Two people working on their laptops in the outside space of a café

Student Life and Support

GESS doctoral students enter a highly personalized and supportive academic and administrative environment. Not only do they share offices with their fellow students during the course of the program phase, they will also regularly interact with peers from other doctoral centers through classes, social events, and brown-bag seminar series.

Location

The GESS is located in the heart of the city of Mannheim. The University of Mannheim is mainly located in one of the largest baroque palaces in Europe.

The city of Mannheim is a major urban center in the vibrant metropolitan area of the Rhine-Neckar-Triangle. Together with Heidelberg and Ludwigshafen this region constitutes 2,4 million inhabitants, a great infrastructure and businesses that are active on a global scale. Mannheim is surrounded by low mountain ranges that belong to one of the most famous wine growing regions in Germany, the Electoral Palatinate.

A student housing option, a yellow four-story building
Housing

A wide choice of housing options helps students to quickly become familiar with Mannheim and its surroundings.

Six students conversing in a seminar room
German Language Courses

Preparatory courses, courses during the semester and the International Summer and Winter Academy. Participants learn in these courses also more about the German culture and popular mindsets.

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Welcome Center

The Welcome Center informs, advises, and assists foreign students and researchers regarding issues ranging from practical training, immigration to housing.

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Sports Facilities

The University of Mannheim offers a broad range of athletic and fitness facilities, exercise classes and equipment, to which GESS doctoral students have access.

Teaching and Learning Center (ZLL)

Concerning teaching activities, the Teaching and Learning Center (ZLL) of the University of Mannheim offers a variety of courses and individual consultations for teachers. To improve their didactic skills, teachers can also earn the 'Baden-Württemberg Certificate for Teaching and Learning' at the ZLL, which meets international higher education standards and is widely accepted in tenure procedures. 

Equal Opportunity and Social Diversity

The University of Mannheim is committed to advancing equality, diversity and inclusion. Since the establishment of the Department of Equal Opportunity and Social Diversity in 2011 we are seeking to continually develop sustainable structures in the fields of gender equality and social diversity and to create a pleasant, inclusive and diverse working environment for all across the University.

The department offers tailor-made mentoring programs for junior female scientists that range from personal development workshops to workshops on how to successfully apply for third-party funding. Furthermore, it offers resources for achieving work-study-life balance and provides individual counselling when necessary.