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Logo University of Mannheim - Department of Economics
Two students sit on a stone in front of the west wing of the University of Mannheim and talk.
Credit: Anna Logue

Why Study Economics in Mannheim?

The advantages are clear: customizable programs, international orientation, and outstanding quality

The University of Mannheim is not the only institution to enable its students to complete their whole higher education – from bachelor's degree to doctoral degree at its own graduate school – in one place. But at the Department of Economics in Mannheim, we do our best to ensure that our core values are reflected in every stage of your education: namely our commitment to an outstanding standard of teaching and research, our international outlook, and our dedication to ensuring that our students reach their full potential. To this end, the University of Mannheim provides you with as much freedom as possible to personalize your Economics degree program. The Department of Economics is one of Europe’s most renowned economics departments. Independent rankings have confirmed this on many occasions. For the third year in a row, the Department is ranked first in Germany in the QS World University Ranking by Subject 2021. The 2023 CHE University Ranking again places the Department of Economics at number one among all public universities in Germany.

A bachelor’s course schedule that is well structured and customizable

Printout of the study plan for the Economics programme at the University of Mannheim. On the printout is a blue biro with a silver tip.

The bachelor's program in Mannheim does not just provide you with a thorough education in economic theories; the exceptionally broad range of modules on offer enables you to tailor your studies to your interests. The first two years of study form the introductory phase of the program, during which focus is placed on economic concepts. During this phase, you are also given an insight into the main features of German public and private law and can also study areas relating to Business Administration if you want to. The third year represents the advanced phase of the program, during which you can select modules from the large variety on offer, and focus on areas that suit your goals and interests. You can also integrate modules available at other Schools into your Economics program of study. If you decide you want to study selected fields of Economics in more detail, you can choose to complete a master's program once you have obtained your bachelor’s degree. Graduates who achieve exceptionally good grades in their bachelor’s program may be directly admitted to the doctoral program.

Outstanding quality and with practical relevance right from the start

View of the Department of Economics building. On the left side of the picture there are trees in front of another university building. On the right side is the economics building in front of which some bicycles are parked. In the upper right corner, the dark blue flags of the ZEW are flying.

According to Immanuel Kant, there is nothing more practical than a good theory, and we agree. We therefore place great importance on thorough instruction in economic theories. To this end, Empirical Economics is addressed at an early stage, and the diverse experiences gained by our professors through acting as consultants and policy advisors are reflected in the modules available on our program from the first semester onwards. Depending on the topic, students also work on a number of practice-oriented questions during elective modules, especially in the third year of study. If students do well in their coursework, they have the opportunity to work as a student assistant at a chair, a collaborative research center, or at the neighboring ZEW – Leibniz Centre for European Economic Research. They may also lead tutorials and gain initial teaching experience. Such jobs are not just interesting, they also put concrete work experience on your CV and can make finding your first job after graduation easier.   

My decision for a University was almost completely based on the reputation. When I started studying Economics, Mannheim had the highest ranking in Germany for this program. Typically, you have a lot of freedom designing your studies when it comes to choosing subjects. There is a broad spectrum of optional subjects and the opportunity to put an individual program together. On top of that, it is relatively easy to go abroad and study in prestigious international universities. There is also a wide range of possibilities for designing your free time.
Sven, student of B.Sc. Economics / Photo credit: Anna Logue
The good support network, the large number of elective modules available, and the direct communication between teachers and students are all factors that make you want to study Economics in Mannheim. The university gives students lots of great opportunities to get involved with student organizations and clubs, and this really makes the student experience in Mannheim special. I would also like to highlight the excellent learning environment, the high level of interest shown by my fellow students, and the ideal learning conditions.
Konstantin, student of B.Sc. Economics / Photo credit: Anna Logue
I really like the university’s campus – it is very open, and you can easily find your way around. The Economics program has met all of my expectations. I think it’s great that students work on major economic topics, like unemployment and economic growth, from their first semester onwards.
Naemi, student of B.Sc. Economics / Photo credit: Anna Logue

An academic calendar that is internationally oriented

A small globe is held with two fingers. Black, yellow and red bracelets are worn on the wrist, with ‘Mannheim’ written in white on the black bracelets. The University of Mannheim can be recognized in the background.

The Economics degree program at the University of Mannheim begins each year in the fall semester. Since the university aligned its academic calendar with institutions abroad in 2007, the fall semester begins in August, with the lecture period starting in September. The semester ends on 31 January, although the examination phase is usually over before Christmas. The spring semester begins in February and ends in July, with the lecture period finishing at the start of June. This international academic calendar comes with several advantages: 

  • Compared to the standard German system, it is much easier for students to integrate a semester abroad into their studies.
  • Students usually complete their bachelor's program and can begin a master’s program in Germany or abroad without any delays.
  • When applying for internships in Germany, for example, students can apply for periods with small competition from students of other German universities.

Reach your goals: studying Economics gives students good career prospects

‘VWL’ is written in black on a flipchart with chequered paper. This writing is also underlined with a black Sharpie.

Like the discipline itself, the career prospects for economists have changed and developed over the years (some of the options are listed under Career Options for Graduates (in German)). In order to do justice to the different career options open to economists, the bachelor's program in Economics:

  • ensures you are familiar with fundamental terms and contexts relating to the economic sciences,
  • gives you a general understanding of the field,
  • introduces you to the latest developments in research and practice in selected areas of the discipline, and
  • puts you in a position where you can successfully begin a career or take up a master's program.

Economics graduates from the University of Mannheim are able to overcome theoretical and practical issues using academic methods. They can use their own initiative to develop solutions and make decisions independently. These skills are highly valued by employers and constantly lead to new opportunities for economists outside of the traditional occupations.

95% of graduates would recommend us

Evaluation form that is filled in with a blue pen. A hand holding the pen is at the bottom left of the picture.
Credit: Anna Logue

All of our graduates are given a questionnaire with their degree certificate which they can use to share their opinions and feedback with us, and to suggest improvements to the program and Department. The outcome shows both success and commitment. On average 95% of graduates in the cohorts that started studying in 2015, 2016, 2017, and 2018 (graduating 2018 and later), who completed the questionnaire, would recommend the Economics program in Mannheim to a friend or relative. 
  

Download: Why Study Economics in Mannheim? (in German)

Mannheim and the University

View over the city of Mannheim. The castle and the Mensa meadow can be seen in the foreground. The city stretches out in the background with some hills behind it. The television tower of the city of Mannheim is prominent at the back left of the picture.
Credit: Stadtmarketing Mannheim GmbH

Have you ever dreamed of being king or queen of your own palace? Even though we can’t fully fulfill this dream, you can still study at one of the most beautiful universities in Germany. Not many people can say that. The university’s roots go back to the Handelshochschule founded in 1907, one of the first institutions of its kind in Germany. Even then, the institution was based in the impressive baroque palace, or Schloss – one of the largest palaces in Europe which was built for the Prince Elector, Carl Philipp, in 1720.

The university consists of five schools, and focuses on the Economic and Social Sciences. In the past, the University of Mannheim has been able to confirm its position as a leading higher education institution in these fields in a number of rankings. It is renowned for giving its students an excellent academic education.

In addition to its range of degree programs, the university organizes different activities.

Free time in Mannheim

An event at night in the “Ehrenhof”. Many people look up into the sky, the palace is illuminated in blue, purple and pink. Fireworks explode in the night sky.
Credit: Radio Regenbogen Hörfunk in Baden GmbH & Co. KG

Mannheim and the neighboring cities of Ludwigshafen and Heidelberg form the economic and cultural center of the Rhine-Neckar metropolitan region. The city itself has more than 300,000 inhabitants and lies on both the Rhine and Neckar rivers. You can reach Stuttgart and Frankfurt am Main in around 30 minutes with the high-speed ICE trains.

Mannheim has a vibrant, young atmosphere with a variety of cultural facilities, such as the National Theater, Mannheim, the Kunsthalle art gallery, and the Alte Feuerwache cultural center. Of course, there are movie theaters, small theaters, bars, and clubs in the city that also contribute to making student life in Mannheim so diverse. Art enthusiasts, nature lovers, and party goers can all find something to do here.

Housing in Mannheim

View of the Mannheim water tower. Many cars are parked on the left and right edges of the picture and a row of houses can be seen on the left. On the right are some trees and streetlamps.
Credit: Stadtmarketing Mannheim GmbH / Hyp Yerlikaya

Compared to other cities, the cost of living in Mannheim is relatively low, especially when it comes to the rental market. Finding a suitable apartment is almost always possible.
In addition to the city center (the Quadraten), the districts of Lindenhof, Schwetzinger Vorstadt, Neckarstadt, and Jungbusch are very popular. The Studierendenwerk can advise you on how to find a suitable place to live. The Studierendenwerk also manages modern student housing.

Take a look at our other information for prospective students.

Take a glimpse at how studying Economics in Mannheim can look:

View of the Department of Economics building taken from the opposite side of the street.
Credit: Anna Logue
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View from the foyer of the Department of Economics building. A street can be seen in the background through the glass façade. The yellow entrance door is in the centre of the picture.
Credit: Anna Logue
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Insight into a practice room. A student is standing at the whiteboard and explaining something, pointing at the whiteboard. Three students are sitting at tables opposite him. There is a laptop on the tables in front of one student and two folders are open in front of the other two.
Credit: Anna Logue
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A student is standing at a flipchart. She is holding an open Sharpie in her hand and looking towards the audience. Two heads can be recognized on either side of the picture.
Credit: Anna Logue
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The picture shows an exercise room. In the foreground of the picture is an open laptop on which a graph showing the development of the GDP deflator and the consumer price index in the United States between 1970 and 2016 can be seen. Four students are sitting in the background.
Credit: Anna Logue
16 images
View of the rear of the Department of Economics building. In the foreground is a road and a few trees.
Credit: Anna Logue
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A smiling student sits in the centre of the picture. He is blond and wears a blue chequered shirt. Behind him you can see a glass facade, in front of him sit other students.
Credit: Anna Logue
16 images
A student with blonde hair and sunglasses pushed into her hair locks her bike in front of the economics department building. She is wearing a yellow jacket over a white shirt and light blue jeans. She also has a purple rucksack on her back.
Credit: Anna Logue
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Two students sit on a stone in front of the west wing of the University of Mannheim and talk.
Credit: Anna Logue
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View of the VWL PC pool. Some students are sitting in front of the screens.
Credit: Anna Logue
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A student and a female student are standing in a corridor that borders the “Ehrenhof” on the left and talking. There are many bicycles in the arches of the corridor.
Credit: Anna Logue
16 images
Many students sit in a room with lots of tables. They sit in groups and talk to each other. Some of them have learning materials in front of them. In the background is a counter which is lit up in orange.
Credit: Anna Logue
16 images
A student with blond hair describes a whiteboard. He is wearing a yellow T-shirt and smiling. The whiteboard is on the left-hand side of the picture, the student on the right.
Credit: Anna Logue
16 images
On the right-hand side of the picture, three students are standing and talking. On the left-hand side of the picture, a person is standing in the background.
Credit: Anna Logue
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Two students sit in a practice room and work. The dark blue flags of ZEW are flying in the background.
Credit: Anna Logue
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Photo taken in lecture theatre SO 108 in the east wing of the University of Mannheim. Many students are sitting in the lecture theatre. The walls of the lecture hall are white with grey elements, the tables are dark brown.
Credit: Anna Logue
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