International Winter Academy
Become a part of the International Winter Academy and experience German language and culture together with people from all over the world!
The International Winter Academy is more than just a language course!
Experience 4 weeks of intensive language teaching on the highest level, complemented by a multitude of seminars, workshops and excursions about Germany and its culture and get to know the country by means of our multi-faceted leisure time programme.
International Winter Academy (IWA) 2026
Learning German in Germany’s largest baroque castle
Starts: Monday, 12th January 2026
Ends: Friday, 6th February 2026
We look forward to welcoming you in Mannheim!
Important Information
The IWA takes place every year in January.
The course fee is 685,- €.
You can find further information on scholarships and support here…
In the morning, there will be 5 lessons (1 lesson = 45 min.) of German class. The teaching language is German.
Further information here…
In the afternoons, there will be additional seminars, coachings lectures and excursions.
Further information here…
We cannot offer accomodation ourselves.
You can find information and pointers here…
In case you must cancel your participation at short notice,
see the conditions here…
The regular IWA course fee is 685,- €.
However, there are scholarships:
Exchange students coming to the Universität Mannheim as part of a ‘‘State-to-state Program’’ are exempt from the course fee (* with the exception of the North Carolina state program). State-to-state Programs exist in the Canadian Province of Ontario as well as the US states of North Carolina, Massachusetts, Connecticut, Oregon and California. The International Office’s „Welcome Letter“ (3rd paragraph) can help you in deciding wheter this applies to you. If it does, please choose the corresponding entry in the ‘State-to-state Program‘ field.
In the morning you will have 5 lessons (1 lesson = 45 min.) of general language class on all levels of the CEFR (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages) – from A1 for newbies through C1 for the nearly fully fluent speaker. Participation is obligatory.
Communication and grammar courses, intercultural training, lectures on Europe, history and economy, pronunciation workshops and excursions to surrounding regions. Participation is voluntary.
The complete programme with all events, excursions, workshops, seminars etc will be released in Mid-July 2025.
The shared flat (=WG) is one of the most popular forms of accommodation for students in Germany.
What is a WG? Easy to explain: Several people share a flat.
Each person has their own room, kitchen, bathroom and possibly a living room are shared.
Costs such as rent, electricity or internet are also shared.
If you are looking for accomodation, we recommend the following pages:
https://www.campus68.de/zimmer/
https://www.smartments-business.de/standorte/mannheim-hauptbahnhof
https://gib-bildung-ein-zuhause.de/
https://www.hostelmannheim.de/
https://www.jugendherberge.de/jugendherbergen/mannheim-international/
www.immo-suche.net/wohnungen-immobilien-mannheim.html
You might as well continue your search on social media.
Many Mannheim University students offer their room/flat on a short-term basis.
Proper cancellation notice of a course is possible if notice is given in writing up to two weeks before the start of the course. We shall have the right to claim reasonable compensation by charging the participant with a processing fee of 300,00 €. If proper cancellation notice is given, the course fees will be returned to the participant less a processing fee of 300,00 €. In case of cancellation within a period of two weeks prior to the start of the course, the participant must pay 80% of the course fee. No refunds are made after the beginning of the course.
For more information please see the General Terms and Conditions (AGB).
Please keep in mind that only the German original terms and conditions text is legally valid.
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