FAQs for International Exchange Students

Where can I get vaccinated in Mannheim?

The University of Mannheim compiles vaccination offers for students here, which are updated continuously. All students who are enrolled in Mannheim can take advantage of these offers.

Currently, it is also possible to get vaccinated at physicians' offices, company doctors, and at the vaccination centers.

Mannheim vaccination center

Until 30 September, students can turn to the Mannheim vaccination center in case they want to get vaccinated, have questions or need consultation (opening hours Mon-Sat 11:30 am to 7:00 pm) without appointment.

The vaccination center in Mannheim is on the “Mai­markt­gelände”. Tram line 6 and bus lines 50 and 45 will get you there. The bus/tram stop „Mai­markt“ is right opposite of the vaccination center.

Documents to bring to the vaccination appointment

Please do not forget to bring the following documents:

• passport/national ID
• vaccination record (which is where you will receive a confirmation of your vaccination)
• proof of health insurance
• enrollment certificate (if you made the appointment through the University)

If you were previously vaccinated with a vaccine not approved by the EU:

If you received a vaccination that is not listed on the website of the Paul Ehrlich institute, you have the option to receive an additional vaccination with an EU approved vaccine at least 6 weeks after you received your last vaccination. Please consult a doctor and provide the following:

• Confirmation of residence registration or enrollment certificate
• Passport or national ID
• Vaccination card and information about your last vaccination

Please note: As of 11 October, most people will have to pay for Covid-19 rapid tests in Germany. If you are not eligible for vaccination or if there is no vaccination recommendation for you, you are exempt from this provision. Students who have been vaccinated with a vaccine which has not been authorized by the Paul-Ehrlich-Institut (f.ex. Sinovav, Sputnik V, etc.), will continue to receive Covid-19 rapid tests for free until 31 December 2021.

Proof of Vaccination

If you received an EU approved vaccination against the SARS-Cov-19 in your home country, your vaccination certificate or vaccination card needs to include the following information:

• Date of vaccination
• Name of vaccine
• Batch number of the vaccine
• Name and stamp of the vaccination center or the doctor, as well as the doctors signature

Proof of Convalescence

• Proof of convalescence needs to be translated to German or English
• Your proof of convalescence needs to confirm your previous infection by a PCR-test and needs to detail the date on which the test was conducted. It also needs to include your complete name and date of birth, the test results, and name the laboratory that issued your confirmation.
• If you have proof of convalescence and receive an additional vaccination with an EU approved vaccine, you will be considered vaccinated.

Digital vaccination or convalescence record

Vaccinated and/or recovered individuals are able to digitally store information about their vaccine/ convalescence on their smartphone – either in the CovPass app or in the Corona Warn app. 

To do so, scan the vaccination / convalescence certificates(QR codes) in the app. If you have not yet received a QR code after vaccination, they can be issued subsequently. If you have been vaccinated at a vaccination center, they will be sent by post or made available online. Alternatively, doctors or pharmacists can also issue vaccination/ convalescence certificates.

Further information on the digital vaccination/ convalescence certificate can be found here.

Further information:

• Information by the City of Mannheim on receiving a vaccination (in German)
• coronavirus hotline of Mannheim
• Information in different languages on vaccination againgst Sars-CoV-19 by the Federal Government
• Coronavirus and vaccination procedure in Baden-Württemberg (German with English subtitles)

If you need to get tested or are in need of medical attention in case of a (possible) infection with Corona, you can find a map with doctor’s offices which offer testing and treatment here.
When contacting the doctor’s office, please always do so via phone first and clarify the following procedure. They will provide you with more information regarding your current situation.

Please find the instructions for how to use the map and a list of doctor’s offices in Mannheim here.

There is also a coronavirus test center in Mannheim where testing is available (at a fee).

Where can I get a rapid test (Schnelltest)?

There are various places in Mannheim that you can get a Schnelltest at, if you follow this link it will provide you with a map showing different testing locations throughout the city.

This link directs you to a website where you will be shown test center options that are closest to you. Type in your address where it says “Straßenname”, then click on “suchen” and all the available options including their contact details will come up.

Should you feel sick, please consult a medical doctor – you will find contact details of English-speaking doctors on MyUniMa.

The Charité Universitäts­medizin Berlin has created a questionnaire as decision support for a possible doctor's visit and/or a coronavirus test. Moreover, it provides you with information on risk reduction and helps society to optimize patient flow.
The app does not substitute clinical diagnostics by a doctor; however, it simplifies procedures in our health care system, gives you individualized recommendations for your next steps and summarizes your data. The app can assist you in evaluating whether it is necessary to see a doctor and/or to know if a test for coronavirus is recommended for you. Medically relevant information will be summarized at the end of the questionnaire and you can take it with you to a doctor's appointment.

You can access the questionnaire here: https://covapp.charite.de/, switch to English in the upper right-hand corner, and start the survey. After completing the survey you get individualized recommendations based on your answers. You can also print out the summary afterwards.

The questionnaire is anonymous and will be recorded by the device (e. g. cell phone) you use when taking the survey. Your answers will not be transferred to Charité nor any other third party.

If you feel like you should get tested for SARS-Cov-2, please ask yourself: did you have contact with an infected person or did you return from a so-called 'risk area' recently? If so, please contact a medical doctor on the phone first and state your case.

The city of Mannheim also established a Corona-Hotline: +49 (0)621-293 2253

Outside their office hours, this number should be available as well: (+49) 116 117

The city of Mannheim also gives information on their website: https://www.mannheim.de/de/informationen-zu-corona/informationen-in-verschiedenen-sprachen#  (scroll down for information in English and other languages).

Many non-German native speakers are facing quite a challenge to stay on top of the news concerning the development of the situation of the coronavirus in Germany.

You can find current information in English here:

Federal Government Commissioner for Migration, Refugees and Integration

• What do you currently need to know about corona?

German Federal Foreign Office:

• Information on entry restrictions and quarantine regulations in Germany

German Federal Ministry of Interior, Building and Community:

• Important information about border checks and travel restrictions due to the corona pandemic
• Info on Travel Restrictions and Border Control

News on the coronavirus in Germany:

• https://www.deutschland.de/en/news/coronavirus-in-germany-informations
• https://www.thelocal.de/tag/coronavirus

Restrictions on travel from countries with coronavirus variants

On 30 January 2021, a travel ban has been imposed on countries with widespread occurrence of SARS-CoV-2 virus variants of concern. Carriers may not transport any persons from these countries to Germany. There are only a few, strictly defined exceptions to this travel ban:

• Persons who are resident in Germany with a current right to reside in the country
• German nationals

Should you meet one of the exceptions and be able to travel from a so called “area of variant of concern”, please keep in mind that you will have to undergo quarantine in Germany and have a negative SARS-CoV-2 test result on you when starting your journey. You need to take the test within 48 hours before starting your journey.

Since we do not know about your whereabouts at the time of travel to Germany, we need you to check if these travel restrictions apply to you. Please visit the website of the Federal Foreign Office to get up-to-date information at all times.

Regulations on mandatory quarantine may change and may vary between states or cities. Before entering Germany, please make sure that you know the current regulations. If in doubt or if you have any questions, please contact us: incomings uni-mannheim.de.

The requirement to quarantine will initially be in force until 30 June 2021.

Who needs to quarantine?

If you have spent time in a country or region currently classified as a risk area or high incidence area, you are required to proceed directly to your own home, or other suitable accommodation, immediately upon arrival and remain exclusively at this location for a period of 10 days after your entry into the country (home quarantine). If you have spent time in an area of variants of concern prior to entry, you will need to quarantine for 14 days.
Violations can be punished as an administrative offence with a very high fine.

Shortening of the quarantine period

If you are travelling from an area of variant of concern of SARS-CoV-2 infection, the 14-day quarantine period cannot be shortened in any case.

Travelling from a risk area or high-incidence area, the quarantine period may be ended prematurely if proof of recovery, proof of vaccination or a negative test result is submitted via the Federal Republic of Germany entry portal https://www.einreiseanmeldung.de. Should you have spent time in a high-incidence area prior to entry, the relevant test may not be conducted earlier than five days after entry. You can take a test in Mannheim (or other place of residence). Please also keep the negative test results for at least 10 days.

Exemptions

If you are travelling from an area of variant of concern of a SARS-CoV-2 infection, quarantine is mandatory even if you contracted the coronavirus or were vaccinated already.

If you travel from a risk area or a high incidence area, you are exempted from the quarantine if you already contracted the coronavirus at least 21 days up to 6 months prior to the date of your arrival in Baden-Württemberg and can provide the health authorities a medical certificate confirming this. The infection needs to be confirmed by a molecular biological test by means of polymerase chain reaction (PCR test). Please note that you need to be symptom-free upon arrival in Germany.
If you travel from a risk area or a high incidence area, you are also exempted from quarantine if you were fully vaccinated against SARS-CoV-2 with a vaccination approved by the European Union at least 14 days prior to your entry of Germany. You are required to carry proof of your vaccination and present it to the responsible authorities upon request.

During the quarantine period

During the 10 days in quarantine, you are not allowed to leave your apartment without the permission of the public health department or to receive visits from people living in other households. This is to protect your neighbors and persons around you. Any violation of the rules may be imposed by a very high fine!

In order for you not to leave the house, some grocery stores now offer their products online and deliver anything from groceries to drugstore products to your door-step. Instructions for two online grocery stores and how to use their online offer: getNow.com | Rewe online store
Your buddy partner may also be able to support you during your quarantine period.

Further information:
FAQs about the Corona Ordinance on Entry Quarantine in Baden-Württemberg

As of this fall semester, you need a Classroom Pass in order to participate in in-person classes or to study at one of the university’s work stations. The Classroom Pass is your confirmation that you provided the University of Mannheim with a 3G proof.

You can obtain the Classroom Pass in the Classroom Pass Center as of 1 September. Learn more on where the Classroom Pass Center is located, which documents you must bring and to find other important questions and answers about the Classroom Pass Center.

It is mandatory to provide a negative Covid-19 test result, proof of convalescence, or proof of full vaccination if you plan to study and spend time at the library. That proof is not necessary if you are only picking up media.

The subject libraries remain open with opening hours up to 22 o’clock. Access to the subject libraries is possible with a valid seat booking and/or as a spontaneous visit.

The Central Lending Library is open for borrowing and returning media on your own.

The latest information on the services of the University Library is available here.

Should you have problems accessing Portal² or Ilias and/or opening uploaded materials, kindly visit: https://www.uni-mannheim.de/en/it/support/.
If you cannot find the answer to your question there, kindly get in touch with our colleagues from University IT support via itsupport uni-mannheim.de. 

The University’s main cafeteria „Schlossmensa“ currently offers to order food for take-away.

If you would like to have a meal to-go, you can still order it in person at the cafeteria’s co­unter during the opening hours from 11.30 a.m. – 2.15 p.m (Mon-Fri).  Here you can find the daily menus.

When entering the cafeteria please always follow the hygiene regulations and fill out the online contact form via the MensA-Guest-App, which you will get access to by scanning a QR-Code. Then follow the directions provided by staff and place your order. After you have received your order and paid, do not forget to check out on the MensA-Guest App and enjoy your meal!

For more information about the cafeteria, please go to the Studierenden­werk’s website.

The University of Mannheim's Institute of Sports offers you the opportunity to stream various courses offered by the institute online in your living room: https://www.uni-mannheim.de/en/sports/program/

PBS Psychological Counselling Center of Studierenden­werk Mannheim: 

Telephone Consultation:
Mon & Thu: 1 p.m. – 4 p.m.
Tue & Wed: 10 a.m. – 4 p.m.
Fri: 10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Phone: 0621 49072-555 

https://www.stw-ma.de/en/Counseling+_+Service/PBS+Psych_+Counseling.html

Central Institute of Mental Health (Zentralinstitut für Seelische Gesundheit): 

Telephone Counselling: Mon-Fri: 8.30 a.m. – 5 p.m. Phone: 0621 1703-2850 

Emergency Telephone Counselling: 7 a.m. – 5 p.m. Phone: 0621 1703–2150
5 p.m. – 7 a.m. Phone: 0621 1703-0 

The emergency service for people in mental crises is available around the clock. You will find the emergency service in J 5, therapy building, ground floor, entrance next to the main entrance. 

Nightline Heidelberg 

Phone consultations are in German only, but you can write them an email in English: 

https://www.nightline-heidelberg.de/write-us.html

• Improve your German skills. There are many online tools, e.g.: https://www.goethe.de/en/spr/ueb.html  or the online courses provided by „Deutsche Welle“: https://learngerman.dw.com/de/overview
• You can now visit the exhibitions about modern photography in local art museums online, e.g. Kunsthalle Mannheim:  https://biennalefotografie.de/en/news/virtueller-rundgang-durch-unsere-ausstellungen 
• Keep updated about the online offers of the Nationaltheater of Mannheim: https://www.nationaltheater-mannheim.de/de/index.php (in German only)

For general inquiries, please contact the International Office: incomings uni-mannheim.de

For questions regarding coursework, examinations, etc., please contact your departmental exchange coordinators: You can find the list of coordinators here.