Erasmus Experience in Mannheim, Germany by Muirne

Why did you choose to go to Mannheim, Germany?

I had studied German in school for a number of years and I wanted to try and improve my German skills.

How long is the scholarship? How much money do you receive to help you with living costs?

One semester, I received a European grant for just over 1000 €.

What is the student lifestyle like in Mannheim?

It's very international, which is great! There's a rich variety of cultures and languages in the student body. The University atmosphere itself is hard-working, and they expect a lot from their students, although Erasmus students may get it slightly easier.

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Would you recommend the city and the University of Mannheim to other students?

Yes, it's a great University, and there is always something going on, especially if you're an Erasmus student. It's also easy to travel if you are interested in travelling in Europe.

What is the food like?

I can't say I have indulged completely in German cuisine, apart from sampling some sausages, pretzel, Gluhwein and some tasty treats in bakeries. There are a few different restaurants in the city such as Asian and Mexican which are great!

Did it cost you to find your accommodation in Mannheim?

I was extremely lucky, and managed to rent a room off a German student, I must stress that it is very difficult to find accommodation, a lot of my friends had to stay in hostels for weeks before they found a room. I urge students to look for accommodation long in advance. You will be competing with lots of other students!

How much does it cost to live in Mannheim?

If you get a room in the Studentwerk- University run dormitories, they are pretty cheap and range in the 200€ per month. In private places, especially in the Quadrant- you could be paying anything from 300 to the 400€, a month.

Is the language easy to get to grips with? Are there language courses available at the University?

There are language courses available with limited places, so get in quick and sign yourself up, I missed out on this opportunity. Most people speak fluent English, so even when you try to speak your broken German, the chances are they will reply to you in English, this can make it harder to practice!

What's the easiest or most economical way to travel in Mannheim?

Most people travel by bicycle, The bicycle was invented in Mannheim (So I'm told) so it's hugely popular. There are trams that can take you pretty much anywhere you want, You can buy a semester ticket for 150 euros, but if you are staying for a year, once you sign up as a citizen they give you the first semester ticket for free.

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Where would you recommend to go on a night out in Mannheim?

Yes, it's got a good student night-life. It's a lot more chilled and apart from the crazy Erasmus students, most Germans like to just drink in chilled out bars. Even the nightclubs are pretty chill. But there are all sorts of places you can go, depending on your desired night-life atmosphere.

And for eating? Can you recommend some good restaurants in Mannheim?

Azteca is a Mexican place that's pretty good, There's also an Asian place called Mémoires d'Indochine, Vapiano an Italian place, Cao which is a Thai place.. There are so many!

What good cultural sites are there to visit?

The University itself is a castle! There's the Rathaus that's pretty cool, there's a museum that showcases different things, and I'm sure there is a lot more! I haven't really ventured in that direction. But there are a lot of monuments scattered across the city that are cool, always perfect for a quick selfie!

Is there any other advice that you could give to students going to Mannheim in the future?

Make the most of it! And try to immerse yourself in other cultures, it's so easy to make friends with people from the same country as you or similar backgrounds, but it's a breath of fresh air studying other people and learning about their language and culture!