Your decision about where to live in Aachen will affect your experience as a student. Since RWTH Aachen University spans all around the city and FH Aachen consists of a few campuses (Bayernallee, Boxgraben, Eupener Straße, Goethestraße and Hohenstaufenallee), your choice of neighbourhood depends on your study campus, program and personal preferences.
It is crucial for students looking for student accommodation in Aachen not only to find a room but to choose a location, which makes it easy for you to get to university every day while still having access to shops, cafes, public transport and student events.
Campus Melaten: What Do You Need to Know?
For those studying or working on their projects in science, engineering, technology and research-related fields, Campus Melaten is very significant as it forms part of RWTH's research environment and located close to University Hospital Aachen.
If you spend some days of the week working or studying at Melaten, living in its vicinity will save you much time.
One of the possible options is the area of Kastanienweg and Hörn. According to the Studierendenwerk's data, the accommodation near Kastanienweg is a 10 minute walk from Campus Melaten and can also be accessed by bus connections, providing the opportunity to get to other university's campuses.
The area will be especially attractive for those students, who want to live in a residential, quite area, yet not far away from the center of Aachen.
Pontviertel: If You Want to Be in the Center
Pontviertel is the place to look for if you enjoy spending evenings in cafes, restaurants, nightclubs, hanging out after classes and meeting new people.
Since it is located near the central university buildings of RWTH, it is considered to be one of Aachen's famous student areas. This area will be particularly convenient for those, whose programs do not consist exclusively of Melaten campus.
According to the Studierendenwerk Aachen, Pontviertel is one of the popular areas for students along with Frankenberger Viertel and Burtscheid. Also, the relatively small size of Aachen and good connections by bus help students to access various departments of the university from different districts of the city.
Convenience is the key feature of this area for students. You can combine attending lectures and seminars, studying and having fun all in one.
City Centre: Convenience Beyond the Campus
Another possible choice for you could be the city centre of Aachen. This is especially true for those who wish to live close to the shopping facilities, restaurants, public transport and the station.
Having an address near the city centre does not mean you have to be far away from your university. For instance, accommodation near Turmstraße is known to be close to Pontviertel, Mensa Academica, RWTH's main building and Audimax.
Thus, the central area can be considered convenient for students who want to combine their studies with the life in the city.
The example of such accommodation is Büchel Aachen. The facility enables students to stay in close proximity to the central urban area of Aachen.
Important Tip for FH Aachen Students: Take Your Campus into Account
It is extremely important to remember that there is no one FH Aachen campus.
The central campus of the university is located at Bayernallee 11, while some others are located at Bayernallee 9, Boxgraben, Eupener Straße, Goethestraße and Hohenstaufenallee/KMAC.
It means your location of study should influence your search for accommodation.
Thus, if your campus is situated around Bayernallee, then you may find accommodation in the southern districts of Aachen. Bayernallee is a campus of FH Aachen that is served by many buses (lines 10, 11, 30, 31, 36, 51 and SB63).
Those whose courses take place at Boxgraben and at other central campuses may need to find accommodation near the centre.
Possible Accommodation Options
There are different kinds of accommodation for students in Aachen: university residence halls, shared flats, private apartments and student residences.
Currently, the Studierendenwerk Aachen offers 5,000 places in 24 residence halls in Aachen and Jülich. Among accommodation options there are singles, shared apartments, individual apartments and accommodation for families.
In case you want to find more private type of accommodation, then you will be able to find THE FIZZ Aachen on Kasernenstraße with 165 apartments for students. Its official description states that the building is close to university facilities, the station and the city centre with community areas, bicycle storage and on-site management.
Students looking for accommodation in the central area can come across another facility called Theaterplatz 1 Aachen, which offers another option to consider.
For students looking for something greener and quieter than the city centre, the Preuswald Aachen can be investigated as well. However, it would be wise to check the journey to your campus first.
How to Choose the Right Aachen District
Before signing any agreement for renting a room, consider more than just the rent. Consider the following:
In which part of town are my lectures
How many days do I commute to university every week
Am I able to cycle to university
Where is the closest bus station
Are there nearby grocery stores and pharmacies
Do I like lively environment or quiet area
Does the rent include utilities costs
How long is the period of my tenancy
Aachen is a rather small city, and both cycling and public transport allow commuting in various neighbourhoods. But depending on which university you attend and in which of its departments, you may have different needs for the best location in Aachen.
Conclusion
It would be wrong to recommend one neighbourhood for all students of Aachen. While Pontviertel can be a good choice for students who need central university and social life, Hörn and Melaten areas are more suitable for students of RWTH who study at Campus Melaten. Another options for accommodation can be Frankenberger Viertel and Burtscheid, but students of FH Aachen need to consider their own campus.
The best option is to calculate your daily schedule and then compare rent costs, transport connections, services and type of rooms. You may find more convenient living place, even if it is located a little further from the city center.
