money

Financing your studies

Jobs, scholarships, and other advice for international students
money
Image: Jan-Peter Kasper (University of Jena)
Notice

Students at risk, for example from Afghanistan, please note our information about the Hilde Domin Programme (DAAD).

In Jena, there are no tuition fees (unless students have studied for a very long time in Germany already). However, you should be prepared to spend approximately €750-900 per month for living costs. You can find a detailed breakdown of costs in the study guidepdf, 4 mb · de. International students should always be able to provide evidence of sufficient financial resources (2024: €11,208/year) to the Visa Office and Immigration Office. Having a student’s residence permit, you have to cover the cost of living yourself and should not apply for any benefits from Germany (e.g. housing benefit for rent or social security).

Thus, before you apply for and begin a study programme, you should carefully consider how you will finance it. On this page, we provide information on various methods of financing and scholarships for international students.

  • Banking: Who needs a German and a blocked account?

    For recurring payments like rent, health insurance, mobile phone/internet, broadcasting fee (see point 4 below) and much more you will need a bank account.

    If you are an EU citizen and have an account in the EU (SEPA), you can use it.

    All degree-seeking students from outside the EU (also for the DSH course) will need a blocked accountExternal link (or online blocked account) at a German bank, at least for their first year of studies (amount: 11,208€).

    After arrival, open a blocked account here at your place of residence in Germany (or activate your blocked account, which you had to open for the visa application). Some banks require a minimum term and/or a valid visa/residence permit. There are also online banks which offer blocked accounts.

    When choosing your bank, pay attention to the monthly fees and conditions, terms and cancellation periods, costs for all services associated with the account.

  • Jobs: Working while studying

    If you want or must work while studying, please make sure you stick to the rules of your study programme, i.e. do not work more hours per week than allowed. Studying should be your priority.

    When looking for a job, please observe the requirements of the German Immigration Law: non-EU citizens whose main reason for staying in Germany is studying can only work for 140 days (up to 8 hrs/day) or 280 half-days (up to 4 hrs/day) per year without a special work permit. It is recommended to document all working hours in a list. Employers must be informed if you have more than one job. The limit does not apply for work as a student assistant (“studentische Hilfskraft”) or graduate assistant (“wissenschaftliche Hilfskraft”). Studying part-time or taking on a free-lance/fee-based job (self-employment) is allowed only if the Immigration Office permits it.

    There are various job opportunities in Jena. You should have at least good command of German if you want to have a choice among them. Jobs in which you do not need (much) German are rare, opten physically demanding, not very well paid and usually you have to commute to Erfurt/Gera for them.

    Accept a work offer only if you have an employment contract and your employer is also paying social security contributions for you. Those working illegally may be liable to prosecution.

    Get advice and more information about your job search at the Career PointExternal link!

  • Scholarships

    You usually have to apply one year in advance for a scholarship. Please read the application criteria thoroughly. Not all the scholarships listed on the following pages are available to international students.

    Guest students: please refer to our special advice on financingExternal link or ask your home University. The Erasmus+ Worldwide programme at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena also provides scholarships for guest students from some of our partner universities. Learn more about it here.External link

  • Loans

    Borrowing money, privately or from a bank, is always associated with the risk that you have to ensure repayment and often also pay interest. So the repayment should not be in a phase when you cannot work alongside your studies/exams. Also avoid borrowing money again for the repayment.

    For a bank loan or a loan from the Studierendenwerk (exception: short-term loan, see Emergency assistance below), you must provide the guarantee of a German citizen to ensure repayment. Only ask people whom you know well and trust. If you borrow money privately, you should have a written contract about the sum and the mode and time of repayment.

  • Emergency assistance

    In the event of an emergency (sudden, unexpected and unforeseeable emergency, e.g. illness), international students without a German higher education entrance qualification Abitur  who have been degree-seeking students at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena for at least one year already, can request emergency assistance from the International Office at any time. Please observe the requirements in the general informationpdf, 81 kb · de [pdf 63KB]. You may only submit applications after consultation with Dr Salheiser, Team International Students of the International Office for advice. The commission responsible for granting study allowances, chaired by the Vice-President for Learning and Teaching, will decide on the applications.

    You can apply for short- and medium-term hardship loansExternal link or even free tokensExternal link for the canteen from the Studierendenwerk Thüringen.

  • Student grants from DAAD for the final phase of your studies

    For the last semester, international students without a German higher education entrance qualification Abitur who are aiming for a degree at the University of Jena can request student grant for the final phase of their studies from the International Office. Applications can only be made in the last but one semester before the final/exam semester. The application deadlines are 28 February and 31 August of each year. Please take note of the general informationpdf, 81 kb · de. [pdf 63KB] You may only submit applications after consultation with Dr Salheiser in the International StudentsExternal link department of the International Office for advice. The commission responsible for granting study allowances, chaired by the Vice-President for Learning and Teaching, will decide on the applications.

    Logo DAAD
    Logo DAAD
    Image: DAAD
  • DAAD scholarships for integration of international students

    Occasionally, the International Office awards student scholarships for particularly active students who help international students to integrate. Calls for applications are published in the calendar.

  • DAAD prize for special achievements by international students

    You can find information on the application hereExternal link.

  • Study Start-Up aid "StudiumThüringenPlus"

    The "StudiumThüringenPlus" study start-up aid is a one-time support amounting to €500 for freshmen in financial need before the start of their studies in the first university semester. The "StudiumThüringenPlus" study start-up aid intends to ease the start into studies.

    Learn moreExternal link

placeholder image — Logo podcast international
Costs, Scholarships and Working while Studying
This episode is about financing your studies.
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Unfortunately there is no transcription for this file
Graphic: Sabine Müller
Audio: University of Jena

You can also listen to these information and advices in Episode 7 of our Podcast "Uni Jena international" .

Emergency grant for students because of the war in Ukraine

If you are a student of the University of Jena and in a situation of financial emergency due to the war in Ukraine, e.g. support from your home country has been cut off, you may apply for an emergency grant. Please contact Dr Britta Salheiser at incoming@uni-jena.de 

Ukrainian degree-seeking students (aiming at a degree in Jena) and holding a residence permit according to §24 Aufenthaltsgesetz may apply for the German student scholarship BaföGExternal link.

Please note that the money may not be used to support anyone other than yourself. Ukrainians who are refugees and whom you might be taking care of (thank you for your efforts!) should please contact the local authorities (Immigration Office, municipal offices), as they are entitled to financial support as refugees. See e.g. https://rathaus.jena.de/de/aufnahme-ukrainischer-kriegsfluechtlingeExternal link 

Students at Risk: Hilde Domin Programme (DAAD)

Prospective international students and students who are in a situation of personal vulnerability can apply for the Students at Risk Hilde Domin Scholarship ProgrammeExternal link of the German Academic Exchange Service (DAAD).

The application for the programme requires a nomination by the future university. The University of Jena nominates only those candidates who can prove their academic suitability and language capacity for one of the degree programmes at the University of Jena and who fulfil the following DAAD nomination criteria. Candidates are elegible:

  • who are not living in Germany or the EU,
  • who are of legal age (as a rule at least 18 years old) at time of nomination
  • who have a university entrance qualification with the aim of studying a Bachelor’s degree until the application deadline
  • who have a recognised Bachelor’s degree (or comparable) with the aim of studying a Master’s degree until the start of the scholarship
  • who have a recognised Master’s degree (or comparable) with the aim of pursuing a doctorate until the start of the scholarship
  • whose acquisition of the university entrance qualification for an intended Bachelor’s degree programme or whose last university degree for an intended Master’s degree programme or an intended doctorate was generally no longer than two years ago at the point of application
  • whose last matriculation at the foreign higher education institution i.e. whose university entrance qualification for an intended Bachelor’s degree programme, whose last university degree for an intended Master’s degree programme or an intended doctorate was as a rule no longer than two years ago at the point of application
  • who are at personal risk and of being formally or de facto denied educational rights in their country of origin, due to their ethnic, sexual, gender or religious identity and/or their political or civic engagement.

Nomination is not possible for the degree programmes Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy (admission restricted nationwide) and for the degree programme Law with a state examination degree.

Interested and qualified persons should therefore follow these steps:

Request an assessment of academic suitability

Please send an e-mail to incoming@uni-jena.de with your documents in German or English:

  1. passport
  2. up to date, complete curriculum vitae
  3. University entrance qualification with a German or English translation if the original is in another language,
  4. proof of studies (transcript, diploma) with German or English translation if the original is in another language,
  5. name of the desired study programme
  6. proof of German/English language abilities according to the desired study programme,
  7. reasons for the personal risk

We will inform you about the result and whether we will nominate you for the Hilde Domin Programme at the DAAD.

Application to the DAAD

If you receive an invitation from the DAAD as a nominee, you can apply for the scholarship.

Application for admission to a study programme

You can only take up your studies if you apply for a place on the study programme within the regular deadlines for the actual start of your studies (Application for Admission). Please refer to the information on the individual degree programmes.


Please also note the dates and deadlines of the DAAD with plenty of time to spare.

Information

If you have any questions or need advice, please contact Dr Britta Salheiser, Team International Students of the International Office.

Information materials