Living Accommodations
It is wise to begin looking for a place to stay in Germany as early as possible while still at home. Your host faculty here in Duisburg-Essen may be able to aid you in this search.
There are limited accommodations in University facilities. In addition to the student hostels/dormitories, the Student Services Office (Studentenwerk) offers furnished flats reserved for academic faculty in the vicinity of the University.
» More at: Studentenwerk
The monthly rent for a 30 m² (single) in a rooming house is about 350 euros in Duisburg, and about 450 euros in Essen. Somewhat larger flats (doubles) can be rented for 500 to 700 euros a month. In addition, two student hostels associated with the University Medical Centre in Essen-Holsterhausen rent out rooms.
Renting private flats is facilitated by consulting ads in local advertisers (e.g., Stadtanzeiger) that are delivered free of charge to every household in the city. The Wednesday and (especially) the Saturday editions of the regional daily newspapers WAZ (Westdeutsche Allgemeine Zeitung) and NRZ (Neue Ruhr Zeitung/Neue Rhein Zeitung) are full of ads for flats and rooms for rent. The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation has summarized the criteria for flat-hunting in its brochure Practical hints for your stay in Germany.
» Brochure "Practical hints for your stay in Germany"
In Duisburg and Essen housing companies offer flats in different parts of the cities. The flat market (chiefly the commercial market for flats) for the University can be found at: http://forum.uni-due.de/viewforum.php?f=96.
The Student Union (ASTA: Allgemeiner Studierendenausschuss) is a good source of information.
» More at: ASTA
If you are looking for a temporary room or flat, it is recommended that you contact a so-called "Mitwohnzentrale" [local flat-sharing agency]
» http://www.essen.de/Deutsch/Tourismus/Hotels/Mitwohn.asp
or rent a privately owned room or flat from the present tenant via a sublease
» www.zwischenmiete.de
Very often in such rental agreements, a one-time deposit equivalent to two months’ rent is required; this deposit will be refunded when the flat is vacated in good condition.