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TU Berlin–Airbnb Housing Scholarship 2026: Up to 250 Students
TU Berlin–Airbnb Housing Scholarship 2026/27: Eligibility, Housing Support & Application
11 min read
Updated
NBy Naman Kumar
Page Summary⌄
Housing support: Selected students receive a coupon for temporary Airbnb accommodation in Berlin.
Programme budget: Airbnb is providing €400,000 for the Winter Semester 2026/27 programme.
Number of students: Up to 250 newly enrolled TU Berlin students can receive support.
Who can qualify: New students from Germany or abroad, across all disciplines, who are relocating to Berlin for their studies.
Application: There is no public application link; TU Berlin contacts eligible students directly.
Table of Contents
The TU Berlin–Airbnb Housing Scholarship 2026/27 provides temporary accommodation support to newly enrolled students who are moving to Berlin to begin their studies at Technische Universität Berlin.
For the Winter Semester 2026/27, Airbnb is providing a total programme budget of €400,000, with up to 250 students able to receive a coupon for temporary accommodation booked through Airbnb in Berlin.
The programme has also been expanded significantly. Unlike the first 2025/26 round, which focused on international students, the 2026/27 housing scholarship is open to eligible new TU Berlin students from Germany and abroad and across all fields of study.
You cannot currently apply through a publicly available scholarship form. TU Berlin identifies and contacts eligible students directly and provides them with information about how to apply.
TU Berlin–Airbnb Housing Scholarship at a Glance
Information
Details
Programme
TU Berlin–Airbnb Housing Scholarship / Wohnstipendium
University
Technische Universität Berlin
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Naman Kumar has lived in Germany for over eight years and has spent more than five years helping international students navigate German universities, courses, scholarships, and admissions. Having studied in Germany himself and received scholarship support, he combines first-hand experience with practical guidance. He has supported more than 200 students in finding suitable study and funding opportunities in Germany.
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Partner
Airbnb
Location
Berlin, Germany
Academic intake
Winter Semester 2026/27
Target group
Newly enrolled TU Berlin students relocating to Berlin
German students
Eligible
International students
Eligible
Eligible subjects
All disciplines
Programme funding
€400,000
Number of recipients
Up to 250
Support type
Coupon for temporary Airbnb accommodation
Individual 2026 amount
Not publicly stated
Application status
Restricted / invitation-based
Public application portal
Not published
Deadline
Not publicly stated
Selection criteria
Not publicly stated
The programme is designed as temporary arrival support, helping new students bridge the period between arriving in Berlin and finding longer-term housing. It is not presented as a permanent student-housing solution.
What is the TU Berlin–Airbnb Housing Scholarship?
The TU Berlin–Airbnb Wohnstipendium is a housing-support programme jointly operated by Technische Universität Berlin and Airbnb.
Instead of giving selected students a conventional monthly cash scholarship, the programme provides a coupon that can be used to book temporary accommodation through Airbnb in Berlin.
Its purpose is to help students during one of the most difficult parts of relocating for university: finding somewhere to stay immediately after arriving while continuing to search for a longer-term room or apartment.
TU Berlin explains that students who begin their studies without permanent accommodation often need a reliable temporary solution for their first weeks in the city.
The university therefore describes the housing scholarship as a way of supporting students during this transition from arriving in Berlin to finding permanent accommodation.
How much funding is available?
For the Winter Semester 2026/27, Airbnb is providing: €400,000 in total programme funding
This is an increase from the previous programme year.
The 2025/26 programme had total support of more than €300,000, while the 2026/27 programme has been expanded to €400,000.
The expanded funding is intended to support: Up to 250 students with temporary accommodation in Berlin.
How much does each student receive?
The individual coupon value for the 2026/27 programme is not stated in the current official TU Berlin or Airbnb announcement.
You should therefore not assume that every student receives an equal share of the €400,000 programme budget.
This is particularly important because the previous programme year used a specific fixed coupon amount, but the university has not confirmed that the same model or amount applies in 2026/27.
For the current round, use the individual amount communicated by TU Berlin to eligible applicants as the final figure.
Is the scholarship paid in cash?
The current official sources describe the support as a coupon for booking temporary accommodation through Airbnb, not as a direct cash payment to students.
You should therefore think of this programme as: temporary housing assistance rather than a conventional scholarship that pays €300, €500 or another amount into your bank account every month.
Who can apply for the TU Berlin Airbnb Housing Scholarship?
The 2026/27 programme is aimed at students who:
- are newly enrolling at TU Berlin
- are beginning their studies in the relevant intake
- are moving to Berlin for their studies
- require temporary accommodation while getting established in the city.
The official announcement describes the target group as Erstsemester, meaning students beginning their studies at TU Berlin.
The programme is therefore not presented as general housing support for every student who is already studying at TU Berlin.
Can international students apply?
Yes. International students are explicitly included.
TU Berlin states that the expanded 2026/27 programme is open to students: from Germany and abroad who are newly moving to Berlin to study at TU Berlin.
This means the programme is no longer restricted to international students, but international newcomers remain part of the eligible target group.
Can German students apply?
Yes. This is one of the main changes for the 2026/27 programme.
The original 2025/26 housing scholarship was primarily aimed at international first-year students.
For 2026/27, TU Berlin and Airbnb have expanded the programme to include students relocating to Berlin from within Germany as well.
For example, if you are moving to Berlin from another German city to begin your studies at TU Berlin, you may potentially fall within the target group.
Is the scholarship open to all subjects?
Yes. The 2026/27 programme has been expanded to students from: all academic disciplines at TU Berlin.
Your subject does not need to be Engineering, Computer Science or another STEM discipline.
The official announcement does not publish subject-specific quotas.
Do my grades matter?
The current official TU Berlin and Airbnb announcements do not state a GPA or academic-performance requirement.
They also do not explain whether grades are considered during selection.
You should therefore not describe this as either:
- a merit-based scholarship, or
- a scholarship where grades definitely do not matter.
The 2026 public information simply does not provide enough detail to make either claim.
Do I need to be a first-semester student?
The current programme specifically targets newly enrolled students / Erstsemester who are moving to Berlin for their studies.
If you have already been studying at TU Berlin for several semesters, the publicly available announcement does not indicate that you are part of the programme's target group.
Do I need to move to Berlin to qualify?
Yes, based on the target group described by TU Berlin and Airbnb.
The programme is aimed at new students who relocate to Berlin for their studies and need temporary accommodation when they arrive.
The support is specifically designed to bridge the period between: arriving in Berlin → finding permanent accommodation
If you already have established housing in Berlin, the official announcement does not indicate that the programme is intended for your situation.
Is this permanent student housing?
No. The programme provides temporary accommodation support.
TU Berlin explicitly says that the housing scholarship is intended to help students bridge the time needed to find a longer-term housing solution.
The university also emphasizes that this programme should be understood as complementary support and does not replace the need for more permanent and affordable student housing in Berlin.
So if you receive the scholarship, you should continue searching for:
- a WG room
- student accommodation
- a private apartment
- another longer-term housing option.
How long does the Airbnb accommodation last?
The exact accommodation period for each 2026/27 recipient is not stated in the current official announcements.
The sources describe the programme as support for a temporary stay and for the first phase after arriving in Berlin.
You should therefore check the individual coupon conditions provided by TU Berlin before making assumptions about:
- number of nights
- booking period
- expiration date
- eligible accommodation type.
Can I choose any Airbnb in Berlin?
The current 2026/27 announcement confirms that the coupon is intended for temporary Airbnb accommodation in Berlin, but it does not publicly explain all booking restrictions.
The current public sources do not specify whether there are restrictions based on:
- accommodation type
- nightly price
- host type
- minimum or maximum stay
- specific Berlin districts.
Check the terms accompanying your scholarship coupon if selected.
Do I have to stay in a private room?
The 2026/27 official announcement does not state that recipients must book a private room.
The previous 2025/26 programme mentioned a preference for private-room accommodation, but that condition should not automatically be carried forward into the 2026/27 article unless the current scholarship terms confirm it.
For the current programme, follow the booking conditions sent directly to you by TU Berlin.
How many students can receive the scholarship?
Up to: 250 students can receive temporary accommodation support during the 2026/27 programme.
This is an expansion compared with the previous year.
The 2025/26 programme supported 200 international first-year students, each with a coupon valued at €1,580.
For 2026/27:
- the programme budget has increased
- the maximum number of recipients has increased
- German students have been added
- students from all disciplines are included.
However, TU Berlin has not publicly confirmed the individual 2026 coupon value.
Why did TU Berlin expand the housing scholarship?
According to TU Berlin and Airbnb, demand in the first programme year exceeded the number of available coupons.
Berlin's difficult housing market affects both international and domestic students who relocate to the city.
Airbnb gives examples of students moving from other parts of Germany who may be competing for WG rooms before they have even arrived or become familiar with the city.
As a result, the programme was expanded for 2026/27 from: €300,000+ → €400,000 and from a focus on international first-year students to: German and international first-year students across all subjects.
How do I apply for the TU Berlin Airbnb Housing Scholarship?
This scholarship does not currently have a normal public application process.
TU Berlin states that it: contacts eligible students directly with information about the programme and the opportunity to apply.
Airbnb similarly states that eligible students can apply for a coupon through TU Berlin's student services.
This means you should not expect to find a general public “Apply Now” form that anyone can access.
Is there a public application portal?
No public application URL is included in the current official announcement.
The application appears to be restricted to students whom TU Berlin identifies as potentially eligible.
If TU Berlin considers you eligible, you should follow the application instructions sent directly by the university.
What should I do if I think I am eligible but have not received an invitation?
If you are:
- newly enrolled at TU Berlin
- moving to Berlin to begin your studies
- part of the Winter Semester 2026/27 intake
but have not received information about the programme, the official public announcement does not provide a separate self-application route.
The safest approach is to check communications from the TU Berlin Student Service / Studierendenservice and your official university email account.
Do not apply through unofficial third-party websites claiming to offer the scholarship.
When is the application deadline?
The current public TU Berlin and Airbnb announcements do not state a general application deadline.
Because eligible students are contacted directly, application dates may be communicated individually through TU Berlin.
You should therefore use the deadline contained in the official message you receive from the university.
What documents do I need?
The publicly accessible 2026/27 announcement does not provide a document checklist.
It does not state whether applicants need to submit:
- admission letter
- enrolment certificate
- proof of relocation
- proof of financial need
- motivation letter
- CV
- income documents.
Do not assume that any of these documents are mandatory unless TU Berlin requests them in the invitation or application process.
Is financial need required?
The current public announcement describes the programme as helping students who need temporary housing after relocating to Berlin, but it does not publish a formal financial-need criterion.
You should therefore not describe financial hardship as a confirmed eligibility requirement.
The final eligibility and selection conditions should be taken from the information TU Berlin sends directly to invited students.
How are recipients selected?
The current official sources do not publicly explain the selection process.
They do not state whether support is allocated:
- first come, first served
- by lottery
- based on financial need
- according to housing circumstances
- through another selection system.
The only confirmed point is that TU Berlin contacts relevant students and gives them the opportunity to apply.
Is this the same as the TU Berlin Deutschlandstipendium?
No. The Airbnb Housing Scholarship and the Deutschlandstipendium are completely separate programmes.
The TU Berlin–Airbnb Housing Scholarship provides temporary accommodation support for selected new students arriving in Berlin.
The Deutschlandstipendium, by contrast, provides selected TU Berlin students with: €300 per month for at least one year and considers academic achievement, engagement and personal circumstances.
The application procedures and eligibility criteria are also different.
You should therefore not use “Deutschlandstipendium” and “Airbnb Wohnstipendium” interchangeably.
Does receiving the Airbnb scholarship guarantee permanent housing?
No. The programme is explicitly designed as a temporary bridge while you search for long-term accommodation.
Receiving an Airbnb coupon does not mean TU Berlin or Airbnb will provide you with a permanent apartment or student residence.
You should continue your housing search while using the temporary accommodation.
Where else can I look for accommodation at TU Berlin?
TU Berlin also operates a housing exchange where students can find private rooms, shared apartments and other housing offers.
However, TU Berlin warns that listings on the housing exchange are not verified by the university and recommends that students verify an offer before paying deposits or rent.
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