No time to study: High rents force students to take multiple jobs
Students in Germany are facing record housing costs as the new winter semester begins. For the first time, the average monthly rent has exceeded 500 euros, reaching 505 euros according to data from the Moses Mendelssohn Institute. Just a few months ago, at the beginning of the summer semester, the average was 493 euros, which means an increase of 2.4 percent, and compared to the previous winter semester, rents have risen by 3.3 percent.
The financial burden has become heavier as students now spend more than half of their income on housing. Regional disparities further highlight the problem. In Bavaria, the average rent is 603 euros per month, in Hamburg it is 620 euros, and in Berlin it reaches 650 euros. In contrast, Saxony-Anhalt (350 euros), Thuringia (362), and Saxony (377) remain much cheaper. The study included 88 university cities with more than 5,000 students each.
Experts warn that the widening gap in affordability may limit educational opportunities. Project leader Stefan Braukmann emphasized that a family's financial situation should not determine a student's place of study. He called for reforms in the government student support program (BAföG), demanding an increase in housing allowances and an expansion of eligibility. Currently, the housing allowance in BAföG is around 380 euros, but in 70 out of 88 university cities, the average rent has already exceeded this amount.
Housing platforms have highlighted the seriousness of the problem. Annegret Molbayer from WG-Gesucht.de pointed out that the cost of shared apartments has risen by 21 percent since 2020 — faster than the overall cost of living. She warned that many students are forced to work multiple part-time jobs, leaving them very little time for their actual studies.
With around 2.86 million students enrolled in German universities for the winter semester 2024/2025, the issue of affordable housing has become more urgent than ever. High rents, a lack of financial aid, and significant disparities between regions are increasingly pushing students into difficult situations as they try to balance their studies and financial survival.