Window into Mannheim University’s Unique Charm

I am currently completing my semester abroad in Mannheim, Germany in the last semester of my degree. I was able to choose Mannheim as part of my communications degree, to study my electives overseas. I had to choose from restricted electives, which meant that I could choose any subjects that were humanities-related. In Mannheim, I’m studying two literature subjects and a philosophy subject and they are called toxic masculinity, contemporary Irish fiction and current issues in bioethics.

My classes are tutorials however, I have friends taking lectures too. German students are very punctual to class and are often early, so class either begins just before the start time or on the dot. I find the teaching style to be less discussion based however, I believe this is just due to the subjects I am taking. I have never studied literature or philosophy before so it has been a big change for me! At Mannheim, they also do oral exams. For my subjects, I can choose to either write a long term-paper or complete a 20-minute oral exam where the tutor will ask me questions about what we’ve studied all semester.

Mannheim University is in a palace that’s only one window smaller than Versailles so it is definitely a very cool change from UTS! The university also offers free classes including yoga and pilates and there are a few libraries to study in. There is also a Mensa, which is basically a cafeteria where students can buy lunch for only 3 euros. Since Mannheim is a smaller city, it’s really easy to get to the uni by either tram or walking. There are lots of great food options nearby and the cost of living in Mannheim is quite reasonable. I’m in student accommodation and my rent is only 300 euros a month. I applied as soon as applications opened and still got my 5^th preference so it’s important to be timely with that, as finding a private flat is a little harder and more expensive. I’m a little further out of the city but it is only 20 minutes on the tram to get to uni or about a 45-minute walk so it really isn’t much of a hassle at all. Groceries tend to be a little bit cheaper than what they are in Australia and some takeaway like kebabs (which are so much tastier in Germany!!).

The most surprising thing in Germany is that you always have to pay for water. Even at uni, you can only fill up your bottle in the bathrooms. At a bar or club, they will never provide free water, which can be frustrating as often they sell water for more than some alcohol! Germany is also still very cash based. Be prepared to always have cash for use when buying food, coffee or going out to bars and clubs. I’m really enjoying the student life in Mannheim, as the uni does a really good job of organising events and catering for its exchange students.

There are also parties in the palace that are known as Schneckenhofs, which are a lot of fun! It’s not the most beautiful city and there isn’t as much happening in Mannheim compared to a larger city. However, I think it has a charm about it with its vibe and it is really student-friendly. It’s also easier to travel around Europe from Mannheim since it is quite central. Mannheim is also meant to have the best weather in Germany! We really do get sunshine here and not as much rain as other parts of Europe like northern Germany or the Netherlands.

I highly recommend Mannheim as a city for exchange for the experience you get here and its affordability compared to places like the Netherlands, Denmark, Switzerland, France or the UK.

Beril Akbulut
Bachelor of Communication (Public Communication)/Bachelor of Laws
Autumn 2023 Session at Mannheim Universität, Germany