Living in the winter semester

Why is the winter semester so tense

Aachen is an exceptional student city. RWTH, one of Europe's largest technical universities, attracts an enormous number of new first-year students every year. There are also exchange students, expats, people working on research projects, career starters and commuters.

Many of them are looking for accommodation during the same period.
This results in:

• high demand for small units,
• long applications for a few apartments,
• Bargains sold after minutes,
• high competitive pressure,
• very limited viewing appointments,
• often unfair selection mechanisms based on speed rather than quality.

The market is not “bad” it is overloaded.
And that's been the case for years.

So if when you start in Aachen, you have the feeling that you are running behind, not getting an answer or that you are lost in groups of applicants, then it is not up to you.
It's a matter of timing.

Where many fail: The typical mistakes when looking for accommodation

When things have to be done quickly, the classic mistakes often happen:

1. You search too late

Many only start taking care of themselves in September, as the market is already completely overcrowded.

2. They focus on classic rental apartments

These are almost always full at the start of the semester.
Private providers often prefer long-term tenants.

3. You underestimate bureaucracy

Schufa, salary statement, tenant self-assessment everything takes time.
International students are particularly disadvantaged here.

4. You insist on a shared flat or a specific location

Flexibility is invaluable at the start.
Many only find the perfect form of living later.

5. You don't plan an interim solution

Many hope too long and are then left with no option in the short term.

These stumbling blocks cause stress, costs and loss of time.

But there are ways to avoid them.

Strategies to help you stay relaxed despite housing shortages

The most important finding is:
You don't have to start perfectly, but stable.

There are several ways you can move into Aachen safely and without pressure during the winter semester.

1. Furnished apartments as an immediate solution

Furnished apartments - such as in the Good Shepherd - are particularly in demand at the start of the semester because they solve a crucial problem:

They relieve you of all the stress of starting out.

Don't buy furniture.
No transportation.
No connection contracts.
No waiting times.

And: no surprises when it comes to additional costs, Internet or equipment.

Especially if you are new to Aachen or have little time, this is one of the most sensible solutions to “arrive” directly without spending weeks on logistics and organization.

2. All-inclusive rentals give you planning security

Many first-year students underestimate the issue of ancillary costs.
Electricity, heating, Internet — it's all on top.
And especially in winter, these prices can fluctuate.

An all-inclusive rental, on the other hand, means:

“One price, everything included. And you know where you stand every month. ”

In the case of the Good Shepherd, this includes:

• Warm rent
• furnishing
• stream
• heating
• water
• internet

For people who are new to Aachen — especially for international students — this is a huge advantage.

3. Short-term solutions as a transition

Even if you might want to live in a shared flat in the long term, a furnished apartment can be the perfect transition.

Many start like this:

1. First move into a furnished apartment
2. start everyday university life
3. make contacts,
4. Search quieter for a shared flat.

This approach takes tremendous pressure away from the first phase.

4. Adapt your own requirements - at least at the beginning

You don't have to find the perfect apartment for three years.
You need a place where you can start safely.

Many only find the best form of living for them during their first semesters:

• Some people realize that they would rather live alone.
• Some people notice that living in a shared flat is great.
• Some people realize that proximity to university is more important than size.
• Some people realize that peace is more important than partying.

When you start with a flexible solution, you naturally learn what really suits you.

5. Realistically think of the situation

Many absolutely want to start in the Pontviertel or close to the university.
Understandable — but rarely realistic.

More important is:

• Good public transport connection
• Safe environment
• Infrastructure with supermarkets and cafés
• Quick routes to campus, city center or main train station

Aachen is small enough that you are well connected almost everywhere.
A good apartment should therefore be a bit quieter - especially at the beginning.

Why international students in particular benefit

If you come to Germany from abroad, you will encounter:

• forms
• leases
• incidentals
• German bureaucracy
• language barriers
• Uncertainty as to what “normal” is

An all-inclusive rental creates a clear, fair structure here.

English-speaking students often say the same thing:

“It's the first time in Germany I understood what I'm actually paying for.”

Renting a furnished apartment in Aachen helps them not to get lost in details but to arrive in peace - especially in the winter semester when many things happen at the same time.

Why winter is already emotionally challenging

Starting your studies in winter means:

• early darkness
• colder days
• Rain often
• A city that fills up quickly
• high social pressure to connect quickly

An uncertain living situation increases this burden.

A stable home on the other hand:

• warms
• soothes
• shields
• textured
• provides security

Especially people who miss their family or start from scratch quickly realize how much a reliable place of retreat gives them.

How the Good Shepherd actually relieves the burden - without inventing anything

The Good Shepherd offers furnished apartments of various sizes - and depending on the apartment type, there is a clear regulation of what is included.

For apartments from 60 square meters The following applies:

• They have a private kitchen
• They have a modern bathroom/toilet
• You can make other rooms look like your style
• All floor plans shown are Exemplary presentations
• Cut, dimensions and design may vary
• are mandatory only the information in the rental agreement
• Subject to changes and errors

All-inclusive living includes:

• Warm rent
• furnishing
• stream
• heating
• water
• internet

Nothing more and nothing less.

It is this clarity that makes a stress-free arrival possible.
No glossing over.
No unrealistic promises.
Simply a transparent living model.

What a relaxed arrival in winter really means

Many think that “moving in stress-free” means finding an apartment quickly.
But that's just the start.

Moving in really stress-free means:

• Not having to look for furniture first
• Not having to wait for electricians
• Not having to sign three contracts at once
• Not to drive to the hardware store all the time
• Not to live in makeshift arrangements for weeks
• Not to start in a messy room
• not to be surprised by costs
• Not to shiver from the cold because heating costs are unpredictable
• Not having the feeling of missing the start of the semester

Moving in stress-free means:

“I can concentrate on my studies from day one. ”

And that is exactly the biggest advantage of a furnished all-inclusive apartment — especially in winter.

Conclusion: The start of the winter semester doesn't have to be a moment of pressure

Yes, the housing market in Aachen is challenging.
Yes, many people quickly become stressed during the winter semester.
And yes, classic rental apartments are often overcrowded.

But there are solutions.
And there are ways you can arrive in Aachen relaxed and stable.

One Rent a furnished apartment in Aachen is one of those solutions.
It relieves you of a large part of the organizational burden and gives you a solid basis for a new chapter in your life.

With all-inclusive rentals, you get:

• lucidity
• surety
• transparency
• less bureaucracy
• more time
• more peace

And that's exactly what you need to arrive in a new city — especially in winter when the world outside seems darker and more hectic.

If you're moving to Aachen for the winter semester, it's worth thinking about a furnished, all-inclusive offer such as the Good Shepherd. Because a good start to your studies always starts with a good home.

‍