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Ten Good Reasons for Studying Abroad in Mannheim

Ranking among the top

The Department of Law of the University of Mannheim has repeatedly been among the top ten in nationwide rankings. It was rated the eighth-best law department in a ranking published by the Wirtschaftswoche magazine in 2012. Striving for academic excellence, it focuses on law combined with business administration and economics which gives it its unique profile. The University of Mannheim has been successful in securing federal and state support: it was awarded additional funding in the context of the German Excellence Initiative in 2006 and 2012.

International orientation

The University of Mannheim cooperates with more than 400 partner universities worldwide. As a student at the Department of Law, you will benefit from a variety of partnerships with universities in Europe and overseas. Most notably, we cooperate with the University of Adelaide, Australia, to be able to offer the Master of Comparative Business Law program and with the Université de Toulouse to enable students to earn a double degree/the “Zertifikat Deutsches Wirtschaftsrecht” (certificate in German business and economic law). Thanks to these international programs, the Department of Law also holds multiple lectures in English.

Studying in a baroque palace

Covering six hectares, the baroque palace in Mannheim is one of the largest in Europe. The palace, or Schloss, which was built between 1720 and 1760, originally served as the winter residence of the Prince Elector of the Palatinate. Today, the Schloss is home to the University of Mannheim and is at the heart of the campus. The Department of Law is located in the palace’s west wing. According to the International Student Barometer 2011, the Mannheim Schloss is the most beautiful university building in Germany.

Good student-to-faculty ratio

With about 1,100 students, 23 professors, and more than 50 academic staff members, the Department of Law has a superb student-to-faculty ratio. Lectures and seminars are characterized by small groups, promoting personal exchange both among students and between students and faculty members.

Courses for international students

The Department of Law offers a variety of lectures that are specifically tailored to international students’ needs, such as an introduction to German private law held in German or English. Apart from that, students can attend courses in comparative law in English. Of course, it is also possible to choose from the course catalogs of other departments and schools. In addition, students who want to brush up their German language skills can take part in one of the many language courses, such as German as a Foreign Language (DaF), or attend seminars that are offered as part of the four-week Summer and Winter Academy.

Excellent technical facilities and equipment

The Department of Law features outstanding facilities: all of its lecture halls are equipped with state-of-the-art technical devices and its library is one of the most modern in Germany. The library is located in the Mittelbau section of the Schloss, between the east and west wing of the building, and is open from 8 a.m. until late at night, sometimes even until 1 a.m. Many of its work stations are equipped with a computer and all can be used with a laptop. Furthermore, NetPoints and wireless networks are available on the entire campus of the University of Mannheim to enable students to conduct Internet research.

Central location

The University of Mannheim is one of the few universities in Germany with an actual campus. Lectures are held in the Schloss, and other institutions, such as the International Office, the libraries, and the Mensa, are only a stone’s throw away. The city center is also close by, and you can walk to the university from the train station. In addition, Mannheim is located in the center of Europe. Going by train, you can reach Paris, Basel, or Luxembourg in just three hours and Berlin or Amsterdam in five.

First-class support of international students

Even before our international students arrive in Germany, they receive comprehensive information on studying and living in Mannheim. The International Office supports students before and after their arrival, during their enrollment, and when selecting their language courses. In Mannheim they can turn to the International Coordinators' Office of the Department of Law if they have any law-related questions. In addition, the University of Mannheim organizes many activities particularly for international students. Not only can they participate in a pub crawl or watch a theater performance at the Nationaltheater Mannheim, but also take part in climbing excursions or go on a trip to Geneva, to name but a few.

International semester dates

Starting with the academic year 2006/07, the University of Mannheim was the first public higher education institution in Germany to align its academic calendar with the international academic year. Since then, the academic year has been divided into a fall semester (September to December) and a spring semester (February to June). The introduction of this new regulation is designed to have a particularly positive impact on international exchange.

Mannheim

The city of Mannheim, with approximately 315,000 inhabitants, is located between the Rhine and Neckar rivers. It is characterized by its lively cultural scene, its pubs and bars, and the many shopping opportunities. Whether you are interested in music, cabaret, or opera, in Mannheim you will find exactly what you are looking for. Mannheim forms part of the European Rhine-Neckar Metropolitan Region, that about 2.3 million people call their home. In case you want to escape the city’s hustle-bustle for a while, you can always explore its rural surroundings, such as the region of the Palatinate or the mountain range of the Odenwald, or you can visit the neighboring town of Heidelberg.