DISCOVER JENA

FIND YOUR STUDY PROGRAM IN JENA

JENA AT A GLANCE

Jena lies in central Germany and together with Erfurt and Weimar forms the central metropolitan area of the Thuringian state. Captivating landscapes of green hills and forests, fresh air and a vibrant cultural life are only few of the things defining this university town as a true paradise. Many famous poets and thinkers like Goethe, Schiller or Hegel fell in love with Jena and spent some part of their lives living and working here. This is the reason why many buildings and facilities around the city carry their names, like the Schiller’s Garden House, the Goethe Memorial and the Friedrich Schiller University. The climate here is rather continental with warm and sometimes humid summers and relatively cold winter days. Rain throughout the year and snow between December and February are moderate and do not last too long. Trams and buses are the two means of public transportation connecting the major parts of the city with the downtown area. The city is also well connected to other surrounding areas and cities like Erfurt, Weimar or bigger cities up in the north part of Germany can be easily reached by train. The diversity of the foreign population here is mainly caused by the international students coming for their studies in Jena. English and other languages can be heard around the city and mostly around the campuses.

Academic Year

Summer Semester: April – September / Winter Semester: October – March

Official Language

German

Higher Education Institutions

Population

111099

Living Costs

800 – 900 EUR

STUDYING IN JENA

With approximately 23,000 students, Friedrich Schiller University (FSU) and the Ernst-Abbe University of Applied Sciences (EAH Jena) are the only two higher education institutes in Jena and are both public. Friedrich Schiller University has ten faculties offering more than 200 attractive courses of all sorts accompanied by a strong commitment to innovation through research. The EAH Jena, on the other hand, provides courses in the fields of Social and Health Sciences, Engineering and Business Administration. The research aspect here is also well developed and among the top priorities of the university. A large portion of the students here have a foreign background and are contributing to the diverse multicultural society in Jena. Newcomers have the chance to not only make new friends but also adapt easily to the new environment through the communication with people from their own nationalities. Due to the high number of students coming to Jena every year, there is unfortunately a shortage of the rooms in student residence halls. This is why applicants are advised to start with their accommodation research as soon as possible since firstly there are particular deadlines if they want to apply through the student organization Studentenwerk and secondly availability might be limited towards the start of the semester. Alternatively, the city also offers private housing in the form of rooms or shared flats with friends rented directly from a landlord.

JENA LIFESTYLE

The majority of the cultural life here in Jena is formed by the young students contributing to the lively scene that also constantly grows with new venues. Various events take place throughout the year, with Jena Old Town Festival or the University Summer Festival being some of the most famous ones. In summertime many young people and locals head to the Kulturarena where everyone can celebrate together the open-air music festival over the course of six weeks. Students can also visit one of the popular dance clubs around here for a night out with their friends. Jena is filled with bars, pubs and restaurants where newcomers can taste the traditional brews of the Thuringian region or indulge in a gastronomical experience with German and international dishes. Cultural enthusiasts can visit museums, galleries where they can admire exhibitions or attend a spectacular show on the dome of the planetarium. The city also has a wide range of shops and shopping malls, perfect for day shopping on a rainy day. Last but not least are the wonderful gardens and parks where people go to relax, have fun and play sports.

CAREER OPPORTUNITIES IN JENA

Nowadays graduates, especially from a German university, have the freedom to pursue a career worldwide. Depending on the degree courses taken students will be able to work as engineers, scientists, high-tech specialists and many other roles in multiple fields. Those who feel difficulties with deciding what career path will best suit their interests can always turn to the Career Centers in their campus. Every university also organizes career events, workshops and training courses so that everyone has equal chances of establishing connections with different companies. Jena is a city offering high quality living standards that some might love it so much to decide and continue with their lives here. The economy here is based on the research and high-tech industry. Probably some of the most important and popular enterprises here are Carl Zeiss, Jenoptik and Schott AG, making the optic industry another leading industry in the city. Those and other major companies are among the biggest employers around here constantly looking for qualified professionals to join their teams. Job offers can be viewed in the “Career” section on universitaet.com.