DISCOVER MAINZ

FIND YOUR STUDY PROGRAM IN MAINZ

MAINZ AT A GLANCE

The state capital of Rhineland-Palatinate is located in the western part of the country, right on the Rhine river and the border with the state of Hesse. Opposite of Mainz lies another capital – Wiesbaden –; the two are connected by the 103-meter-long Theodor Heuss Bridge arching over the river. Historical buildings and impressive monuments are still bearing witness of the Roman Empire that once founded the city. The St. Martin’s cathedral stands as an immense religious monument depicting a mixture of different architectural styles combining Romanesque with Gothic and Baroque designs. Mainz is also famous for being the wine capital of Germany as it is located in the heart of Rheinhessen – the largest vineyard regions. Mainz has an oceanic climate with warm sunny days that can be sometimes quite dry. Winters are also relatively mild and snowy with temperatures dropping below 0 °C, yet not freezing cold. Traveling within the city can be done in many ways such as by foot, with a bike or a car and of course with the most common means of transportations, i.e. public buses and trams. Mainz is also well connected to other cities like Frankfurt and Darmstadt, which are only a train ride away. After paying the semester fee for the university students will receive a semester ticket valid for all public transport and the railway between Bacharach and Koblenz Hauptbahnhof.

Academic Year

Summer Semester: April – September / Winter Semester: October – March

Official Language

German

Higher Education Institutions

Population

215110

Living Costs

850 EUR

STUDYING IN MAINZ

Five higher learning institutes are responsible for the higher education in Mainz with over 50,000 students. The largest and most attended one is the Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU) where 31,000 students from more than 120 different nations were enrolled in the past year. The university covers 75 fields of study with a broad range of over 260 degree courses taught in ten faculties spread across Mainz. Some of the most popular fields are Chemistry, Social Sciences, Economics and Humanities. JGU, along with the other two institutes – the University of Applied Sciences Mainz and the Catholic University of Applied Sciences Mainz – contribute greatly to new scientific discoveries with their outstanding research achievements. One of the first and perhaps most important aspects of a student life is undoubtedly the accommodation. Arriving at a new place and having to adapt to a completely different culture and ambience is stressful enough on its own, therefore staying at a comfortable, secure place is crucial. Monthly rent may vary between 200 EUR and 400 EUR depending on the type of the place and its location. Usually most of the students tend to search first for available rooms and flats in student dormitories, however due to the high demand those might be booked quite quickly. There are also other possibilities like finding a room in the private housing market online or for those who have arrived already in Mainz they can search for rooms or flats via message boards on the university campus, with the help of newspaper ads or with a real estate agent.

MAINZ LIFESTYLE

Students have a big advantage when it comes to cultural, leisure and entertainment activities as they are often subject to discounts and promotions. Throughout Mainz there are many shopping areas with boutique and regular stores for clothes and shoes. Around the Mainz Cathedral one can find the Markt with many colorful stands overflowing with fruits, vegetable and all sorts of local produce – perfect for those who prefer cooking than eating outside. But Mainz is not only consistent of places where people spend their money on goods, locals here actually are enthusiastic party-goers and love to celebrate festivals. All year round many festivals take place like the Johannisnacht, Mainzer Weinmarkt and Fastnacht honoring German culture, traditional food, wine and many other customs. In good weather many students and locals visit the Stadtpark or the Volkspark – both great for a picnic on the weekends, playing mini golf with friends or practicing outdoor sports. On the hot summer days many go to the artificial beaches on the coast of the river for a refreshing swim in the Rhine or beach volleyball with friends. Students can also find entertainment in its various forms throughout the city’s dance clubs, bars and pubs. Many places are organizing events like karaoke nights, students’ parties or live music performances of young local talents.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN MAINZ

Many students choose to work during their studies as an additional form of financial support for their student lives. In Germany students are entitled to 15 – 20 working hours per week during their lecture periods and some international students might also need to obtain a working permit. Various part-time jobs can be found on the university campus or alternatively somewhere around the city for example in a shop or a restaurant. A lot of graduates tend to seek career opportunities abroad, however there are equally good job offers in Mainz for those who might reconsider continuing with their lives here. The local economy has several well-developed industries like the wine one producing the beverage in its many different styles. Furthermore, in this region English is fairly appreciated as the native language and can also grant equal opportunities for some international students hoping to work in Mainz. Graduates or students who wish to explore the job possibilities can search the “Career” section on universitaet.com.