Study in Mainz, Germany

About Mainz

Mainz is the state capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, on the Rhine directly opposite Wiesbaden, in the Rhine-Main region around Frankfurt. It is a compact city: the old town grew up around Mainz Cathedral, which is more than 1,000 years old, and the main station, the old town and the riverbank are close together.

Students come to Mainz mainly to learn German, either for work or to prepare for a degree at a German university. The city is also home to Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz (JGU), so a German course in Mainz can be a first step towards a degree in the region.

Studying in Mainz

Our directory lists 3 schools in Mainz, all of them language schools. Verbum Novum, near the main station at Bahnhofstraße 13, teaches only German as a foreign language, to adults aged 18 and over. Its intensive courses have 20 lessons a week at every level from A1 to C2 and start, as a rule, every Monday; groups have between 5 and 12 students. The school is an official telc exam centre and telc C1 Hochschule Competence Center, and it runs preparation courses for the DSH and for the entrance exam of a Studienkolleg (the foundation course for students whose school-leaving certificate does not give direct university access). Students can book a host family, a student apartment or a hotel through the school.

Evolanguage has its main school, Mainz-Wiesbaden, at Kaiserstraße 2. It offers intensive and evening German courses, preparation for exams from A1 to C1, the DSH and TestDaF, and specialised German courses for doctors, medical staff and nurses. Its business language courses cover German, English, French, Spanish and other languages.

JGU states that its particle physicists, in the PRISMA++ Cluster of Excellence, are world leaders, and lists materials science, quantum and atomic physics, sustainable and polymer chemistry, life sciences and translational medicine among its research priorities. Together with Goethe University Frankfurt and the Technical University of Darmstadt it forms the Rhine-Main Universities alliance (RMU), which will be funded as an excellence alliance under the German Excellence Strategy from 2027.

Most degree programmes at German universities are taught in German, and most universities require at least level B2. International degree programmes and English-taught postgraduate programmes are exempt from this requirement. The DSH has to be taken in Germany, while the TestDaF is offered in around 100 countries.

Cost of living for students

State universities in Germany generally charge no tuition fees for bachelor's degrees and most master's degrees. Every student pays a semester contribution of between €70 and €430. In Mainz, the transport operator Mainzer Mobilität provides the Deutschland-Semesterticket for students of JGU, Hochschule Mainz and the Catholic University of Applied Sciences; students have already paid for it with their semester contribution. Nationally, the price of the Deutschlandsemesterticket is 60% of the regular Deutschlandticket, which has cost €63 a month since January 2026.

According to the DAAD, students in Germany need between €900 and €1,200 a month depending on the city, and the average student spends €410 a month on rent including utilities. Students from outside the EU must prove €992 a month when they apply for a student visa (DAAD, 2025 figure). Language school fees are set by each school.

Getting around and daily life

Buses and trams cover the city, and Wiesbaden is just across the Rhine. The nearest airport is Frankfurt International Airport (FRA). The Deutschlandticket is valid on local and regional transport throughout Germany, which makes day trips in the Rhine-Main region easy.

Citizens of the EU, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland only need an ID card. Students from countries such as the United States, Canada, Brazil or Japan can enter without a visa but must apply for a residence permit if they stay longer than three months; most other students need a national student visa from a German embassy or consulate. A tourist visa cannot be converted into a student visa later.

Frequently asked questions

Is Mainz a good place to learn German?

Yes, for students who want a smaller city. The language schools in Mainz offer intensive courses at all levels and preparation for the telc, DSH and TestDaF exams that German universities accept.

Can I prepare for university admission in Mainz?

Yes. Verbum Novum runs preparation courses for the DSH and for the Studienkolleg entrance exam, and Evolanguage prepares students for the DSH and TestDaF.

How much money do I need per month in Mainz?

The DAAD estimates €900 to €1,200 a month for students in Germany, depending on the city. Non-EU students must prove €992 a month for the visa.

Which airport is closest to Mainz?

Frankfurt International Airport (FRA) is the nearest airport.