Survey by the Initiativkreis für studentischen Wohnraum:
“There is a lack of socially compatible accommodation”
The survey was conducted by the Initiativkreis für studentischen Wohnraum, which was founded by Vice-President Prof. Regine Keller and a group of students. TUMstudinews questioned her about the survey and its results.
TUMstudinews: Rents in Munich are high and it is very difficult for most of the students to find an affordable flat. Hardly anyone manages without a part-time job alongside studying. Is this impression correct?
Regine Keller: Yes, the impression is right. According to the social report of the Munich Student Union, the average cost of living amounts to approximately 830 € a month. Even the maximum BAFÖG grant is inadequate for Munich, so it is not possible to study here without having another source of income. Around 70% our respondents get money from their parents – another 10% spend their savings. One fifth of the students work on the side from the first semester onwards and the number rises to 75 per cent of all undergraduates during their course of studies. Scholarships can help, but there aren’t sufficient – so they only play an insignificant role in the student’s overall income.
TUMstudinews: It is often very time-consuming to find an affordable apartment. This takes up a lot of energy that would be better invested in studying.
Regine Keller: That's right. For more than 60% of those interviewed, looking for an apartment took anything up to 8 weeks – and a third even had to search for up to six months. A fourth of our respondents stated that searching for an apartment had affected their studies. The survey clearly showed that this has a negative effect on the degree course, especially at the beginning.
TUMstudinews: The majority of students have to commute to Garching and rely on public transport. This also costs money.
Regine Keller: The public transport network resembles the shape of a star, there are almost no cross-links. Most of the TUM students live in the northern districts – and particularly in areas close to the city trains. The Garching campus is special, because there is an additional fee for the extra public transport loop, bringing the costs up even higher. Luckily, the semester ticket will help here.
TUMstudinews: Is there a danger that promising candidates might stay away and be lost for the TUM?
Regine Keller: In my view, this poses the biggest threat for the TUM. Almost 20% of our respondents said that they applied to other universities because of the poor housing situation. This is a dramatic development. We are currently trying to attract as many students from abroad as possible, as well.
TUMstudinews: What do the respondents expect from the TUM?
Regine Keller: Half of the students would appreciate more points of contact at the TUM that focus on housing issues. An online accommodation platform is necessary and the students would like to receive more information on the housing situation in Munich in advance. Altogether, our students expect that the TUM should become more involved in accommodation issues.
TUMstudinews: To what extent could the TUM become more involved?
Regine Keller: We also have a political responsibility. We would like to launch a new initiative to bring together local authorities and policy-makers. We should also endeavor to link up local authorities, property developers and investors, try to introduce innovative ideas and not show any fear of approaching them. Munich is really in serious need of some socially compatible accommodation. This is a structural problem – a lack of affordable building sites. Unfortunately, student housing is not a priority topic yet.