Studierendenwerk Frankfurt runs 3,726 places in 30 buildings in Frankfurt, but waits can be six months to a year, and over a year if you limit your choice. Private rooms are far dearer, so most students apply to both routes. This guide sets out how the application works, the deposit rule and what I could not verify.
Details come from Studierendenwerk Frankfurt, a Frankfurt University of Applied Sciences housing handbook and the German Studierendenwerke association, checked on 20 October 2026. The handbook carries no date, though its reference code suggests 2025. Confirm everything for your intake before you pay.
Studierendenwerk Frankfurt residences
- Size: 34 residences overall: 3,726 places in 30 buildings in Frankfurt, plus residences in Rüsselsheim (2), Wiesbaden (1) and Geisenheim (1).
- Room types: single rooms, single rooms in cluster flats, and apartments, varying by building.
- Applying: use the online form, which adds you to the waiting list. You can apply at any time and even before your enrolment is confirmed, but you must provide a certificate of enrolment when you sign the lease. Once a month you get an email asking you to confirm you are still interested.
- Waiting time: it depends on demand and applicants. Applying for the whole offer shortens it, and limiting yourself to one flat can mean a wait of over a year. The handbook says six months to a year, with demand highest in March to April and September to October.
- Deposit: two months’ rent instalments are paid as a deposit.
I could not find Studierendenwerk Frankfurt rents, contract lengths or fees on the pages I could read. The handbook only calls these rooms “the cheapest accommodation in Frankfurt”. The Studierendenwerke association gives a national average hall rent of €330 a month, against about €510 for a shared-flat room on the open market (25 September 2026), and says the BAföG housing allowance of €440 “hardly suffices” in cities such as Frankfurt and Hamburg.
Private rents and deposits
The handbook says private rooms start at about €500 a month or more, one-bedroom flats generally cost €500 to €1,000, and the average rent is around €18.49 per square metre. A private rent deposit (Mietkaution) is usually three cold rents. It warns against offers that look too good to be true, landlords who say they are abroad and cannot arrange a viewing, and any pressure to pay quickly. Never pay before you have seen the flat and signed a rental contract.
Studierendenwerk or private room?
| Question | Studierendenwerk residence | Private room |
|---|---|---|
| Access | Online waiting list, six months to over a year | Open market, so you compete with other searchers |
| Rent | Cheapest in the city per the handbook, but no figure found | From about €500 a month according to the handbook |
| Deposit | Two months’ rent instalments | Usually three cold rents |
I have not ranked neighbourhoods or listed private blocks, because I could not verify prices or area details against reliable sources. For other German cities, see our guides to Berlin, Munich and Heidelberg, or browse all student accommodation in Germany.
FAQs about student accommodation in Frankfurt
How do I apply for a Studierendenwerk Frankfurt room?
Complete the online form at any time to join the waiting list and confirm your interest when they email you each month.
Do I need to be enrolled before I apply?
No, but you must provide a certificate of enrolment when you sign the lease.
How much is the deposit?
Two months’ rent instalments for a Studierendenwerk room, and usually three cold rents for a private rental.
Sources
- Studierendenwerk Frankfurt: general information
- Studierendenwerk Frankfurt: accommodation FAQ
- Frankfurt UAS International Office: housing handbook
- Deutsches Studierendenwerk: press release, 25 September 2026
All checked 20 October 2026.
