© Christoph Worsch
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Friedrich Schiller University Jena

Jena
1558
Foundation year
16,106
No. of students (2026)
15%
of international students
216
Study Programs
197
Admission-free programs
English18
English-only programs

University video

01:53 min

Discover the University of Jena

01:05 min

LIGHT. LIFE. LIBERTY. – a shining landmark at the Inselplatz campus

01:15 min

What a wonderful Summer Festival at FSU Jena 2026! 🎊

04:16 min

Study in Thuringia – Everything International Students Need to Know

Highlights

Highlight #1

Newly admitted to Germany's circle of Universities of Excellence

Germany's highest distinction for universities

Germany's highest distinction for universities © FSU Jena
Highlight #2

Where Schiller once taught: studying between past and present in a place of great ideas

Light. Life. Liberty. – Connecting People and Ideas

Light. Life. Liberty. – Connecting People and Ideas
Highlight #3

9 out of 10 international students rate their studies highly

No tuition fees – and one of Germany's more affordable cities

No tuition fees – and one of Germany's more affordable cities © Christoph Worsch

Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a public comprehensive university with history: founded in 1558, it shaped European intellectual life around 1800 with Schiller, Fichte and Hegel – today, some 17,000 students study across ten faculties. More than 200 degree options range from ancient studies to photonics, complemented by Thuringia's only university hospital. 

Under its guiding theme "Light. Life.

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Friedrich Schiller University Jena is a public comprehensive university with history: founded in 1558, it shaped European intellectual life around 1800 with Schiller, Fichte and Hegel – today, some 17,000 students study across ten faculties. More than 200 degree options range from ancient studies to photonics, complemented by Thuringia's only university hospital. 

Under its guiding theme "Light. Life. Liberty.", the university combines tradition with cutting-edge research: two Clusters of Excellence explore the balance of microbial life and the power of social imagination. University buildings sit right in the city center, almost all within a 15-minute walk. And Jena is an international place: more than one in six students comes from abroad, with over 100 nations learning together – supported by welcome programs, mentoring and the university's own podcast for newcomers.

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How do you want to continue?

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Five reasons to study at University Jena

1
200+ degree options, many combinable
Ten faculties from theology to physics: many bachelor's programs combine a core and a supplementary subject – you shape your own profile. → More Info
© Christoph Worsch
2
More than one in six students is international
Over 100 nations study together on campus – international perspectives are part of everyday life in seminars, shared flats and university sports. → More Info
© Christoph Worsch
3
Jena: a true university city
Town and gown have been intertwined since 1558 – Goethe already called Jena a city privileged to knowledge. Today, about one in five residents is a student. → More Info
4
A semester abroad at 200+ partner universities
Over 200 partner universities worldwide and 580 Erasmus agreements across Europe: the International Office supports you from application to credit recognition. → More Info
© Tomke Kahl
5
A degree with international weight
In the THE World University Rankings 2027, Jena ranks in the top 9% worldwide (group 201–250) – your degree travels well across borders. → More Info
© Christoph Worsch

Excellence awards

Since October 2026, the University of Jena has been one of Germany's Universities of Excellence — the first in the state of Thuringia.
1x

"University of Excellence"

With two approved clusters of excellence and the title “University of Excellence,” the University of Jena ranks among the most successful universities in the current Excellence Strategy. More Info
2x

Excellence clusters

Since May 2025, two Clusters of Excellence have been funded in Jena: "Balance of the Microverse" and "Imaginamics". More Info

Webinars with MyGermanUniversity

Upcoming webinars

Info events by the University

The 5 Pillars of Student Financing
German
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
18 November 2026, 12:30 PM (CET)
Online

The 5 Pillars of Student Financing

How do you finance your studies – beyond BAföG? In this online session, the Studierendenwerk Thüringen (student services organization) gives you a compact overview of all five pillars: BAföG (state funding), parental support, scholarships, part-time jobs and housing benefit. You'll also get to know the Studierendenwerk itself, which brings many services together under one roof – from dining halls and student residences to social and psychosocial counselling, daycare centres and cultural programmes. Conveniently via Zoom, no registration needed.

MORE INFO
Doubts About Your Studies? – Anonymous Online Workshop by the Student Advisory Service
German
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
14 December 2026, 12:00 PM (CET)
Online

Doubts About Your Studies? – Anonymous Online Workshop by the Student Advisory Service

Almost every student reaches a point where they question their studies – and that's exactly what this workshop is for. The Central Student Advisory Service shows you how doubts arise, how to deal with them productively and which paths are open to you: continuing your programme, switching subjects or universities, or reorienting completely. The BAföG question is covered too. What makes it special: The workshop is deliberately anonymous – you log in with a pseudonym, keep your camera off and ask questions by voice or chat. Confidential, open-ended and low-threshold.

MORE INFO
Open Campus in student paradise
EnglishGerman
Friedrich Schiller University Jena
24 April 2027, 09:30 AM (CET)
On campus

Open Campus in student paradise

Thinking about studying in Jena? Get to know the university at Open Campus! At the big info day on the Ernst-Abbe-Platz campus, degree programs from all faculties introduce themselves – from law and sports science to life sciences. The Central Student Advisory Service and program advisors answer your questions about applications, admission requirements and financing, you talk directly with students and lecturers, sit in on taster lectures and join guided tours of labs, libraries, campus and city. At the marketing stand, a free Polaroid photo and a university tote bag are waiting for you.

MORE INFO
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Special features

University sports for every level
From beginner courses to competitions: the university's sports program adds movement and new people to your week.
More Info
360° tour of campus and city
Get a first impression from home: the virtual tour takes you through lecture halls, the library and Jena highlights.
More Info
Schiller's Garden House to unwind
The poet wrote dramas like Wallenstein in this summer house – now a museum and quiet garden of the university.
More Info
WelcomeCafé at the start of term
Workshops and open meet-ups on visas, housing and organizing your studies – every fall at the International Centre.
More Info
Graduate Academy for doctoral students
Central point of contact for doctoral studies: counseling, training, and funding programs on the path to a doctorate.
More Info
Every building within a 15-minute walk
The main building, Ernst-Abbe-Platz campus and library all sit close together downtown – no commuting, no rush.
More Info
Career Point: advice for your career start
Workshops, one-on-one counseling and job contacts – from your first internship to applying after graduation.
More Info
Inselplatz campus: the university grows
A new campus for research and teaching is rising in the city center – the university keeps growing visibly.
More Info
DSH courses: German for your studies
Intensive language courses prepare international applicants for the DSH exam and for studying in German.
More Info
Degree programs taught in English
Starting without German skills: a dedicated overview page lists all of the university's English-taught degree programs.
More Info

Finances

Tuition fees

Filter study programs
German Students
Other EU Students
Non-EU Students
Non-EU Students

Scholarship and funding

University Ambassador Scholarship
With the Jena University Ambassador Scholarship (JUBoS), the University of Jena supports you directly: international first-semester students receive €500 per month. In return, you act as an ambassador – sharing your experiences on a blog, in the podcast and at info events, helping others start their studies in Jena.
More Info
Wide range of additional merit- and need-based scholarships
Alongside the university's own programs, a wide range of merit- and need-based scholarships is open to you, from Germany's 13 foundations for gifted students to DAAD funding and grants for studying abroad. So you can focus on your studies, not your finances.
More Info

Testimonials

Maria

B.Sc. Nutritional Sciences

I would like to learn how diet affects our health.

So Yee

B.Sc. Chemistry

I really enjoy working in the lab and doing experiments.

Elnura

B.A. German as a Foreign and Second Language

In my free time, I like to go hiking. That can be right here in Jena.

Solomiya

B.Sc. Psychology

I want to support young people on their journey to self-discovery.

Aras

B.Sc. Computer Science

Things you can do with computer science are theoretically infinite.

Erik

B.Sc. Physik

Das Studium ist genauso, wie ich es mir vorgestellt habe.

Podcast

Contact

Central Student Advisory Service
for all questions about your studies
+49 3641 9-411111 zsb@uni-jena.de Book a meeting

Further information

For more information please check the

University Website

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