Campus life

At home between harbour flair and pub alleys.

Small enough to quickly feel at home and find your way around, yet big enough to host a thriving cultural scene, restaurants ranging from independent eateries to exquisite steakhouses, and stores to cover all your shopping needs, Mannheim is the perfect city for students. Over the last 15 years, since Mannheim first began actively supporting both the music scene and creative industry, the city has shed its blue-collar status as it’s developed into a pulsating, culturally diverse music-metropolis. Daily offerings range from underground projects to high art in Mannheim’s National Theater. The city’s development was officially recognized in 2014 when it was chosen as a “UNESCO City of Music.”

The Popakademie is at home in Mannheim’s Jungbusch district. Here, in the hippest quarter in town, many different international cultures blend with dance clubs, restaurants, bars and galleries. Students see this district as their campus, since most of them live here and one never fails to see fellow students when out and about.

The Popakademie’s main building rests directly on the canal connecting the rivers Rhine and Neckar, with its sun-bathed promenade being a favourite warm-weather hangout spot between lectures and even more so in the evening. A popular highlight here are the colourful sunsets against the harbour’s industrial backdrop.

The canal is also home to Musikpark and C-Hub, two start-up centres that house both experienced and fledgling businesses as well as serve as a contact point for students. Directly next to the Popakademie is a large student dormitory in which students can also live. One significant advantage of Jungbusch’s location is the close proximity to the inner city. One only needs to cross the “ring”, the large street circling Mannheim’s inner district and within a ten minute walk can find themselves on the "Planken", Mannheim’s main shopping street. Mannheim’s train station is reachable both by tram and by bus, which even has a stopping point directly in front of the Popakademie.