The University of Mannheim is a public research university in Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, with about 11,900 students.[1] The university says that every fifth student comes from abroad.[2] In the QS World University Rankings 2027 it is placed joint 425th.[3]
Students from outside the EU/EEA pay a tuition fee of €1,500 per semester; everyone also pays a semester fee, which is €194 for the spring semester 2027.[4] This is a Baden-Württemberg rule: most German state universities charge no tuition.[5] Bachelor’s programmes require German at level C1 for applicants without a German entrance qualification, while many master’s programmes ask for proof of English instead.[6][7]
Key facts
| Official name | Universität Mannheim |
| Location | Mannheim, Baden-Württemberg, Germany (Admissions Office: L 1, 1, 68161 Mannheim)[8] |
| Type | Public research university[1] |
| Name “University of Mannheim” since | 1967; roots in the Palatine Academy of Sciences (1763) and the Commercial College of the City of Mannheim (1907)[9] |
| Students | 11,933 in fall 2024 (Wikipedia)[1] |
| International students | “Every fifth student” comes from abroad (university statement, no year given)[2] |
| Schools and departments | Six: Department of Law, Department of Economics, Business School, School of Social Sciences, School of Humanities, School of Business Informatics and Mathematics[2] |
| QS World University Rankings 2027 | =425 (score 36.2; aggregator, not confirmed by the university)[3] |
| Tuition, students from outside the EU/EEA | €1,500 per semester (bachelor’s and master’s)[4] |
| Tuition, second degree after a first degree gained in Germany | €650 per semester[4] |
| Semester fee, spring semester 2027 | €194 (€80 administration, €100 Studierendenwerk, €14 student body)[4] |
| German for bachelor’s applicants | Level C1 for applicants without German citizenship or a German entrance qualification[6] |
| Official website | uni-mannheim.de |
Checked against the sources listed at the bottom of this page on 9 November 2026.
About the University of Mannheim
The University of Mannheim is a public research university in Mannheim, in the state of Baden-Württemberg.[1] Its history is tied to Mannheim Palace: the Palatine Academy of Sciences was founded there in 1763, the city’s Commercial College followed in 1907, the institution reopened in 1946 as the State Business School (Staatliche Wirtschaftshochschule) and took the name University of Mannheim in 1967.[9]
The university lists six schools and departments: Law, Economics, the Business School, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Business Informatics and Mathematics.[2] Wikipedia, in a different grouping, counts five schools; we follow the university’s own list. About every fifth student comes from abroad.[2]
How is the University of Mannheim ranked?
The aggregator xuanxiao.org lists the University of Mannheim at joint 425th in the QS World University Rankings 2027, with a score of 36.2. We could not read QS’s own table (topuniversities.com blocks automated access), and we found no university press release for the 2027 edition, so treat this figure as unconfirmed.[3]
One edition earlier, the university itself reported a position of 416th in QS 2026, 22nd among German universities, and 120th worldwide for employer reputation (news item of 26 June 2025).[10] The 2027 position is therefore lower than the university’s own 2026 figure. Rankings differ by publisher and year, so treat one position as one view. How we compile rankings.
What can you study at the University of Mannheim?
The university’s programme overview lists bachelor’s and master’s programmes and can be filtered by 12 subject areas: Business Administration, Culture and Economy, Economics, History, Language and Literature, Law, Mathematics and Informatics, Media and Communication, Philosophy, Political Science, Psychology, and Sociology.[11] Each entry states its language of instruction; several programmes are taught in English or in more than one language, so check the entry for your programme.[11]
The overview also includes teacher-education variants and several MBA programmes.[11] Doctoral studies have their own section on the university website.[11] For the wider picture, see our Germany guide and the Study in Germany guide.
How much does the University of Mannheim cost?
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Tuition, students from outside the EU/EEA | €1,500 per semester |
| Tuition, second degree (first degree gained in Germany) | €650 per semester |
| Semester fee, spring semester 2027 | €194 |
| Semester fee, exchange students | €100 (Studierendenwerk part only) |
International students from outside the EU/EEA pay €1,500 per semester.[4] The page does not name a study year for this amount; it is the figure shown on the university’s tuition page at the time of checking. A second fee of €650 per semester applies to students who enrol in a bachelor’s or consecutive master’s programme for a second degree after obtaining the first one in Germany.[4] The German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD) describes the €1,500 fee as a Baden-Württemberg rule that does not apply to doctoral students.[5]
Semester fee
Every student pays a semester fee. For the spring semester 2027 it is €194: €80 administration fee, €100 for the Studierendenwerk (the student services body) and €14 for the constituted student body.[4] International exchange students are exempt from the administration and student-body fees under exchange agreements and pay only the €100.[4] The pages we read do not say whether the fee includes a public-transport ticket, so check before you budget for travel.
Living costs are on top. See the Germany guide and the Study in Germany guide.
How do you apply to the University of Mannheim?
Applications go through the university’s online portal, Portal². Bachelor’s and master’s applicants start from the application pages, which describe each step; the Admissions Office is at L 1, 1, 68161 Mannheim.[8]
- Bachelor’s: applicants without German citizenship or a German university entrance qualification must show German at level C1. Some programmes also require other language skills, listed on a separate page.[6]
- Master’s: you need a first degree plus requirements specific to the programme. Each master’s programme has selection statutes (Auswahlsatzungen) that set out admission requirements and selection criteria. Final-semester bachelor’s students can apply if they will complete the degree at the end of the current semester.[12]
- Advice: the Admissions Office has named advisers for international master’s applicants.[12]
We give no deadlines here because they change every year and differ by programme. Check the university’s deadline page for your programme before you start.
Which language level do you need?
For bachelor’s programmes, applicants without German citizenship or a German entrance qualification need German at level C1 (CEFR, the European scale from A1 to C2; C1 is advanced). The page does not name accepted certificates.[6]
For master’s programmes, the language rules depend on the programme.[7] The university’s page lists these English requirements:
| Programmes (examples) | Level | TOEFL iBT | IELTS Academic |
|---|---|---|---|
| Data Science, Business Informatics, Economics | “Solid knowledge” | 72 | 6.0 |
| Law, Political Science, Sociology, Social Data Science | “Solid knowledge” | 90 | 6.5 |
| Finance, Management, Operations & Supply Chain Management | C1 | 100 | 7.0 |
Programmes such as Language and Communication require English at B2 (TOEFL iBT 79, IELTS 5.5). Other accepted proofs include Cambridge certificates and, for some programmes, an English-taught first degree or English school grades.[7] Test results are valid for two or five years depending on the programme, and many programmes accept proof until 15 August.[7]
Frequently Asked Questions
Does the University of Mannheim charge tuition fees?
Do I need to speak German to study at the University of Mannheim?
How is the University of Mannheim ranked?
How many international students does the University of Mannheim have?
The university says that every fifth student comes from abroad.[2] It gives no exact number or year on that page.
More about studying in Germany
- Germany: best universities
- Study in Germany: complete guide
- Cost of Studying Abroad
- International Student Scholarships
- University Ranking Methodology
More university profiles in Germany
- Freie Universität Berlin
- Heidelberg University
- Humboldt University of Berlin
- Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT)
- Ludwig Maximilian University of Munich
- RWTH Aachen University
- Technical University of Berlin
- Technical University of Munich
- TU Darmstadt
- TU Dresden
- University of Bonn
- University of Cologne
- University of Erlangen-Nürnberg (FAU)
- University of Freiburg
- University of Göttingen
- University of Hamburg
- University of Münster
- University of Stuttgart
- University of Tübingen
Sources
[1] Wikipedia: University of Mannheim (student count (fall 2024), type; secondary source)
[2] University of Mannheim: Profile (page without a date)
[3] xuanxiao.org: University of Mannheim (aggregator; QS publishes at topuniversities.com, which blocks automated access) (QS 2027 rank =425, score 36.2; the site states its rankings were fetched on 30 Sep 2026)
[4] University of Mannheim: Tuition fees and semester fees (page without a date; semester fee shown for the spring semester 2027)
[5] DAAD: Costs of education and living (page without a date)
[6] University of Mannheim: Bachelor’s programs, application (page without a date)
[7] University of Mannheim: Master’s programs, foreign language requirements (page without a date; lists terms for 2026 and 2026/27)
[8] University of Mannheim: Applying (page without a date)
[9] University of Mannheim: History (page without a date)
[10] University of Mannheim: QS World University Rankings 2026, excellent reputation among employers (news item of 26 Jun 2025)
[11] University of Mannheim: Programs (page without a date)
[12] University of Mannheim: Master’s programs, application (page without a date)
Figures may change; check official sources before you decide. How we compile our data · Found an error? Tell us.