Vier Studierende stehen auf dem Ehrenhof und halten einen Globus in die Höhe. Im Hintergrund ist Mannheim zu sehen.

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.

Four smiling students in a low-traffic zone in Mannheim’s Jungbusch district
The City of Mannheim

Read more about the student city between the Rhine and Neckar rivers and discover why it is so special.

Two students at the stone staircase of a building
Neighborhoods of the City of Mannheim

From Neckarstadt to Lindenhof – find out more about the different districts and neighborhoods of 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 four 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 room in a shared apartment for 2 students

    • Both students living in the shared apartment have their own bedroom,
    • but share the kitchen and the bathroom.
    • Apartments for two students are shared by either women OR men.
    • The number of rooms in shared apartments for two people is limited.

    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 370 to EUR 560 (subject to change).
      *Utilities: Water, heating, electricity, Internet

      Prices 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 or November. 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.

    • 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 websites 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.

    Miral Elsayed hat schwarzes schulterlanges lockiges Haar und trägt einen grauen Pulluvor mit Strickmuster. Sie lächelt und steht auf dem Ehrenhof.

    I lived in a student residence hall where I got to know people from all over the world. On my first evening in Mannheim, we went to a very nice café together. Since that evening, we have spent a lot of time together and I have made very good friends.

    Miral Elsayed, exchange student in the bachelor’s program in Business Administration, German University in Cairo (Egypt) / Credit: Elisa Berdica

    Contact

    Ricarda Diehl

    Ricarda Diehl (she/her)

    German Language Courses Coordinator and Accommodation Officer for International Exchange Students
    University of Mannheim
    Division II – Student Affairs
    International Office
    L 1, 1 – Room 109
    68161 Mannheim
    Phone: +49 621 181-1158
    Fax: +49 621 181-1161
    E-mail: ricarda.diehlmail-uni-mannheim.de
    Office hours:
    Working from home every Thursday and Friday as well as Wednesday in even calendar weeks; available only via E-Mail on these days.