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Study in Main-Tauber-Kreis district

Main-Tauber-Kreis is a rural district of river towns, vineyards and castles, with a DHBW campus in Bad Mergentheim.

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Wertheim’s townscape seen from the Main
Photo: Varus111 (opens in a new tab), CC BY 3.0 (Wikimedia Commons)

In short

Main-Tauber-Kreis is a rural district (Landkreis) in Baden-Württemberg with 133,169 people (Destatis, 31 Dec 2024). It has one university: DHBW Mosbach (Bad Mergentheim). Summers average 18.8 °C and winters 2 °C, with about 648 mm of rain a year (DWD, 1991–2020).

Main-Tauber-Kreis district in numbers

Population

133,169Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Area

1,304.12 km²Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

People per km²

102Destatis 2024 (opens in a new tab)

Universities in the district

1Where Is My Uni? catalogue (opens in a new tab)

DHBW Mosbach

Typical student rent

€210–€293Source (opens in a new tab)

Monthly rent range for rooms at Schloss 11, Bad Mergentheim, listed on Studierendenwerk Heidelberg’s undated residence page; checked November 2026. This is a residence-specific range, not a district average; the page does not explicitly clarify included utilities.

Average temperature

10.2 °C a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Rain

648 mm a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Sunshine

1,685 hours a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

Frost days

84 a yearDWD 1991–2020 (opens in a new tab)

About Main-Tauber-Kreis district

Main-Tauber-Kreis lies in the Franconian northeast of Baden-Württemberg, along the Tauber towards its meeting with the Main. Tauberbischofsheim is the administrative centre; Bad Mergentheim, Wertheim and Lauda-Königshofen are other useful starting points when choosing where to live (district background (opens in a new tab)).

The landscape combines small towns, wine villages and historic buildings. The Tauber valley cycle route links places such as Bad Mergentheim, Weikersheim, Tauberbischofsheim and Wertheim, making cycling a practical way to explore beyond your study town (ADFC (opens in a new tab)).

Main towns

Universities here

Universities in Main-Tauber-Kreis district, biggest first.

Bad Mergentheim is the district’s clearest student base: DHBW Mosbach has a campus here, including a technical Studienkolleg for international applicants (DHBW (opens in a new tab)). Würzburg offers the nearby University of Würzburg, Hochschule für Musik and THWS; Mosbach is another university town in the supplied directory. For commuting, choose your address around the actual timetable: Lauda has direct Würzburg trains, while other starting points can add connections (Mainfrankenbahn (opens in a new tab), Westfrankenbahn (opens in a new tab)). This is a sensible option if you prefer small-town life and have a local course or employer; test the full journey before choosing it for daily study elsewhere.

Find a course in Main-Tauber-Kreis

Housing

Start with the dedicated student accommodation in Bad Mergentheim. Studierendenwerk Heidelberg operates Schloss 8 and Schloss 11 beside the DHBW campus, with furnished rooms (Schloss 8 (opens in a new tab), Schloss 11 (opens in a new tab)). Published prices establish a useful budget option, but do not establish current vacancies or whether the wider rental market is relaxed.

The typical student rent we found, and what that figure covers, is in the key facts.

How to find a place

Student residences

Cost of living

Two useful budget anchors are Schloss 11’s listed room rents of €210–€293 and the standard Deutschlandticket at €63 per month in 2026 (Studierendenwerk Heidelberg (opens in a new tab), VRN (opens in a new tab)). Budget separately for food, insurance, study charges and any housing costs excluded from the contract. There is insufficient verified evidence here for a district-wide comparison with big-city living costs; a low room price is most useful when the location also avoids an expensive or lengthy commute.

Jobs & employers

Industrial logistics, laboratory equipment and drive technology provide concrete local routes into student employment: Würth Industrie Service operates in Bad Mergentheim, BRAND develops and manufactures in Wertheim, and WITTENSTEIN offers student opportunities in Igersheim-Harthausen (Würth (opens in a new tab), Brand Group (opens in a new tab), WITTENSTEIN (opens in a new tab)). Match applications to your subject, available hours and transport; an advertised student programme does not guarantee a suitable current vacancy.

Typical student jobs

Major employers

Getting around

The Tauberbahn links Wertheim, Lauda, Bad Mergentheim and Crailsheim; Wertheim also has the Maintalbahn towards Miltenberg and Aschaffenburg (Westfrankenbahn (opens in a new tab)). For Würzburg, the VGMT route planner shows approximately 40–45 minutes from Lauda on listed weekday regional stopping trains; add your journey to the station and onward travel to campus (VGMT timetable (opens in a new tab)). Buses and pre-booked Ruftaxi services supplement the railways, particularly in the evening and at weekends (Tauberbischofsheim transport guidance (opens in a new tab)). The Deutschlandticket covers local and regional transport, including VRN Ruftaxi services, but not ordinary ICE or IC travel (VRN (opens in a new tab)). Check your exact return journey before relying on public transport for late shifts.

Main stations
Nearest airport

Frankfurt, Stuttgart or Nuremberg — compare from your town

The district identifies all three as airport options; one district-wide nearest airport would be misleading (district transport overview (opens in a new tab)). Nuremberg Airport has a U2 underground connection into the city (Nuremberg Tourism (opens in a new tab)). Compare the complete airport-to-accommodation journey before booking.

Weather & seasons

Long-term averages from the German Weather Service station Lauda-Königshofen-Gerlachsheim (2 km from the district centre), 1991–2020.

Winter

2 °C

52 mm rain a month

1.8 h sun a day

Spring

10 °C

49 mm rain a month

5.7 h sun a day

Summer

18.8 °C

66 mm rain a month

7.4 h sun a day

Autumn

9.9 °C

49 mm rain a month

3.5 h sun a day

Expect cool winters with frost, a gradually warming spring and warm summers with occasional hot days; rain is possible throughout the year. Pack layers, waterproof shoes and lights if you plan to cycle through winter. Spring and summer lend themselves to exploring the Tauber valley route, while autumn brings the Königshöfer Messe and Michaelismesse (ADFC (opens in a new tab), Königshöfer Messe (opens in a new tab), Wertheim (opens in a new tab)).

Culture, language & food

Tauberfranken is the regional identity to know, with wine-growing towns and a landscape shaped by the Tauber (district background (opens in a new tab)). The Königshöfer Messe and Wertheim’s Michaelismesse are recurring opportunities to experience local fair traditions (Königshöfer Messe (opens in a new tab), Wertheim (opens in a new tab)).

For student social life, DHBW describes a Campus Stüble meeting space and international campus activities (DHBW (opens in a new tab)). Plan around campus contacts and scheduled events; this guide cannot substantiate a large, late-night club scene.

Plan to use German for housing, administration and job applications rather than assuming English will always be available. B1–B2 is a useful practical learning target, not a district-wide admission rule; check your course’s requirements separately. The local Studienkolleg teaches in German (DHBW (opens in a new tab)). Regional speech includes Taubergründisch around Wertheim, Tauberbischofsheim and Lauda-Königshofen, and Hohenlohisch around Bad Mergentheim (Taubergründisch (opens in a new tab), Hohenlohisch (opens in a new tab)).

Local food

Places & events

Places to see

  • Wertheim Castle

    Castle

    Explore the ruins above the old town and the meeting of the Main and Tauber. Check access before visiting: the operator currently reports that the keep’s viewing area is closed (Burg Wertheim (opens in a new tab)).

  • Weikersheim Palace and Garden

    Palace

    A Renaissance palace with a Baroque garden and extensive sculptural decoration; check the official site for rooms affected by restoration (State Palaces and Gardens (opens in a new tab)).

  • Residenzschloss Mergentheim

    Museum

    The former residence of the Teutonic Order’s leaders houses the Deutschordensmuseum and connects the historic centre with the park grounds (City of Bad Mergentheim (opens in a new tab)).

  • Tauber valley cycle route

    Nature

    Choose a local section of Liebliches Taubertal – Der Klassiker for a ride between wine villages and towns. The route passes Bad Mergentheim, Weikersheim, Tauberbischofsheim and Wertheim (ADFC (opens in a new tab)).

Events

  • Weikersheim Palace

    Weikersheim Palace

  • Burgstraße in Bad Mergentheim looking towards the Teutonic Order’s palace

    Burgstraße in Bad Mergentheim looking towards the Teutonic Order’s palace

Student experiences

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Studying in Main-Tauber-Kreis district: FAQ

Is Main-Tauber-Kreis a good place to live as a student?

It is worth considering if your course or employer is local and you enjoy small towns and outdoor activities. Bad Mergentheim has a DHBW campus, while the Tauber valley offers cycling between towns (DHBW (opens in a new tab), ADFC (opens in a new tab)).

Is there a university in Main-Tauber-Kreis?

Yes. DHBW Mosbach has a campus in Bad Mergentheim, which also hosts a technical Studienkolleg for international applicants preparing for higher education (DHBW (opens in a new tab)).

How do I travel from Main-Tauber-Kreis to Würzburg?

Lauda has direct regional trains to Würzburg. VGMT’s published weekday stopping-train examples take about 40–45 minutes; journeys from other district towns may require a connection, and campus travel adds time (VGMT (opens in a new tab)).

Is Main-Tauber-Kreis expensive for students?

A verified low-cost option is Schloss 11 in Bad Mergentheim, where the operator lists rents of €210–€293, checked November 2026 (Studierendenwerk Heidelberg (opens in a new tab)). This is not a private-market average, and availability and included costs must be confirmed.

What student jobs are available in Main-Tauber-Kreis?

Examples include working-student roles at Würth Industrie Service and retail assistance in Wertheim Village stores (Würth (opens in a new tab), Wertheim Village (opens in a new tab)). WITTENSTEIN also has a student careers route for internships, working-student roles and theses (WITTENSTEIN (opens in a new tab)).

Can I use the Deutschlandticket in Main-Tauber-Kreis?

Yes, it covers local buses and regional trains, as well as VRN Ruftaxi services. The standard price is €63 per month in 2026; ordinary ICE and IC journeys are excluded (VRN (opens in a new tab)).

More guides

Sources & photo credits

Last updated November 2026. Population and area: Destatis. Weather: Deutscher Wetterdienst. Universities and courses: our catalogue. Everything else was researched from the sources below and checked — how we research these guides.

Sources

Photo credits

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