Living in Mannheim
for International exchange students
Mannheim has about 300,000 inhabitants from 167 nations. Openness and cultural diversity – this is what defines living in Mannheim. The city comprises 17 districts, all of which are well connected to the University of Mannheim by public transport. International exchange students have various options for finding suitable accommodation in Mannheim.
Student housing
The International Office provides accommodation in student housing for exchange students of our partner universities. However, the number of available dormitory rooms is very limited. Dormitory rooms are rented out by the Studierendenwerk Mannheim.
Student housing is the perfect place to get to know fellow students from both Germany and all around the world.
However, please be aware that you are not guaranteed a room in student housing!
Location
The residence halls of the Studierendenwerk Mannheim are located throughout the city. From all residence halls, the university can be reached directly by public transport. The International Office has a contingent of dormitory rooms in two of the residence halls of the Studierendenwerk.
Types of rooms
Single room in a shared apartment for 3 – 8 students
- All students living in the shared apartment have their own bedroom,
- but share the kitchen and the bathroom.
- Women and men live together.
Single apartment
- Single apartments are equipped with an individual kitchen and bathroom.
- There is only a very limited number of single apartments.
Furnishings
All dormitory rooms for exchange students are furnished with
- bed
- wardrobe
- desk
- chair
- bookshelf
- TV/
telephone and cable internet connection - washbasin, if applicable
Student kitchens are equipped with a hot plate and refrigerator. There are no ovens.
Every residence hall has a laundry room with washers and dryers. You may pay for washing and drying using your ecUM smart card (student ID card).
You must bring or buy:
- tableware
- toilet paper
- washing-up liquid, washing powder etc.
Prices
Rent, including utilities*: about EUR 390 to EUR 480 (subject to change).
*Utilities: Water, heating, electricity, InternetPrices vary depending on the respective residence hall and type of room/
accommodation. Please note that the prices for exchange students may differ from the prices listed on the Studierendenwerk website.
Application process
Once you have been admitted to the University of Mannheim, information on how to apply for a room will be provided by e-mail in May (for the fall semester) or November (for the spring semester). Please make sure that you have carefully read all the information about student residence halls before applying for a room.
If you apply early within the application period, you have a better chance of getting a room. However, unfortunately, we cannot guarantee that there is a room available for you.
Please note that this applies exclusively to exchange students in their first exchange semester. Exchange students in their second semester are not eligible to apply for the International Office's room contingent and must secure accommodation through the private market.
Cancellation
You can only cancel a room under special circumstances and after obtaining approval from the International Office.
Private housing
Mannheim is a university city. This means that, at the beginning of each semester, private housing is in high demand and finding suitable accommodation may take up a lot of time. So, starting your search early pays off.
Also, you should extend your search to all 17 districts, which are all very well connected to the university. The same applies to the cities in the vicinity of Mannheim, such as Ludwigshafen or Heidelberg.
Catalog of sublet apartments provided by the Studierendenwerk
The Studierendenwerk Mannheim maintains a catalog of sublet apartments, where students from Mannheim can sublet their room in the student residence hall directly to other students.
Private residence halls
Besides student housing provided by the Studierendenwerk, there are also some private residence halls in Mannheim. Some of these residence halls are church-sponsored. Please apply directly to the respective residence hall. For further information, please see the respective residence hall’s website.
- The Alfred-Delp-Haus (ADH) is a Catholic residence hall located in the city center of Mannheim. Here, a harmonious residential community and good companionship of the residents is of great importance. For this reason, before allocating a room, the management wants to meet new applicants in person. International students can apply for a room in the ADH without having to travel to Mannheim for a personal interview; yet, they must be able to satisfactorily show their social commitment. All students can apply irrespective of their religious affiliation.
- The Emilie-Hucht-Haus is a Catholic youth residence. For more information, please see the homepage.
- The Kolpinghaus offers rooms for students, trainees, pupils, and young workers.
Advice for finding accommodation
Shared apartments, so-called “WGs”, are very popular among students. All residents have a private room, but share the kitchen and the bathroom. If you opt for a shared apartment, you do not only have to pay a lower rent, you will also get to know everyday life in Mannheim and at the university much faster.
The price for a room in a shared apartment in Mannheim amounts to EUR 350–600. It is common that landlords require a deposit payment of about two monthly rents excluding utilities.
You will find plenty offers for private rooms or apartments online. Make sure that the residence offer you opt for is reliable. We also recommend not to transfer rental payments to bank accounts outside Germany.
The most popular website for finding rooms and apartments:
Short-term accommodation
If you come to Mannheim to look for an apartment or have to bridge a few days before moving in, you can book a room in the Youth Hostel Mannheim.
For more affordable hotels in Mannheim please see Portal².

Contact

Ricarda Diehl (she/her)
Division II – Student Affairs
International Office
L 1, 1 – Room 109
68161 Mannheim
You can book an appointment for a virtual consultation: https://www.uni-mannheim.de/en/about/centers-institutions-affiliates-and-partners/international-office/virtual-consultation-int-exchange-students/
Working from home every Thursday and Friday as well as Wednesday in even calendar weeks; available only via E-Mail on these days.