Increasing interest in studying at the University of Jena

With around 2,400 students in their first university semester - i.e. young people who have taken up their studies for the first time - the Friedrich Schiller University of Jena is starting lectures for the winter semester 2023/24 today. This is a slight increase compared to the same day a year ago, as the provisional student statistics show. The number of all first-semester students - including those who have changed their course of study - is also slightly above the level of the previous year at over 3,600. However, the figures will still change in the coming weeks, as enrolment at Friedrich Schiller University is possible until 27 October.

Compared to the previous year, the total number of students on the cut-off date has fallen slightly, which, as a result of demographic change, affects the vast majority of universities in Germany in a similar way. Of the total of about 17,000 students now enrolled, 56 percent are female, almost a quarter of the students come from West Germany and about 14 percent are international students.

What caused the decline in the number of students by about 400 compared to the previous year cannot be said with certainty at this time. Whether there was an increase in exams or it was caused by a declining, number of students from West Germany can only be determined after a detailed analysis. However, the preliminary figures already make it clear that there is again a stronger interest in the Bachelor's degree programmes at the University of Jena and that the choice for teacher training programmes is at the level of the previous year. However, the numbers in the Master's degree programmes have declined significantly. This is presumably due on the one hand to a change in the acceptance behaviour of Master's students and on the other hand probably to the fact that third-country nationals were not granted student visas in time or they were unable to prove sufficient funding.

Attractive study location with high-quality study programmes

"I would like to extend a warm welcome to the newly enrolled students and am pleased about the continuing interest of young people in studying at Friedrich Schiller University of Jena. This speaks for an attractive place to study and high-quality study programmes. In the current situation, students will particularly benefit from the very good supervision ratios during their education in Jena," says Prof Dr Karina Weichold, whose term as the new Vice President for Studies and Teaching began today.

The diversity of the University's new students will become visible at the Ceremonial Matriculation on 20 October at 2 p.m. in the Volkshaus of the City of Jena. The media are cordially invited to this event. All other interested parties can follow it via livestream in lecture hall 1, Carl-Zeiß-Str. 3, as all tickets for the Volkshaus have already been allocated.