University of Mainz
Named after Johannes Gutenberg, probably the most famous Mainz native, it is one of the oldest and largest universities in Germany. Although it has changed its shell many times over the years and interrupted education, it has been running towards its 550th year as a university since 1946. The campus is located just outside the city center, on the grounds of a former barracks. However, it can be reached quickly by public transportation or bicycle. Almost all the institutes and their facilities are here (the Faculty of Medicine is a separate campus).
You can study almost anything you want at the university, except engineering. The range of programs ranges from African and other European languages/cultures to cinema, media studies, law and medicine to dentistry. The approximately 32,000 students studying here are correspondingly diverse and come from all over the world. Research is also strongly supported in Mainz: There are two Max Planck Institutes, a research reactor and a particle accelerator. The “Mogon” supercomputer became operational in 2012 and is one of the fastest in the world.
The Johannes Gutenberg University of Mainz (JGU) has been a bastion of polymer research since its reopening: In 1946, the first focal point was established with the appointment of leading scientists, and in 1984 the Max Planck Institute (MPI) was founded for polymer research. On the Mainz campus and in 2008, the Master’s program “Materials Science in Mainz” and in 2018 the excellence project “Precision Physics, the structure of matter and fundamental interactions” were realized.
JGU is recognized worldwide as a research university. Its most important fields are, above all, particle and hadron physics and materials science (polymers); the study of American history and culture are examples of particularly strong research areas in the humanities. In addition, its position in national and international rankings is further evidence of its success. (The university is ranked U15 in Germany and among the top 200 in international rankings) See University Rating Agencies and Their Importance.
Mainz has four menzas where you can get food quickly and usually cheaply. These are the menzas of the two universities of applied sciences in the city, the menza in the Georg Forster building and of course the big main menza. Menza is a Latin term meaning “table”. We use the term “canteen” and I think it derives from the common student tables. Nowadays, these canteens (like many others) serve thousands of meals a day, so expect a lot when it comes to flavor. The focus is on using cheap but high quality ingredients, and these establishments are usually used to fill the stomach. (As I mentioned in many other university articles, there are exceptional canteens in some universities) I have never eaten here, but my son has experience in many university canteens and I have never heard him complain. Still, taste can vary from person to person. For those who say the food is bad, I suggest them to eat in our university cafeterias. Despite all these, I would like to remind you that there are Vegetarian and Vegan options in these food menus.
I’m hungry, I think I talked a lot about food, but this is one of the most difficult things to do in Germany. Since Germans don’t have much of a food culture, the food you can eat out will either be Turkish, Arabic or Italian. Therefore, the way to have a balanced and cheap diet is through menzas. Use this link to see menzas and their menus. You will see some pretty fancy food and incredibly cheap prices. All the food is strictly labeled as to what it contains and they are particularly careful about all dishes containing pork and related products.
Of course, student life is not only about studying and exam stress, sometimes you also need student parties and sports activities. There is no shortage of leisure opportunities at the university. There is plenty of space for different activities as well as sports and other events. In addition to the menzas, there is a pizzeria, two kebab shops and several cafeterias on campus. In the old town there is a cinema center as well as many cozy pubs, wine houses (after all, the region is a wine region) and student clubs. The bustling city center, the wide pedestrian zones and the cozy cafés, or if you just want to relax, you can always find a spot on the banks of the Rhine. If you find Mainz too provincial, you can easily get to Frankfurt, Wiesbaden or Darmstadt with a semester ticket. If you haven’t read my article about Mainz, you can check it out here.
UNIVERSITY OF MAINZ IN NUMBERS
| Date of foundation | 1477 |
| Total Number of Students | 31.180 |
| Semester Fee (includes public transportation ticket) | 326 € |
| Tuition Fee | Free |
APPLICATION TO MAİNZ UNIVERSITY
The University of Mainz takes applications online. There is a two-stage application process: First, you submit an application for verification of your university entrance qualifications (university result certificate for undergraduate programs, university diploma for master’s degree). It can take about 6 weeks to verify these documents. Once your documents are verified, you will apply online for the program you want from the online application portal. You must have at least the following certificates to apply for undergraduate programs. However, if you are accepted, you will be asked to pass an exam at DSH-2 level before enrollment.
Goethe B2 (or Goethe C1) Certificate
telc Deutsch B2 certificate (or telc Deutsch C1 certificate) with “satisfactory” or “good” or “very good” result
TestDaF certification with a minimum of two partial qualifications at TDN 4 level and a maximum of two partial qualifications at TDN 3 level
ÖSD B2 certificate
Since there are program-specific admission criteria for master’s programs, you need to examine them thoroughly. You can check the application criteria for the program you want here.
For undergraduate programs, if you have a B1 level German certificate, it is possible to be accepted on condition that you attend the preparatory school.
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