Living in Student Residences Situation, expectations and preferences of students Selected results of an empirical study on behalf of the German National Association for Student Affairs (DSW) Fritz Berger, DSW Board Member

1.Current living situation and their assessment: inter alia overall satisfaction, criteria for "good living", preferred form of housing, the image of the student residences Content structure of the survey 5.Students looking for accommodation between March 2008 and March 2009: type of requested accommodation, occasion of the search, typical forms of successful search for accommodation 2.Current residents: inter alia exact form of living, reasons for choosing a particular residence hall, pros and cons of a residence 3.Former residents: inter alia retrospective satisfaction, reasons for high or low satisfaction 4.Never lived in a residence: inter alia impression / assessment, reasons for not moving into a residence

Features of the online survey in “living in student residences” - Field research of the survey on housing: March data analysis: completed questionnaire of 8‘500 students, 40% rate of return - only information of German students - representative by gender, institution of higher education, academic semester, old/new federal states, faculties - Online survey as part of the HISBUS Panels - HISBUS-Panel: fixed online panel listing currently ca. 22‘000 students who take part in approx. 10 surveys per year

Where and how do you live mainly during the semester?

Forms of Living in Student Residences

Facility managers of current residents (based on all current student residents, in %)

Why did you chose a student residence? (Based on all current student residents in %, max. 2 reasons) Low rent Convenient location (close to the University) Lack of time in the Apartment search Living togehther with other students No reasonable alternative Friends/Relatives/Fellow student already lived there

How satisfied are you with your current living situation? (Shares of satisfied / very satisfied, in %)

What students in student residences rank higher than students in other forms of housing? % of students in residence halls % of all students low rent79 %75 % convenient location to the univercity80 %64 % live in a community with neighbors71 %53 % sufficient duration of lease61 %49 % the possibility to communicate and meet with neighbors 54 %30 % Barrier-free, accesibility for disabled13 %7 %

Currently in student residences: Is there something that bothers you in your student housing? (max. 3 reasons; in %) Size of my room/Living area Noise in the wider residential environment Cleanliness/Hygiene in shared kitchen Cleanliness/Hygiene in shared sanitary areas Lack of common areas (ex. Club-, Sport-, reading and other leisure room) Other problems/conflict with neighbors/roommates Attitude of other residents in shared kitchen ( ex. Cooking habits) Composition of the residents Nothing

Currently in student residence: What do you like particularly well in your residence? (max. 3 reasons; in percent) proximity to the university Low rent Internet access Good place (in an attractive part, Close to the centre Social interaction with other roommate / Neighbors Possibility to make a contact with Other students Adequate privacy Size of my room/ Living area Good local transport good condition of technical equipment (sanitation, heater) Nothing

Students who have not lived in residences, what are the most important aspects for you to choose a student residence? (max. 3 aspects; in %) Low rent cleanliness, hygiene Good construction equipment (ex. own bath) Size of my room/living area Internet access Proximity to the university Would never move into a student residence

Currently in a student residence: Would you choose living in a student residence again? (in %)

in the garden area at the student residence „Neue BURSE“ in Wuppertal Conclusion: Life can be quite pleasant in our student residences