brst.de
Housing Anywhere
Online housing rental marketplace connecting tenants with landlords, offering Catalyst students a 30% discount on booking fees and exclusive partner customer support.
The discount code will be shared after enrolment.
Uniplaces
Rooms and apartments for students available with no guarantors or proof of income required. Some rooms starting at around €500/month.
The discount code will be shared after enrolment.
Spacest.com
Catalyst students receive a €100 discount on the booking fee (one-time fee) on Spacest.com. Catalyst students benefit from personalised support in finding a suitable rental property via WhatsApp or email. A booking confirmation is issued within 48 hours (business days), and our team remains available before, during, and after the booking is confirmed to ensure a smooth and secure rental experience.
The discount code will be shared after enrolment.
University Living
University Living connects Catalyst Berlin students with a wide range of fully verified shared and private student accommodation options across Berlin, all available to compare and book on one easy-to-use platform. Students can filter by location, price and amenities, then book with confidence knowing support is available 24/7, from short stays to long-term housing. In addition to accommodation, University Living also offers practical value-added services such as flight bookings and airport pickup. Catalyst students benefit from exclusive perks including up to €50 accommodation cashback depending on contract length, €20 off airport pickup, €20 off flight bookings and priority access to the Student Ambassador Programme, offering the chance to earn up to €500 while studying.
Additional housing links and resources
Please note that the below agents have not been visited or vetted by Catalyst and you should therefore read their terms carefully and use them at your own risk.
Shared apartments / Private housing
The most common practice for young people and students is to live in shared apartments (WG). The most popular source for finding a room is the website WG gesucht.
You can also try and find a new WG with people you meet here or rent an apartment for yourself. It's a bit more complicated but not impossible.
We suggest the following:
Short term accommodation solutions
There are lots of good, cheap hostels in Berlin. They can be a great opportunity to meet new people in a new city and give you a base to explore Berlin before finding a more permanent accommodation solution, with a lot located in Friedrichshain which is a short tram hop to our school.
Short term apartments:
- Short term sublets
- Airbnb
- Various Facebook groups
Student purpose accommodation
General lettings and accommodation search platforms
Documentation required for renting
If you want to rent an apartment on your own or set up a new flatshare, be prepared to go to a lot of flat viewings. Often there are many people applying for the same flat, so having your documents ready and leaving a good first impression with the estate agent will increase your chances! You’ll need your last three payslips (or bank statements showing that you have sufficient funds) and a copy of your passport. You usually need to fill out a questionnaire that’s given to you by the landlord or agent, so try to request this before the viewing so you’re properly prepared.
To apply for a room in an established flatshare (WG), respond to the ad telling the current flatmates about yourself and what you’re like as a flatmate, i.e. why you’ll be great to live with! It’s good to include your expectations about WG-life (cleanliness, noise etc), your hobbies and what you’re doing in Berlin. Please be aware that sometimes it’s completely normal to send a lot of messages before finding the right fit.
Beware of scams
There are a lot of people looking for flats in Berlin, and people will take advantage of this. If an apartment looks too good to be true, pay attention, it could be a scam! If you get an email with an elaborate story about how the owner is currently not in the country and needs you to transfer money to them in order to secure the apartment – it’s definitely a scam. Never send any money to someone before you’ve seen the apartment!