In order to make the initial steps of life in Germany easier for exchange students, the International Office offers the so-called InfoDays at the beginning of each term, in early October and early April. During the InfoDays, the Office of International Relations will help exchange students to take the first hurdles of their stay:

• enrolment
• registration with the Foreigners' Registration Office
• formalizing a rental contract with Studentenwerk Mainz
• registration with a German health insurance company
• the placement test for the language course for exchange students
• an introduction to the Centre for Data Processing (Zentrum für Datenverarbeitung), including registration for an e-mail account.

You will also be acquainted with the most important facilities of the university, such as the dining halls and library, during a campus tour. Furthermore you will receive information about certain formalities like the "Rückmeldung" (extension of enrolment).

Your admissions' information will also contain information on the dates of the InfoDays. Most organisational matters will be explained during the InfoDays. Thus, you should really try to take part.

Furthermore, It is important that you open a bank account right after your arrival in Mainz, prior to the InfoDays. The Studentenwerk Mainz as well as other landlords and health insurance companies debit rent and fees, i.e. have them transferred directly from your account.
The most important point here is that you cannot rent a room from Studentenwerk without a bank account.

As soon as you open an account, please transfer the social fees. The exact sum and the receiving account are noted on your Letter of Admission. You cannot enrol without having paid these fees.
Your fees help pay for the student ticket, among other things, which allows you to travel for free on public transportation in the Rhein-Main-Verkehrsverbund (= local public transport system in the greater Rhine-Main area).