‘The city on the Elbe’ is a trendy, inspiring, and diverse city with maritime charm, cultural flair, and an affinity for art and culture. Booking student accommodation in Hamburg from Student.com will give you a home away from home in Germany’s second-largest city.

Find a private room or studio from our many options and enjoy modern fully furnished student apartments with industrial charm, ideal for both short-term and long-term stays.

For more on our student accommodations in Hamburg, call us or message us on live chat.

Get to know Hamburg  

From a settlement to convert the Saxons to Christianity in the 8th century, Hamburg has grown immensely over the centuries to become one of the most important trading centres in Europe.

Its moniker “the gateway to the world,” is owed to the city’s longstanding prosperity. It is the centre of trade between Northern, Eastern and Central Europe and northern Germany’s most important centre for trade and transportation.

Hamburg’s role as an important trading centre in Europe during the Middle Ages has left its mark on some of the city’s infrastructure. The historical “warehouse district” or Speicherstadt is a reminder of the city’s significance during the medieval period.

Germany’s second-largest city is an industrial engine and a major transportation hub. The former Hanseatic city (a member of the medieval Hanseatic League) is home to over 35,000 international corporations and companies.

Sitting between Central Europe to the south and Scandinavia to the north, with the North Sea to the northwest and the Baltic Sea to the northeast, it is no surprise that the Port of Hamburg is Germany’s most famous and Europe’s third-largest port.

But Hamburg is not only a thriving economic hub. It is also considered a top tourist destination.

A city for tourists

Due to its scenic beauty and unique blend of historical monuments, modern pubs and nightclubs as well as the world-renowned red-light district (Reeperbahn), Hamburg is quite popular among tourists.

Long before the opening of the spectacular Elbphilharmonie, the “City on the Waterside” has been regarded as one of the most beautiful cities in the world.

Located at the junction of the Elbe River and two of its tributaries, the River Alster and the River Bille, the city is surrounded by water. With over 2500 bridges, the ‘city on the Elbe’ has more bridges than any other city in the world, and more canals than Amsterdam, London, and Venice combined.

The two rivers that follow city streets are surrounded by fine restaurants, beautiful little shops, and flowery gardens that give a sense of peace and serenity.

While Hamburg is a large, highly organised, and commercial, the atmosphere is welcoming and casual.

A city of culture and art

When it comes to culture, Hamburg won’t disappoint the cultural enthusiasts. Each of its districts has its own distinct character, bringing its own unique charm to the city experience.

With museums, galleries, art exhibitions, theatres that stage spectacular theatrical productions, and UNESCO World Heritage Sites, Hamburg is a culture-rich city.

The city also has a lot in store for students.

Student life in Hamburg

If you decide to go to Hamburg to study, you won’t only learn a lot, but you also won’t get bored easily.

Living in Hamburg is a unique experience that offers a variety of different things to see and do. With plentiful recreation, culture, and history, Hamburg offers enough to keep anyone fully engaged no matter what they like doing.

Attractions and entertainment for every taste

The city offers plenty to discover and experience from a thriving live music scene to vibrant nightlife, concerts, and festivals throughout the year.

Enjoy a multitude of exciting leisure activities at Hamburg’s waterside against the unique backdrop of the Elbe River. Discover the unique maritime flair of the Speicherstadt or experience the unique energy of Hamburg’s event scene inside the jewel in the city’s crown – the ‘Elphi’ (Elbphilharmonie).

Listen to many genres of music live, or marvel at some of the many fascinating public displays of contemporary and street art that add pizzazz and colour to the walls of the city’s buildings.

Bars, pubs, and clubs

For those who want to party, there are also many possibilities. It often starts at Reeperbahn or ‘Sin Mile.’ Known originally as a red-light district, today its neon-lit streets are lined with some of Hamburg’s most popular nightclubs, bars, pubs and restaurants.

The city’s night scene is diverse, colourful, and different. Let yourself go and relieve yourself from the stresses of uni life with good music and dance your feet sore with friends.

Shopping and dining

Hamburg is a metropolitan city that offers pure city life with unique shopping and dining experiences. Jump into the hustle and bustle of Hamburg’s inner city and discover gastronomic delicacies or shop till you drop. 

Whether Hamburg delicacies, hearty German home cooking, alternatively creative dishes, or exquisite gourmet cuisine, you will be able to find what you are looking for, no matter what you are after. 

From flea markets to a variety of designer and maritime shops, Hamburg also convinces as a shopping city. Its shopping scene is unique and varied, with the cosy shopping streets of each district showing their own flair.

From boutiques on Gänsemarkt to passages around the Hanseviertel and luxury shopping on Neuer Wall, you will find the usual international luxury suspects, including Gucci, Louis Vuitton, Prada, and Hermès. Among the exquisite brands, you’ll also find many owner-managed, traditional, and small shops in modern shopping centres, arcades, and along shopping streets.

Where to study in Hamburg?

If you are considering studying in Germany, Hamburg has several quality universities that you can choose from.

University of Hamburg

The biggest research and education institution in Northern Germany, the University of Hamburg offers its students over 150 different majors across six faculties.

As well as being one of the most extensive universities in Germany, the University of Hamburg is the largest in the city, with almost 700 professors engaged in teaching and research.

With over 40,000 students, it’s also the third-largest university in all of Germany.

Cosmology, neurosciences, and linguistics are popular areas of study at the university, which also offers the only sign language major in Germany.

Hamburg University of Technology (Technical University Hamburg-Harburg)

Established in 1978, The Technische Universität Hamburg (TUHH) is one of Germany’s youngest and most successful universities.

It’s the second-largest university in the city. 

The small but high-class university is known for its forward-thinking, interdisciplinary approach and modern, practice-oriented learning methods. It’s renowned for its shipbuilding, engineering, city planning, and electrical engineering programs. 

It was the first university in Germany to create a public-funded body that connected researchers with private investors and companies (Technology Transfer Corporation). 

Hamburg University of Applied Sciences

Founded in 1970 as the Fachhochschule Hamburg, Hamburg University of Applied Sciences is known for its high-quality education and its international worldview.

The university offers a wide range of Bachelor’s and Master’s programmes in engineering, information technology (IT), life sciences, design, media, as well as business and social sciences across its four faculties.

With a focus on applied sciences, HAW Hamburg gives its students practical insight into their fields of study through projects, lab work, internships, and theses in industry.

The university also offers a variety of modern majors including media, information technology, economics, and communications.

With over 17,000 students enrolled, it’s one of the largest of its kind in Germany.

HafenCity University

The only university of its kind in Europe, HafenCity’s only focus is on architecture and metropolitan development. Because of this, it is only known as the University of The Built Environment and Metropolitan Development.

It offers the entire range of disciplines in designing the urban environment, including:

• Architecture, Civil Engineering, Geomatics, Urban Planning
• Metropolitan Culture
• Urban Design and Resource Efficiency in Architecture and Planning

Frequently asked questions about student apartments in Hamburg

How do I apply for private student housing in Hamburg?

Applying for private student housing in Hamburg is easy and convenient with Student.com. Use our website’s filter features and mapping tool to compare different student properties by things like price, amenities and location.

After choosing a property that is to your liking, go to the property page by clicking ‘View rooms’. On the property page you need to choose your preferred room type. Once you’ve chosen, click ‘Enquire’ or ‘Book Now’. One of our booking consultants will then contact you to answer any further questions you may have and to take you through the next steps in the booking process.

What are the different room types you offer?

We offer two different types of rooms in Hamburg:

Private Rooms: In this option you’ll get a private bedroom just for yourself. Depending on the property, your bathroom may be either private or shared. Other facilities like the kitchen will be shared with other students.

Entire Place: This is a fully private option. You’ll have your own studio apartment with a private bedroom, bathroom, and a kitchenette, without having to share anything with other people. The perfect option if you love privacy!

Are bills included in the rent?

In most cases, bills are included in the total cost of the rent of your accommodation. However, make sure you check the property page of the property you’re interested in to make sure if this is the case in that particular property.

Are the apartments fully furnished?

Most of the apartments we list in Hamburg are not fully furnished. You can use the filters at the top of this page to only look for properties that are rented fully furnished if you’d prefer to rent a furnished apartment.