Your ecUM – Electronic Card – University of Mannheim

The ecUM (electronic card University of Mannheim) is a multi-functional smart card which serves as identification card for students, staff members and guests at the University of Mannheim. The ecUM authorizes you to access certain buildings and rooms of the university and serves as your library card. In addition, you can use the ecUM for cashless payment at the Mensa, EO Cafeteria and Café Soleil.

All functions of the ecUM as a student or membership card:

  • stamp of the period of validity
  • as a library ID card (with personal global user ID)
  • access to certain buildings and rooms of the university
  • for cashless payment at the Mensa, EO Cafeteria and Café Soleil
  • to use the lockers at the University Library
  • for different functions at the self-service terminals
  • to transfer money to your print account
  • Evening and weekend regulations for the semester ticket

Function with guest card:

  • access to certain buildings and rooms of the university

Information on the ecUM as a guest student card can be found under Guest students and senior citizen students.

  • I am a first-year student. How do I get my ecUM?

    • Login to Portal² at portal2.uni-mannheim.de with your
      • Uni-ID and your
      • password for your Uni-ID.
        Your personal Uni-ID is automatically created and you can retrieve it from the online application portal. Please note that you need to change the initial password at the user adminstration website.
    • Go to My services / photo upload chip card and upload the photo which will be printed on the ecUM.
    • As soon as the enrollment process has been completed, your ecUM is created. Afterwards we will inform you via e-mail with information on when and how you will receive your ecUM.
    • We will send your new ecUM by post to the German postal address you provided.
    • As soon as you have received your ecUM, you need to
      • go to the user adminstration website to activate your card.
      • go to one of the self-service terminals at the university to validate your ecUM. The stamp of the period of validity will be printed on your card, if you enter the card and press the “Return” button in the menu to retrieve it. The stamp will be automatically printed on your card.
  • Where can I pick up my ecUM?

    First-year students
    As a first-year student, the ecUM will be send by post to the postal address you provided. Please go to the user adminstration website to activate your ecUM, as soon as you have received your card.

    Staff members
    In order to get the ecUM please upload a passport photo here: portal2.uni-mannheim.de.
    You can pick up your ecUM at the InfoCenter in Schloss Schneckenhof one business day after uploading your photo.

    Students in need of a new ecUM
    You need to apply for a new ecUM which you can then pick up at the InfoCenter of the University IT (Schneckenhof Süd) on presentation of the enrollment certificate and a valid ID or passport. Where can I apply for a new ecUM?

    Visitors at the University of Mannheim
    Visitors can obtain a non-personalized card against a deposit at the Infothek in the Mensa.

  • How can I validate and re-validate my ecUM?

    You need to validate your ecUM by printing a stamp of the period of validity on your card. Each semester, you need to re-validate the card. Please validate or re-validate your ecUM at the self-service terminals or dedicated validity printers at the university. In the section For which services can I use the self-service terminals? you will find more information on the location of the self-service terminals. The locations of the dedicated printers (only validity imprint and evening and weekend ticket) are:

    • A 3 in the library
    • Schneckenhof Süd at the InfoCenter
    •  L 1, 1 Express-Service
    • Ehrenhof West, in the librabry on the 2nd floor

    The stamp of the period of validity is printed on your card, if you enter the card and press the “Return” button in the menu. The stamp will be automatically printed on your card. At the dedicated printer, you only have to insert the card and it will be printed and ejected again.

  • Where can I apply for a new ecUM?

    If you loose your ecUM, the card is defect or your status at the University of Mannheim changes, you can apply for a new ecUM in Portal². Please login to Portal² with your Uni-ID and your passwort and go to My services – photo upload chip card and select the button indicating you want to apply for a new ecUM.

  • How much does my ecUM cost?

    We provide you with your ecUM free of charge.

    You have lost your card? If you have lost your ecUM, you will have to pay a fee in the amount of EUR 15, in accordance with the  General Statutes of Fees of the University of Mannheim.

    You have changed your name or your ecUM is broken? We are happy to provide you with a new ecUM free of charge.

  • Semester ticket and ecUM – what do I need to know?

    In addition to the previous semester ticket, which is now primarily of interest to students over the age of 27, there is also the option of purchasing the VRN JugendticketBW or the Deutschlandticket. Please note: The semester ticket, the VRN JugendticketBW and the Deutschlandticket cannot be purchased at the self-service terminals (SB-Terminal) of the university. 

    The evening and weekend regulations for the semester ticket will remain in place as long as the semester ticket agreement is in place. Currently, the agreement ends at the end of the summer semester 2024. The imprint on the ecUM for this on the ecUM is still possible at the self-service terminals.

    General information about the semester ticket can be obtained from the Studierendenwerk.


  • For which services can I use the self-service terminals?

    As a student, you can use the following services at the self-service terminals:

    • validating and renewing the validity of  your ecUM
    • transferring money to your print account
    • paying library fees
    • imprint evening and weekend ticket

    You will need your:

    • ecUM 
    • Uni-ID (user ID)
    • password for this ID

    Please note that you will need to top up your ecUM before using any fee-charging services.

    The self-service terminals are located here (please note the opening hours of the individual buildings):

    • Foyer of A 5, 6 building A
    • A 3 in the library
    • Ehrenhof West, in the librabry on the 2nd floor
    • Schneckenhof Süd in the foyer of the Business Administration Library (near InfoCenter)
    • Schneckenhof foyer (near Campus Shop)
    • Westflügel near the central lending desk of the Library
  • Paying with ecUM – Where can I top up my ecUM?

    Paying with ecUM
    In the Cafeterias and the Mensa, you can always use your ecUM card for payment. You can also use ecUM for payment in the institutions of the Studierendenwerk as well as for coffee and washing machines. We recommend that you use ecUM for all payment on campus so that you can benefit from the lowest price. In all Cafeterias and the Mensa, there is at least one register where you can pay in cash, but due to the increased work an extra 25% are added to the price which you would pay using ecUM.

    Where can I top up my ecUM?
    You can top up your ecUM at some of the registers in the Mensa, in the Café Soleil and in the Café EO. We recommend using the Autoload process of the Studierendenwerk Mannheim. Topping up your card at the cashless Autoload terminals (right next to the self service terminals) is fast and comfortable:

    FAQs autoload ecUM

    Do you need help? Please contact the InfoCenter of the University IT, if you have problems using the self-service terminals. We will help you as quickly as possible and in an uncomplicated way. We are located in Schloss Schneckenhof Süd but are also happy to help you by phone at +49 621 181-3027 or via e-mail at benutzerverwaltung.unitmail-uni-mannheim.de .

  • I have lost or recovered my ecUM. What should I do?

    You want to block or reactivate your ecUM? Please log in with your Uni-ID (user ID) and password:

    Blocking and Reactivating your ecUM