For your student starter kit you first need a bed, a workspace, kitchen basics, a laptop and the documents for enrolment and your tenancy agreement. Everything else you can buy step by step, and much of it second-hand. How much you really have to buy depends on your type of accommodation, because a furnished room in a student hall needs less than an empty flat.
Key takeaways
- Start with a sleeping place, a desk, lighting, crockery, kitchen basics and a laptop. The rest can wait.
- Before you buy, clarify with your landlord or flatmates what is already there.
- The one-off study start grant (Studienstarthilfe) of €1,000 is meant for start-up costs, but you only get it under certain conditions.
- You will find furniture, kitchen appliances and even technology good second-hand. Check the condition and the return options before you buy.
What belongs in your student starter kit first?
In your first week you need everything that makes sleeping, eating and studying possible. The list sorts items by urgency, so that you do not have to buy everything at once:
| Timing | What you need |
|---|---|
| Before moving in | ID card, health insurance card, admission notice, tenancy agreement, bank details |
| First week | Bed with mattress, bed linen, towels, crockery, cutlery, pot, pan, kettle, cleaning products, laptop |
| First few weeks | Desk, chair, lamp, storage, drying rack, backpack, first-aid kit, basic tools |
| Later | Printer, coffee machine, decoration, larger kitchen appliances, second shelf |
The process around moving in is explained in moving to university (in German). If you do not have a place to live yet, our article on how to go about finding a flat during your studies (in German) helps.
What do you bring depending on your type of accommodation?
The type of accommodation decides how much you have to buy. Before moving in, ask what belongs to the room, and in a shared flat ask for a list of the shared appliances.
| Type of accommodation | Usually already there | Usually bring yourself |
|---|---|---|
| Student hall room | Depending on the building, furniture and often a shared kitchen | Bed linen, towels, crockery, kitchen basics, lamp |
| Room in a shared flat | Shared rooms with kitchen, bathroom and appliances | Furniture for your room, your own crockery, personal items |
| Own flat | Little or nothing, depending on the contract | Almost everything, including kitchen, lamps and laundry items |
How do you furnish your first flat?
It is best to set up your first flat in the order of sleeping, working and storage. Do not skimp on the mattress, because you use it every night. A bed frame can be bought second-hand without a problem.
At the workspace, a large enough table surface, a comfortable chair and light that does not glare count. A rolling drawer unit or a narrow shelf keeps documents together. For clothes and books, plan storage before you buy decoration. Boxes and baskets solve many space problems cheaply.
How do you equip the kitchen as a student?
You need less for the kitchen than sets in shops suggest. A few items are enough to cook most everyday meals:
- Crockery: plates, bowls, cups, glasses and cutlery, in a shared flat rather for two to four people than for twelve.
- Cooking: a frying pan, a small and a large pot, a chopping board, a sharp knife, a wooden spoon, a spatula and a colander.
- Appliances: a kettle first. A coffee machine, toaster or single hob are optional, but clarify a hob with your landlord or flatmates beforehand.
- Cleaning: washing-up liquid, a sponge, a tea towel, all-purpose cleaner and bin bags.
If you do not cook every day, you will find alternatives at the university canteen (in German). Second-hand kitchen appliances are usually unproblematic, as long as they work and are clean. For electrical items, it is worth checking the condition and the cable.
Which technology do you need for your studies?
For your studies you need a working laptop, a backup of your files and access to the programmes of your university. Ask the computing centre about campus licences before you buy software. A tablet complements the laptop, but only replaces it in some degree programmes.
- Back up important files on an external hard drive or in cloud storage.
- A printer is rarely needed, because many universities offer printing facilities.
- Headphones help in a shared flat and in halls, but they are not a must.
A laptop you have paid for yourself may be deductible for tax purposes. Up to €800 excluding VAT, a full deduction is possible in the year of purchase. During a first degree, this runs through special expenses (up to €6,000 per year), which only have an effect with taxable income; after a completed first training, it runs through income-related expenses. Keep the receipt.
Where do you find furniture second-hand as a student?
You will find second-hand furniture on classified ad sites, at flea markets, in student council groups and through social welfare shops. Students often give away their furniture cheaply at the end of the semester and when moving. Ask early and plan for transport. What to watch out for regarding condition and payment is covered in our article second-hand instead of new (in German).
Which costs and formalities belong to the start?
The starter kit also includes fixed costs and registrations that do not appear on any furnishing list. The most important ones at a glance:
| Item | Amount and note |
|---|---|
| Semester ticket | Where offered, €37.80 per month in 2026 (€226.80 per semester) |
| Broadcasting contribution | €18.36 per month per flat. Exemption on application if you receive BAföG and do not live with your parents. |
| Health insurance | Usually family insurance up to the age of 25, then student health insurance. Clarify your status with your fund in advance. |
| Rent | The BAföG housing allowance is €380, and the average room rent in a shared flat is €510 per month. |
For more on discounts with a student card and certificate, see benefits for students (in German).
How do you plan your starting budget?
The best way to plan your starting budget is to set the overall frame first and then distribute it across the areas. A reserve helps, because individual items almost always cost more than expected.
Example with an assumed starting budget of €800: €320 for sleeping and working, €200 for the kitchen, €160 for technology and €120 as a buffer. That makes €320 + €200 + €160 + €120 = €800. The distribution is a calculation suggestion, not a requirement. Your own depends on what you already own.
For start-up costs such as the semester fee, a rental deposit or a laptop, there is the study start grant (Studienstarthilfe) of a one-off €1,000. Students under 25 who start a full-time degree for the first time and received certain social benefits, such as housing benefit (Wohngeld), in the month before can receive it. It is not offset against BAföG.
Students only receive housing benefit in exceptional cases. Anyone who is in principle eligible for BAföG is excluded, even if the amount would be zero. Exceptions and the procedure are explained in our article on how to apply for housing benefit (Wohngeld) (in German).
What can you do without at first?
At the start you can do without everything that only brings comfort: printer, designer furniture, food processors, complete crockery sets and decoration. Wait a few weeks to see what you really miss. Borrow a lot from family and friends before you buy, and ask students further along what matters in your city.
Frequently asked questions
What starter kit do I really need as a student?
Essential are a sleeping place with bed linen, towels, crockery and kitchen basics, a laptop, a workspace with light and the documents for your university and flat. Everything else can come after the first few weeks. Clarify in advance what the hall, the shared flat or your landlord already provides.
How do I furnish my first flat cheaply?
Buy only the essentials first and look for furniture second-hand. Ask family and friends for things they no longer need, and use student council groups and classified ads. Compare prices, plan for transport and set aside a reserve for unexpected costs.
What belongs on a furnishing checklist for students?
Sort by urgency: documents and a sleeping place first, kitchen and laptop in the first week, desk, storage and tools afterwards. The list should also include fixed costs such as the semester ticket, the broadcasting contribution and health insurance, which depend on where you live.
Do I need my own kitchen appliances in a shared flat?
Often not all of them. Usually the cooker, fridge and a few pots are there. Ask before you move in which appliances are shared, and only get your own crockery, cutlery and whatever you are missing. Agree on larger purchases such as a coffee machine with your flatmates.
How to proceed now
- Clarify with your landlord or flatmates what is already there, and cross it off your list.
- Set a starting budget with a reserve and divide it across the areas.
- Buy the sleeping place, kitchen basics and laptop first, and the rest during the first few weeks.
- Look for furniture and appliances second-hand first, and check whether you can apply for the study start grant.
- Take care of your insurance status, broadcasting contribution and semester ticket in good time.
Related reading
- Moving to university: your checklist for a stress-free start (in German)
- Budget planning during your studies (in German)
- Student discounts: how to save properly (in German)
- Liability insurance during your studies (in German)
- Contents insurance in a hall and a shared flat: when it pays off (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
