For First-Year Students
Welcome to the University of Mannheim! On this website, you will find everything you need to know and prepare for the start of your studies: Orientation events, funding options, student ID card, finding your way around campus and much more.
You have been admitted. What’s next?
Submit enrollment forms
By enrolling you are accepting your study place at the university and you will receive a student ID number. Read more on our “Enrollment” website.
Read the information on your program
There are important documents, such as the examination regulations and the module catalog, for your program which you need to read to plan your degree. For more information, please see the websites for first-year students of the schools and the student portal.
Mark your calendar for the orientation events
In the first few days of your studies, the university organizes various orientation events to help you find your feet at the start of the first semester. Usually, these events take place in the week before the lecture period begins.
Getting Started: Living in Mannheim
Financing
Financial support through BAföG, scholarships or jobs for students – there are a number of options when it comes to financing your studies. To find the right financing option for you, you should look into the various options early on and learn about requirements and deadlines.
Find a place to stay
The Studierendenwerk Mannheim manages around 3,000 rooms in 17 residence halls that are spread out over the entire city. Tip: You do not have to be enrolled to apply for a spot at a residence hall – it pays to be quick!
Get to know the public transport
With the JugendticketBW, the Deutschlandticket or the VRN Nextbike you can use public transport.
VRN-Website (only in German)
Find your way around campus
Get to know the university.
Campus tour (online)
Library tour (online)
Getting Started: Setting up the IT infrastructure
Apply for and activate your ecUM
The ecUM, short for electronic card University of Mannheim, is your student ID, your library ID and cashless payment method all in one. As soon as have been enrolled, the card will be created and sent via mail to your German address.
Please activate your ecUM to use it in the University Library.
Setting up your Uni-ID and password
You will need your Uni-ID for your e-mail account, the library and for accessing the information portal Portal² and the e-learning platform ILIAS.
Set up the client for access to the university network on your computer
On campus, you can use the Uni-ID to connect to eduroam, the university’s wireless.
In order to access the university network from your home, you need to install the Cisco VPN AnyConnect Client.
Set up Office 365 for students
Students have two options for using Office 365. You can use a free online version under the Microsoft 365 agreement for students or an installed version for which you have to pay an annual fee of EUR 3.99.
Further assistance
Please contact the University IT if you have any questions on the IT services.
Starting your studies: Our orientation week
Go to orientation events
Orientation events help you find your way around the university and campus life. They also are a good opportunity to get in touch with people.
Go to the orientation week At the orientation week for first-year students (Erstiwoche) , organized by AStA, students get to know each other in an informal way through joint activities. AStA website Set up your course schedule and register for courses
Take a look at the course catalog and select your courses for the first semester. You can register for your courses on the student portal Portal². The orientation events will provide some guidance for setting up your course schedule. Also, the departmental student committees can help.
Register for tours and introductory courses offered by the University Library
The University Library offers a variety of tours, courses and learning videos for subject-specific research competencies.
Register for sports courses
The Institute of Sports offers a wide range of sports courses. Most of the courses are free of charge.
Register for language courses, computer courses
Studium Generale offers a wide range of extracurricular classes: language classes, IT classes, communication or presentation classes.
Get involved and meet new people
Members of a departmental student committee or student organization are actively shaping life at university. They meet at regular intervals to organize events and presentations.
Study successfully: Passing examinations
Stay up-to-date
The university informs students about any news relevant to their studies. Please check your e-mails regularly. For current information, please refer to the website of the University of Mannheim and the newsletters on our programs.
Read the exam regulations
There is an examination regulation for each program. which outline the coursework and examinations to be completed by students. This document also contains information on examination deadlines, circumstances in which an examination can be re-taken, the number of ECTS credits required to start the final thesis, and the exact degree awarded.
Gather information about exam registrations
You need to register for exams during the semester. The requirements and conditions for registration, withdrawal, late registration, change in registration are different for every program. Exam registration is done via Portal².
Learning and study techniques
Learning and study techniques help you to master your studies successfully. In addition to a wide-ranging course program, students can also receive individual support in one-on-one sessions.
To help you study successfully at the University of Mannheim, we recommend that you use a laptop.
If you are unable to purchase your own laptop, you can also borrow mobile devices from the university.
Student commitment
The student representatives (AStA or departmental student committees) or the more than 50 student organizations offer the possibility for commitment alongside your studies. Be a part of it!