University of Mannheim
Universität Mannheim
Germany's business and social science specialist, housed in one of Europe's largest baroque palaces.
- Students
- 11,972
- 7,273 undergraduates
- International
- 17%
- of students
- Tuition
- €3,000
- 2026-27
- Founded
- 1907
About UMA
The University of Mannheim grew out of the Mannheim School of Commerce, founded in 1907 to train businesspeople for what was then south-west Germany's biggest industrial and trading city. It became a university on 4 July 1967, exactly 60 years later. Today it has 11,972 students and a clear profile in the economic and social sciences, spread across six schools and departments: Business Administration, Economics, Law, Social Sciences, Humanities, and Business Informatics and Mathematics.
Most teaching happens in and around Mannheim's baroque palace, the Schloss, built between 1720 and 1760 as the winter residence of the Prince Elector of the Palatinate; its facade stretches 440 metres. The Business School holds the AACSB, EQUIS and AMBA 'Triple Crown' accreditation, and the Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES) is the largest university social science research institute in Germany. Close partners include the ZEW Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research and GESIS.
Mannheim suits ambitious students who want business, economics, law, psychology or the social sciences at a selective, mid-sized German university. All bachelor's programmes are taught in German, admission to most is competitive, and the English-taught options are at master's level. Non-EU students pay a state tuition fee of 1,500 euros a semester.
In omnibus veritas suprema lex esto
“Truth in everything should be the supreme law” — university motto
Why students choose UMA
Mannheim reports that it was once again the top German university for Business Administration and Economics in the QS 2025 subject rankings.
The campus is a baroque palace in the city centre, with lectures, the Schneckenhof library and Thursday-night Schneckenhof parties under one roof.
Culture and Economy bachelor's programmes combine a humanities subject, such as English and American Studies, History or Philosophy, with business and economics.
The university runs on an international academic year (fall semester from 1 August, spring semester from 1 February), which makes exchanges with partner universities easier to fit in.
Admissions
Fall semester 2027/28 entry (standing annual deadlines)
Selectivity
Mannheim publishes no overall admission rate. Most bachelor's programmes are selective: 90% of places are allocated by a selection process based on the school-leaving grade average, individual subject grades and other qualifications, and 10% by waiting time. 8% of places are reserved for applicants from non-EU countries, who compete within that quota.
Typical entry requirements
| German Abitur or equivalent | Selection by grade average, relevant subject grades and other qualifications; German and EU applicants also register in the national DoSV procedure (hochschulstart) for almost all bachelor's programmes |
|---|---|
| International school-leaving certificate | Must give direct access to German higher education; applicants with qualifications from China, Vietnam or India need an APS certificate |
| German language | C1 level for every bachelor's programme: e.g. TestDaF 4 in all four parts, DSH-2, DSD II, telc Deutsch C1 Hochschule, Goethe C2, ÖSD C1, or German A in the IB Diploma with grade 6 or better |
| English language | Bachelor's programmes are taught in German. Business Administration, Business Informatics, Culture and Economy: English and American Studies, and Current English Linguistics and Literary Studies also require proof of English (details in each programme's selection statutes). English-taught degrees, such as the Mannheim Master in Management, are at master's level. |
Deadlines
- Most selective bachelor's programmes (e.g. Business Administration, Economics, Law, Psychology, Political Science, Sociology) Non-binding Next deadline · In ~9 months15 July 2027
Application window 1 June to 15 July in the 2026 cycle. All bachelor's programmes start in the fall semester.
- Selected humanities programmes (e.g. Culture and Economy: English and American Studies, French, German, History, Italian, Spanish; Economic and Business Education) Non-binding In ~11 months31 August 2027
Application window 1 June to 31 August in the 2026 cycle.
The dates are the published windows for fall 2026/27 (1 June to 15 July or 31 August 2026). Mannheim uses the same pattern every year, but check the application deadlines page for the confirmed 2027 dates. There is no spring-semester entry for bachelor's programmes.
How to apply
Apply online directly to the University of Mannheim (it does not use uni-assist), uploading your school-leaving certificate in the original language plus a sworn German or English translation, proof of German at C1, a CV, a one-page letter of motivation written in German, any proof of extracurricular activities and an APS certificate if required. You can submit up to three applications for selective bachelor's programmes. German and EU applicants must also register in the DoSV procedure via hochschulstart.
What admissions looks for
- A strong school-leaving grade average, which drives 90% of selective places.
- Good grades in the subjects relevant to your programme, which are weighted separately in the selection statutes.
- Other qualifications, such as documented extracurricular activities, which count in some programmes' selection statutes.
- German at C1 level, and English for programmes such as Business Administration and Business Informatics.
Tips for applying to UMA
- 1 Apply directly on Mannheim's portal; it does not work with uni-assist, so you do not need a VPD.
- 2 Write your one-page motivation letter in German and explain specifically why Mannheim; it is a required part of the application.
- 3 Use the university's Confirmation of Extracurricular Activities form to document relevant activities, as these can count as other qualifications.
- 4 If you are a non-EU applicant, remember you compete within an 8% quota and will pay 1,500 euros a semester in tuition, plus the semester fee.
Costs & financial aid
2026-27 · figures in EUR
Tuition is free for German and EU/EEA students; non-EU students pay 1,500 euros per semester unless they qualify for a legal exemption (for example certain residence permits or refugee status). Mannheim runs its own scholarship programmes, and the International Office awards DAAD-funded scholarships to committed international students, as well as DAAD equal-opportunity and graduation scholarships. Some international students are eligible for BAföG.
- 194 euros (administration 80, Studierendenwerk 100, student body 14)
- Semester fee, fall 2026/27
- 1,500 euros per semester
- Tuition for non-EU students
- About 3,000 furnished rooms in 17 halls
- Student residence rooms (Studierendenwerk Mannheim)
Academics
Academic calendar: International academic year: fall semester (1 August to 31 January) and spring semester (1 February to 31 July)
Business Administration (BSc)
The largest school at Mannheim (3,741 students in fall 2025/26), backed by Triple Crown accreditation; proof of English required.
Economics (BSc)
Taught by the Department of Economics, which works closely with the ZEW Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research in Mannheim.
Integrated LL.B. and State Examination Program in Law
Combines a bachelor's in law (LL.B.) with preparation for the German First State Examination.
Culture and Economy (BA)
Pairs a humanities subject, such as English and American Studies, History or Philosophy, with business and economics courses.
Mannheim Master in Management (MSc)
English-taught master's ranked 28th worldwide and 3rd in Germany in the Financial Times Masters in Management ranking 2025.
Psychology (BSc)
A selective programme in a field where Mannheim reports top German places in ShanghaiRanking's 2025 subject rankings.
Research
- The Mannheim Centre for European Social Research (MZES) is the largest university research institute for the social sciences in Germany.
- Close ties to the ZEW Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research, GESIS Leibniz Institute for the Social Sciences and the Leibniz Institute for the German Language (IDS).
- Research focus areas include Markets and Businesses in Transformation, and Inequality, Democracy and Public Interest; external funding reached 23.52 million euros (July 2026 figures).
Schools & faculties
- Business School
- School of Law and Economics: Department of Law
- School of Law and Economics: Department of Economics
- School of Social Sciences
- School of Humanities
- School of Business Informatics and Mathematics
- Mannheim Business School
- Graduate School of Economic and Social Sciences (GESS)
Student life
Student life revolves around the Schloss: its Ehrenhof courtyard is the heart of campus, the Schneckenhof courtyard hosts student-run parties every Thursday night during the lecture period, and the annual Schlossfest takes place in September. With around 12,000 students the university feels compact, and departmental student committees and many student organisations run much of the social calendar. The Studierendenwerk Mannheim offers about 3,000 furnished rooms in 17 halls, and the university suggests budgeting 950 to 1,000 euros a month.
- Schneckenhof parties: every Thursday at 9 p.m. in term time, each organised by a different departmental student committee.
- The Schloss museum and the annual Schlossfest in September.
- Every fifth student comes from abroad to take a bachelor's, master's or doctorate at Mannheim, according to the university.
- A Studycheck.de student vote named Mannheim Germany's most popular university with 5,000 to 15,000 students.
Housing. There is no housing guarantee; the Studierendenwerk Mannheim offers about 3,000 furnished rooms in 17 halls, and the university advises international students to start looking early.
Location
Mannheim is a city of about 300,000 people from more than 167 nations, known for the square-based grid of its city centre, where addresses are blocks such as L 1 or B 6 rather than street names. The palace campus sits in the centre, reaching towards the main station, with the Rhine about 800 metres away, and the city's 17 districts are well connected by public transport. The university says living in Mannheim is not particularly expensive compared with other large German cities.
Nearest airport: Frankfurt Airport (FRA)
Notable alumni
- CW Claus WellenreutherCo-founder of the software company SAP; studied business administration at Mannheim
- IS Isabel SchnabelEconomist and member of the European Central Bank's Executive Board; diploma and doctorate in economics from Mannheim
- SL Stefan LippeCEO of Swiss Re from 2009 to 2012; studied mathematics and economics at Mannheim
- JA Jutta AllmendingerSociologist and president of the WZB Berlin Social Science Center from 2007 to 2024; studied sociology and social psychology at Mannheim
- HW Hans-Peter WildBusinessman and owner of Rudolf Wild GmbH (Capri-Sun); business degree and law doctorate from Mannheim
- HU Hermann UdeFormer CEO of DHL Global Forwarding; studied business administration at Kiel and Mannheim
Frequently asked questions
Does the University of Mannheim charge tuition fees?
German and EU/EEA students pay only the semester fee of 194 euros (fall 2026/27). Non-EU students pay an additional Baden-Württemberg tuition fee of 1,500 euros per semester unless they qualify for an exemption.
Can I study a bachelor's in English at the University of Mannheim?
No. All bachelor's programmes require German at C1 level, such as TestDaF 4 in all parts or DSH-2. Mannheim's English-taught programmes, like the Mannheim Master in Management, are master's degrees.
Does the University of Mannheim use uni-assist?
No. All international applicants apply directly through Mannheim's online portal and upload their documents there.
When is the application deadline for Mannheim bachelor's programmes?
Applications open on 1 June and close on 15 July for most bachelor's programmes, or 31 August for some humanities programmes (2026 cycle). All bachelor's programmes start in the fall semester.
How hard is it to get into the University of Mannheim?
Mannheim does not publish an admission rate, but most bachelor's programmes are selective: places are allocated mainly by school grades and other qualifications, and non-EU applicants compete for an 8% quota of places.
Sources & methodology
Figures on this page were checked against official university publications, national application services and ranking publishers in September 2026. Each number is shown with the year or admissions cycle it describes. Always confirm deadlines and fees on the university's own website before applying.
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