The housing situation varies depending on the student group and the time of application.

Exchange students and free movers who apply for KU Housing Support by the deadline have a very good chance of receiving a room in an affordable, conveniently located residence hall in Ingolstadt. The International Office has reserved housing allocations for this group.

The situation is often different for international degree-seeking students. Due to later admission decisions, visa procedures, and a different application timeline, they may only be able to begin their housing search shortly before the semester starts. By that time, the affordable residence hall allocations in Ingolstadt are often already full.

The private housing market in Ingolstadt is competitive and comparatively expensive. For degree-seeking students who begin their search later, accommodation in Eichstätt can therefore be a good alternative. The two cities have regular train connections.

For detailed information about rental costs, residence halls, and private accommodation, please visit KU’s central accommodation page.

If specific features are important to you or you want to compare several offers, please organize your accommodation independently.

You are responsible for the entire process: searching, communicating directly with landlords, clarifying all questions, signing the rental agreement, and organizing your move-in. Please note that landlords generally communicate in German.

On KU’s central accommodation page, you will find the Housing Guides for Eichstätt and Ingolstadt, residence halls, private listings, search platforms, information about costs, and advice on identifying fraudulent offers.

Additionally, the Housing Guide Eichstätt and Housing Guide Ingolstadt provide you with helfpul information.

In this case, the International Office does not search for accommodation on your behalf or communicate with landlords for you.

Please do not search for accommodation at the same time. KU Housing Support is not an additional search channel, and the International Office is not a real estate agency. By applying, you agree to accept the accommodation assigned to you.

Who is KU Housing Support for

KU Housing Support is intended for newly enrolled international students coming from abroad.

Its primary target group is exchange students and free movers who will study at KU for one or two semesters. They often have difficulty finding accommodation on the regular rental market because many landlords prefer tenants who can commit to a longer rental period.

The International Office has special housing allocations for this group in both Eichstätt and Ingolstadt. Students who apply by the deadline therefore have a very good chance of receiving verified, furnished, and affordable accommodation. In Ingolstadt, these placements are generally in conveniently located residence halls.

International degree-seeking students may also use KU Housing Support. However, because their admission and visa timelines often require them to apply later, the available housing allocations may already be full.

Application and deadlines

• Exchange students and free movers apply as part of their Mobility Online application.
• Fall semester: application deadline June 1.
• Spring semester: application deadline November 1.
• International degree-seeking students who have not been nominated by a partner university should contact welcome@ku.de. They will receive the deadlines that apply to their applicant group.

Requirements

• Payment of a EUR 350 KU security payment. EUR 300 is refundable; EUR 50 is a non-refundable registration fee.
• Binding confirmation in Mobility Online that you will accept the accommodation assigned to you.
• Flexibility regarding city, location, housing type, amenities, rent, and rental period.

The International Office assigns exactly one verified, furnished accommodation. A specific city, residence hall, private bathroom, or private kitchen cannot be guaranteed. A second assignment or a change based on personal preferences is not possible.

Special note for the Ingolstadt campus

For exchange students and free movers:
Please do not let the competitive private housing market discourage you. If you apply for KU Housing Support by the deadline, you have a very good chance of receiving an affordable room in a conveniently located residence hall in Ingolstadt.

For degree-seeking students:
Due to later admission decisions and visa procedures, you may only be able to begin your housing search shortly before the semester starts. By that time, the reserved and subsidized residence hall allocations in Ingolstadt are often already full. Accommodation in Eichstätt may therefore be necessary or a practical alternative. Please begin your search as early as possible.

How KU Housing Support works

1. Application: Select KU Housing Support by the deadline in Mobility Online and pay the KU security payment.
2. Search and assignment: The International Office searches its available allocations for suitable, verified accommodation. For the fall semester, assignments are generally made between June and early August; for the spring semester, they are generally made in December and January.
3. Confirmation: Confirm the assignment by the stated deadline and complete the required Mobility Online tasks.
4. Rental agreement and move-in: You receive information about the rental agreement, payments, and move-in. The International Office guides you through the process until move-in.
5. End of rental agreement and refund: After the arranged tenancy has ended properly and you have completed all required tasks, request the EUR 300 refund through Mobility Online.

Withdrawal and refunds

If you withdraw your housing application before the application deadline and before receiving an assignment, you may request a refund of EUR 300 through Mobility Online.

After you receive an assignment, personal preferences do not entitle you to a refund. This includes the city, location, distance from campus, housing type, amenities, a shared kitchen or bathroom, or a preference for different accommodation. If your study stay cannot take place for a documented reason, such as a visa denial, a refund will be reviewed on a case-by-case basis.

KU Housing Support at a Glance (pdf)