Arrangement of a place in a student dormitory via the International Office (UP-Contingent)

The International Office of the University of Potsdam offers students support in finding affordable housing, as the housing situation in Potsdam and Berlin is very tense. For this purpose, the International Office has entered into a contingent contract with the Studentenwerk Potsdam, which allows the Studentenwerk Potsdam to give program students priority in the allocation of dormitory places.

This service is primarily designed for international exchange students and international students on dual degree programs at the University of Potsdam who are completing their study abroad phase in Potsdam. Other international students may also be considered if there is availability within the contingent.

Program students can select the UP contingent during the online application via MoveON and accept the conditions and the service fee to be paid. The service fee for the placement is € 238.00 incl. VAT for the first semester. For each additional semester we charge € 119.00 incl. VAT.

An application directly to the Studentenwerk Potsdam via this online form  is required in parallel (please enter "UP-Kontingent" under remarks). You can also enter "Blanket and pillow with cover and sheets for €85.00" under remarks if you would like to purchase these from the Studentenwerk.

In addition to the service fee of the International Office, the regular rent for the dormitory place must be paid to the Studentenwerk Potsdam.

It is not possible to apply for a specific room type or for a specific dormitory. However, preferences can be stated during the application process and the Studentenwerk Potsdam will make every effort to take them into account when assigning rooms.

Upon successful allocation by the Housing Service of the International office , the Studentenwerk Potsdam will make you an offer for a place in a dormitory at the end of February for the summer semester or at the end of August for the winter semester.

In this offer you will be told a deadline to pay the reservation fee of 300,00 Euros. If the contract is concluded, this fee will be converted into a rental deposit. The deposit will be returned to you by the Studenwerk Potsdam at the end of the lease, provided that you return the room properly and on time and have paid the rent in full. It is not possible to offset outstanding rent payments against the deposit ahead of time.

The dormitory places are rented on a semester basis by the Studentenwerk Potsdam. The summer semester runs from April to September and the winter semester from October to March.

Moving in for the winter semester is possible from October 1 and for the summer semester from April 1 (or the following working day). Participants of the "Deutsch(land)kurs Willkommen" can already move into the dormitory at the beginning of the course.

A shortening of the regular rental period of 6 months is only possible with prior consent for the following cases:

• End of rental period for summer semester = shortening by 2 months to the end of July / shortening by 1 month to the end of August
• End of rental period for winter semester  = shortening by 1 month to the end of February

Other rental periods are not possible. For all short-term leases (less than 6 months), the Studentenwerk Potsdam charges a monthly surcharge of 30.00 €.

If the end of your rental period changes, please inform us in time.

If you are coming to the University of Potsdam for 2 semesters, you can apply for an extension of the rental period at the Studentenwerk Potsdam in due time and keep your dormitory place for the second semester.

June 15 for the winter semester - December 15 for the summer semester.

Please note that you have to register at 2 different places:

•     International Office, so that you can get a place from the contingent of the University of Potsdam.
•     Studentenwerk Potsdam, so that you can be offered a place in a dormitory.

We allocate the dormitory places from the contingent in compliance with internal guidelines and the allocation guidelines of the Studentenwerk Potsdam as well as according to the "first-come-first-served" principle. This means that the date of receipt of the service fee counts.

On this website you will find the terms and conditions for this service of the International Office.

If the available dormitory places from the contingent of the University of Potsdam are already booked out, we can put you on a waiting list.  

If no room from the contingent can be arranged for you, the regular allocation procedure of the Studentenwerk for a place in a student dormitory without priority treatment is available to you. The International Office has no influence on the allocation of the dormitory places this way.