Studying in Mainz costs 366.90 € per semester at the Johannes Gutenberg University and 396.91 € at Hochschule Mainz (winter semester 2026/27). Both amounts include a public transport ticket: at the university it is the semester ticket for 229.90 €, at Hochschule Mainz the Deutschlandticket for students for 226.18 €. If Mainz is only your secondary residence, you also pay a second home tax of 10% of the annual net cold rent.
Studying in Mainz at a glance
| Topic | Value in Mainz |
|---|---|
| Semester fee Johannes Gutenberg University (WS 2026/27) | 366.90 € |
| Semester fee Hochschule Mainz (WS 2026/27) | 396.91 € |
| Room in a residence shared flat run by the Studierendenwerk | approx. 360 € to 429 € |
| Second home tax | 10% of the annual net cold rent |
| Registration after moving in | within 2 weeks |
| Responsible for BAföG | University (BAföG office of the JGU) |
The figures come from the University of Mainz, Hochschule Mainz, Studierendenwerk Mainz and the City of Mainz.
What is included in the semester fee for studying in Mainz?
In Mainz the semester fee also pays for your public transport ticket. At the university, the total of 366.90 € breaks down as follows:
| Component (university) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Semester ticket | 229.90 € |
| Studierendenwerk | 114.00 € |
| Student body (tasks) | 17.10 € |
| Student sports committee | 1.60 € |
These four items add up to 362.60 €. The remaining 4.30 € goes to other shares, for example the AStA emergency fund. At Hochschule Mainz the breakdown looks different:
| Component (Hochschule Mainz) | Amount |
|---|---|
| Deutschlandticket for students | 226.18 € |
| Studierendenwerk contribution | 101.00 € |
| Administration fee | 50.00 € |
| Student body contribution | 14.00 € |
| nextbike | 4.50 € |
| Kulturticket | 0.52 € |
| Legal advice | 0.21 € |
| Liability insurance | 0.50 € |
Together these come to 396.91 €. The checklist for the start of your studies (in German) explains how to organise the start of the semester.
Which universities are there in Mainz?
Mainz has the Johannes Gutenberg University (JGU) and Hochschule Mainz, a university of applied sciences. Which one you attend determines your semester fee, as the tables above show. The first-semester tips (in German) make getting started easier.
Student residence, shared flat or own flat: what does housing cost in Mainz?
The Studierendenwerk Mainz runs student residences in Mainz and Bingen. According to its price list, individual options cost between 339 € and 818 € (double room), apartments in Bingen start at 398 €, and rooms in residence shared flats are around 360 € to 429 €. For the winter semester 2026/27, the Studierendenwerk’s rental portal no longer shows any free places. It is therefore worth checking the Studierendenwerk website regularly for places that become free, and planning a private search as well.
Practical help: finding a shared flat (in German) covers the search and the flatshare interview, residence or shared flat (in German) helps you weigh up the options, and the rental agreement for students (in German) is worth reading before you sign. If you are on a tight budget, finding an affordable flat during your studies (in German) has ideas, and housing benefit for students (in German) shows whether it is an option for you.
Who pays the second home tax in Mainz?
Mainz levies a second home tax of 10% of the annual net cold rent. Only people up to their 18th birthday who are in school or vocational training are exempt. There is no separate exemption for students.
Example: you pay 400 € net cold rent a month, which is 4,800 € a year. The tax is then 480 € a year, or 40 € a month. Your main residence, registration and the deadlines are covered in moving and re-registering when you start studying (in German). You must register with the Bürgeramt of the City of Mainz within two weeks of moving in, and the city explains the process online.
What are the monthly running costs?
This is an example for a childless student aged 23 or over at the university, not covered by family insurance, with a room in a residence shared flat. Assumptions: the university semester fee, the basic contribution to student health insurance, and a room price from the range set by the Studierendenwerk.
| Item | Per month |
|---|---|
| Semester fee (366.90 € divided by 6) | 61.15 € |
| Student health insurance, basic contribution | 87.38 € |
| Long-term care insurance, childless from age 23 | 35.91 € |
| Subtotal | 184.44 € |
| Total with a room in a residence shared flat (approx. 360 € to 429 €) | 544.44 € to 613.44 € |
Still missing are your health insurer’s additional contribution, food, mobile phone and leisure. For comparison: BAföG has a maximum rate of 992 € for students under 30 with their own flat and their own insurance, of which 380 € is a housing allowance (BAföG FAQ of the Studierendenwerke). How to turn items like these into a budget is explained in budget planning during your studies (in German).
Who to contact for BAföG, legal questions and worries?
In Rhineland-Palatinate the universities are responsible for BAföG. In Mainz, the BAföG office of the Johannes Gutenberg University processes the applications. You will find information at bafoeg.uni-mainz.de and at the Studierendenwerk. The application and procedure are explained in applying for BAföG (in German), and entitlement and amount in BAföG entitlement and amount (in German).
Advice is available in several places. These include the social advice service and the psychosocial counselling of the Studierendenwerk, as well as the general legal advice of the AStA at the university, which offers a free first orientation.
Jobs and daily life alongside your studies
During your studies in 2026 the statutory minimum wage of 13.90 € gross per hour applies, and a mini-job ends at 603 € a month. You can find vacancies on the job portals of the universities and in the articles finding a part-time job as a student and working as a student assistant (both in German). Which discounts your student status unlocks is shown in benefits with student status (in German).
Health insurance when you start studying in Mainz
To enrol you need proof of statutory health insurance. The details are explained in proof of health insurance for enrolment (in German). If you are thinking about changing your health insurer, changing health insurer as a student (in German) helps. The introductory reading on the subject is health insurance for students: what you need to know (in German). You can start a personal conversation via the Academycon homepage.
Frequently asked questions
How much is the semester fee at the University of Mainz?
For the winter semester 2026/27 it is 366.90 €. Of this, 229.90 € goes to the semester ticket and 114 € to the Studierendenwerk.
Is the ticket included in the semester fee at Hochschule Mainz?
Yes. The fee of 396.91 € includes the Deutschlandticket for students at 226.18 €.
Do students in Mainz have to pay the second home tax?
Yes, if Mainz is your secondary residence. The tax is 10% of the annual net cold rent. According to the city, only people up to their 18th birthday who are in school or vocational training are exempt.
Who processes BAföG applications in Mainz?
The BAföG office of the Johannes Gutenberg University, because in Rhineland-Palatinate the universities are responsible.
How much is a room in a Studierendenwerk Mainz residence?
According to the price list, roughly 360 € to 429 € a month. For the winter semester 2026/27 the rental portal shows no free places.
How to prepare for your first weeks
- Check the Studierendenwerk Mainz for free places and continue your search privately.
- Get proof of statutory health insurance for enrolment.
- Register with the Bürgeramt within two weeks of moving in.
- Transfer the semester fee by the re-enrolment deadline.
- Apply for BAföG at the university’s office if an entitlement is possible.
Related articles
- All 30 university cities compared (in German)
- Studying in Frankfurt am Main (in German)
- Studying in Darmstadt (in German)
- Studying in Heidelberg (in German)
Last updated: October 2026. This guide is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
