HDBW MUNICH FRESHERS' A-Z GUIDE

A for: Accommodation – Student Housing in Munich

Finding affordable accommodation in Munich can be challenging, so it’s important to explore all available options.

Your main contact point is the Studierendenwerk München, which offers student dormitories and a private room placement service. They also offer 'Living-for-help (Wohnen für Hilfe)' programme, where students can receive reduced‑cost housing in exchange for helping their landlords.

Munich also has several church‑run and private residences you can apply to. The earlier you register, the better.

For the private housing market, check the usual online platforms, social media, local newspaper ads or ask within your networks. Publishing your own search ad can also be very effective.

We’ve collected all tips, platforms and links on a dedicated page for finding student accommodation in Munich – take a look for full details.

Once you have successfully found accommodation, you must register with the relevant residents' registration office as soon as possible.

C for: Campus of HDBW in Munich-Riem

All information about the   Location and how to get to HDBW – by public or private transport

HDBW students are entitled to purchase the discounted Deutschlandticket to travel by public transport.

Students who drive to HDBW may find parking spaces available in the surrounding area before 8 AM. Public transport is recommended, especially during trade fair periods, due to the heavy traffic around the Munich Exhibition Centre.

Campus opening hours:

• Wappenhalle, 3rd floor: Lift Monday to Friday 7:30 AM – 8:30 PM, Saturday 8:00 AM – 6:00 PM / Stairwell from approx. 8:30 AM – Access via door opener on the 3rd floor
• Building I, 3rd floor: Corridor door from approx. 8:30 AM – access via door opener on the 3rd floor

C for: Campus Spaces in the Konrad Building

The student lounge on the third floor and the individual study spaces on the fourth floor are available to everyone for use outside lecture times. The HDBW seminar and teaching rooms may also be booked for group work and study groups, provided no classes are taking place there at the time.

The inner courtyard, with various seating areas, is also popular in good weather. It is occasionally used by HDBW professors and lecturers who move their classes outdoors when the weather is pleasant.

In the lobby areas at both entrances to the Konrad building complex, there are additional seating areas available to everyone in the building.

E for: Everyday student life at HDBW

• Compulsory attendance: According to the German Higher Education Framework Act, attendance is not compulsory in Germany. However, due to the practical nature of the teaching and exercises at HDBW, attendance at lectures and seminars is highly recommended.
• Group work: There is a lot of group work and assignments at HDBW. Especially for this or before exam periods, it is helpful that the HDBW seminar, teaching and conference rooms are also available for private group work and study groups, provided that no events are taking place there.
• Literature/Libraries: HDBW provides an e-library for students. This covers the core areas of the respective degree programmes. However, it is still advisable to purchase a copy of some standard works.
  HDBW students also have access to the Bavarian State Library, the StaBI.
• Events and news at HDBW: News and events at HDBW are announced on social media platforms and on the homepage.
• Lecture start time – academic time specification: This refers to the ‘academic quarter’, i.e. the quarter of an hour that a lecture at a university starts later than stated in the course catalogue. However, this is only the case if c.t. = cum tempore “with time” is indicated after the time. If nothing is indicated there, or if s.t. = sine tempore “without time” is indicated, then the event begins punctually at the specified time.
  At HDBW, lectures begin at the specified time without any special note!

F for: Financing your studies

According to the latest survey by the German National Association for Student Affairs (22nd Social Survey, 2021), students need an average of €1,036 per month to cover their living expenses – not including tuition fees. In reality, the actual cost of living is often even higher today, especially in major cities such as Munich.

As an international student, it’s important to plan your finances carefully and be aware of the options available to you.

• Working as an International Student
  If you hold a German student visa, you are allowed to work:
  120 full days per year, or
  240 half days per year
  A special permit is required for additional working hours. Freelancing or self‑employment is generally not permitted for students with a study visa.
• Scholarships for International Students
  International students may apply for scholarships offered e.g. by the DAAD (German Academic Exchange Service), Foundations and organisations supporting international talent, Country‑specific scholarship programmes. 
  Availability and requirements vary, so it’s worth researching options early.
• Loans and Funding From Your Home Country
  In many cases, international students rely on study loans from institutions in their home country or national scholarship programmes available abroad - in addition to support from family or private sponsorships
• Visa Requirements & Proof of Funding
  For your student visa, you must demonstrate sufficient financial resources to cover your studies. Common options include: A blocked account, a formal financial guarantee, Proof of a scholarship.
  Please ensure you meet all requirements before arriving in Germany.

M for: Meals – Food options around the Munich Campus

In the HDBW Lounge on the third floor of the Wappenhalle, you will find vending machines for drinks, snacks and coffee. A microwave and a kettle are also available for your use.

For additional food options, the following places are located within the Konrad building complex or nearby the campus of the University of Applied Sciences of the Bavarian Economy:

• Ground floor of the Konrad building complex, blue entrance: leonardi at Konrad
  Coffee bar 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM
  Lunch 11:30 AM – 2:00 PM
  HDBW students receive a subsidy from the Munich Upper Bavaria Student Union for their meals at Leonardi Konrad Lunch. One euro per lecture day is subsidised on food and drinks from the restaurant. The coffee bar is excluded from this offer.
  To take advantage of the subsidy, please pick up a Leonardi Legic card from the student administration office.
• Building opposite, H4 Hotel Messe München: Restaurant Gaumenfreund / Bayrische Stube
  Konrad-Zuse-Platz 14
  2:00 PM - 10:00 PM / 5:00 PM - 11:00 PM
• Next door H2 Hotel München Messe: Restaurant Hub 2 München
  Olof-Palme-Straße 12
  11:00 AM - 12:00 AM
• 10 minutes' walk: Restaurants in the shopping centre: Riem Arcaden: Riem Arcaden
  Willi-Brandt-Platz 5
  10:00 AM - 8:00 PM (first bakery shop opens at 6:45 a.m.)

By the way: With a 'Legic-Karte' you have access to all cafeterias and student cafés run by the Munich Upper Bavaria Student Union:  Addresses and locations in and around Munich. You can obtain this card directly from the cafeterias of the Student Union.

M for: Mentoring Programme at HDBW

To help you settle into your studies at HDBW more quickly and easily in your first semester, the HDBW student council has launched a mentoring programme.

Students in higher semesters are on hand to offer advice and support to first-year students.

Not only with regard to their studies and everyday academic life at the university, but also with everything else that goes with it: university sports, cultural leisure activities, nightlife and additional commitments are just as much a part of student life.

Everyone agrees: the more thorough the orientation at the beginning, the faster you settle into your studies and the better your academic success.

The volunteer mentors also benefit from this programme: they can make new contacts across disciplines and semesters, help others with their knowledge and gain initial experience in coaching and counselling while still studying!

M for: Munich Student Map

Explore Munich with the HDBW Student City Map!

Whether you’ve just arrived in Munich or have lived here before, our interactive city map highlights all the key places that are useful for student life – libraries, student residences, canteens, coworking spaces, museums, and more. Each location includes a short description and the exact address, helping you find what you need quickly and easily.

Created by the HDBW student support team, the map helps you discover the city, settle in faster, and start feeling at home in Munich.

View here:Student Map München – HDBW City Guide for Students

O for: Orientation Week – Your Introduction to HDBW

For international Master’s students, the HDBW introduction process usually takes place as follows:
At the beginning of October (start of the winter semester) or mid‑March (start of the summer semester), all international students in the Master’s programmes receive a joint online introduction session covering the most important tools, systems and procedures at HDBW.
A shared in‑person meeting follows later in the same semester.

S for: Sports & Recreation for Students in Munich

Close to our university you’ll find Riemer Park and the Riemer Lake. Both are definitely worth a visit: perfect for a swim before or after classes, a beach volleyball meet‑up, or simply relaxing in a peaceful green setting.

HDBW students can take part in the full range of   sports offered by the Central University Sports Organisation (ZHS).  TThe extensive programme – available in both summer and winter – includes activities such as Aikido, climbing, horse riding, rowing, tennis, and even sailing courses on Lake Starnberg.

The main location for ZHS activities is the TUM ZHS sports campus in the Munich Olympic Park.

To participate, you need to obtain a ZHS card with valid semester authorisation (basic ticket). You can get this directly from ZHS by presenting your HDBW certificate of enrolment and a passport photo. After that, you purchase a ZHS semester pass ('Semestermarke') each term, which gives you access to the courses.