Living in Germany
— Guide for Language Students
What you actually need to know after arriving: accommodation, health insurance, bureaucracy, public transport and everyday life in a German city.
The language course is booked, the visa is approved — but what does life in Germany actually look like? The bureaucracy, the rental market, the healthcare system and cultural norms differ significantly from other countries. This guide brings together everything language students really need to know, both before and after they arrive in Germany.
Whether you're searching for a shared flat in Berlin, want to get the right health insurance or need to understand how waste sorting works: here you'll find reliable, practical information — researched and reviewed by our editorial team.
Key Topics at a Glance
Accommodation & Registration
Shared flats, student halls, registering with the authorities — everything for your first weeks in Germany.
Read guide →Health Insurance
Statutory insurance, travel health insurance or private policy? Which option applies to language students.
Read guide →Work & Finances
When and how many hours language students are allowed to work, blocked accounts and everyday finances.
Read guide →Cost of Living
Rent, food, transport: how much does life really cost in Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne and Frankfurt?
City comparison →Cities & Regions
Berlin, Munich, Hamburg, Cologne, Frankfurt — where do language students live best?
Schools by city →Which city do you want to live in?
Rent levels, cost of living and city character vary widely. Here are the main language school locations:
Frequently Asked Questions about Daily Life in Germany
What must I do immediately after arriving in Germany?
The most important first steps: (1) Register at the local residents' registration office (Einwohnermeldeamt) within 14 days of moving in — you'll receive a registration certificate (Meldebescheinigung) needed for many further steps. (2) Open a bank account (N26, DKB or a local Sparkasse). (3) Ensure you have valid health insurance — a travel health insurance policy is sufficient for the Language Course Visa. (4) Get a local SIM card and a public transport ticket.
How do I find a flat or room in Germany?
For short stays (under 3 months), furnished rooms via WG-Gesucht, HousingAnywhere or Airbnb work well. For longer stays, WG-Gesucht.de is the primary platform, alongside Immobilienscout24 and student halls run by the Studierendenwerk. Important: without a Schufa credit report and proof of income, the search is harder — as a language student, start early and consider student hall options.
What health insurance do language students need in Germany?
For the Language Course Visa (§16f), a recognised travel health insurance policy covering Germany is sufficient (minimum €30,000 coverage, no excess, no pre-existing condition exclusions). Important: if you are not enrolled at a university, you cannot join the statutory student health insurance — under §5(1) no. 9 SGB V it is restricted to students enrolled at a state or state-recognised university. Pure language students therefore need an expat or incoming policy for the entire stay, including stays longer than 12 months; its premium is not set by law and depends on the provider, your age and the cover you choose. Statutory student cover only applies once you are enrolled (Studienkolleg or degree programme): in 2026 it costs a fixed health insurance share of €87.38, plus your fund's supplementary rate (2.9% on average, around €24.80) and long-term care insurance (€30.78, or €35.91 for childless members aged 23 and over) — roughly €143–148/month at the average supplementary rate, or €139–160 depending on the fund (2026 rates). It ends on your 30th birthday; voluntary statutory or private cover after that is considerably more expensive.
How does public transport in Germany work?
Germany has a well-developed public transport network of S-Bahn, U-Bahn, trams and buses. Since 1 January 2026 the Deutschlandticket costs €63/month (2026 rate) and is valid nationwide on local and regional transport across all participating networks — but not on long-distance trains (ICE, IC, EC), not with private operators such as FlixTrain or FlixBus, and not in first class. It is personal, non-transferable and only sold as a monthly subscription you can cancel by the 10th of the month. The discounted Deutschland-Semesterticket requires enrolment at a university — participants of private language schools are not eligible and pay the regular price. Other discounts (school, apprentice or social tickets) exist only regionally through the local transport network.
Do I have to pay the broadcasting fee (Rundfunkbeitrag)?
Yes. The broadcasting fee is €18.36/month (€220.32/year, 2026 rate) and is charged per flat, not per person — in a shared flat you pay it only once, no matter how many people live there. A room in a student hall counts as a separate flat only if it is structurally self-contained with its own entrance; corridor rooms with a shared kitchen and bathroom usually are not. Students with very low income (BAföG recipients) can apply for an exemption — language students without university enrolment do not qualify.
What is daily life and culture like in Germany?
Germany is characterised by punctuality, direct communication and a strong separation between work and private life. In cities, nightlife is vibrant and cultural offerings (museums, theatre, concerts) are often discounted with a student ID. Key rules: strict waste separation (yellow bag, paper, glass, general waste), quiet hours (10pm–6am, all day Sundays) and orderly queuing.
Find your language school in Germany
Choose city, course format and level — and find the school that fits your lifestyle.