Modern City with Tradition
Mainz, the capital of Rhineland-Palatinate, is situated in the Rhine-Main area, near Wiesbaden and Frankfurt with its international airport. Due to its central location in the heart of Europe, all of the major European cities can be reached by plane in less than 1 1/2 hours.
One of the oldest German cities, Mainz is not only known for its attractive old town, but also for the impressive St. Martins cathedral and the Stephanskirche, with stained-glass windows by Marc Chagall. The hometown of Johannes Gutenberg is also famous for the Gutenberg museum, where the first printed bible is on display. The Rhine-Main area is one of the most important centers of economy and medias in Europe. Culturally, the area in and around Mainz has a lot to offer: its rich cultural life includes internationally acclaimed festivals like the Rheingau Music Festival, large theaters such as the Frankfurt Opera, museums, exhibitions, galleries and numerous other cultural institutions. In addition, Rhinehesse, whose vineyards were first appreciated by the Romans, is renowned for its traditional wine culture.
Studying at Johannes Gutenberg-University
Founded in 1476, the Johannes Gutenberg-University is one of the oldest universities in Germany. Today more than 36.000 students, including 4.500 international students from more than 130 different countries, comprise the student body.
The faculties include Natural Sciences, Humanities and Social Sciences as well as Law, Economics and Medicine. In addition to these classical subjects, the university also offers studies in Art History, Film and Theater, Journalism, Athletics and graduate classes for interpreters and translators. Furthermore, the Johannes Gutenberg-University is the only German university to include two artistic-practical departments - the Academy of Fine Arts and the School of Music. This unique combination of science and art as well as research, teaching and artistic practice is reflected in many interdisciplinary study programs such as the Studium Generale, training in choral singing, interdisciplinary work groups and graduate lectures.
The international orientation of the Johannes Gutenberg-University is not only characterized by the large number of international students and faculty members, but also by its co-operation with more than 300 foreign universities and educational institutes. The University of Mainz offers various international study programs which aim at introducing the students to an intercultural, international and interdisciplinary perspective. These programs include the Polonicum, the integrated German-French study program, the Center of European Migration, the international summer course and various international courses of study. The university´s Language Center offers language courses to German and foreign students participating in international programs.
A wide range of cultural activities and sports programs enhances the educational environment of the Johannes Gutenberg-University. All students can participate in general sporting events and use the sports facilities. The botanical garden on campus is a wonderful place to go for walks or to simply relax. On most evenings there is a wide variety of concerts appealing to every musical taste. Musically talented students can also contribute to the university´s cultural program by becoming members of the Collegium musicum or the Jazz/Rock/Pop choir.