Couch exchange for first-year students

“In Erfurt, people stick together, no one starts out alone,” explains Angelina Teichert from the Student Council at the University of Erfurt to the “Thüringer Allgemeine” newspaper, which reported on the couch exchange this week. There are also projects in other cities where newcomers can find temporary accommodation, for example in gyms or tents. What makes the Erfurt couch exchange special is that it is organised exclusively by students, which is unique in Germany. The service is mainly used by international students or those who have moved to the Thuringian capital from further afield. However, Angelina Teichert makes it clear: “The Couch Exchange is not a housing service, but a short-term, voluntary and free support service provided by students for first-year students – usually for a few days or weeks. It is not about finding long-term flats or rooms in shared flats.”

Registration for the couch exchange is divided into two parts: At the end of August, registration opens for students who would like to offer a place to sleep. At the beginning/middle of September, registration will then open for those looking for a place to stay. The respective link to the registration form can be found in the Student Council link tree. In addition, all information will be published in good time on the Student Council Instagram account.

Anyone who is still looking for a bed or would like to provide one can fill out a form in which, in addition to other information, they can also enter how long the accommodation is offered or needed for. "In most cases, the accommodation is only needed for a few days anyway," the organisers know from experience. And also that the offer is not only a nice gesture of welcome, but also a wonderful opportunity to socialise.

If you have any questions about the couch exchange, please contact the Student Council of the University of Erfurt at stura.soziales@uni-erfurt.de.