Protestant Theology

What is faith? Can God allow evil and suffering and still be just? Should creation be ruled or merely preserved by mankind? If you are interested in these questions, this is the programme for you!

View of the church steeple in Jena

Image: Anne Günther (University of Jena)

Key facts

Degree: Diploma/church board examination
Admission restriction: without admission restriction (without NC)
Duration: 10 Semesters
Credits/ECTS: 300
Teaching language: German
Tuition fee: None
Semester contribution: € 272,65
Start of studies: Winter semester, Summer semester
Part-time possible: Yes
Institution: Faculty of Theology de

Application & Deadlines

Programme content

Do you like to think about God and ‘the bigger picture’? The extremely diverse study of theology lets you do exactly that, as it is more comprehensive and exciting than most academic disciplines.

A large part of the course focuses on historical issues, such as the history of Christianity from its Judaic roots to the present day and the modern-day challenges involved in the practice of faith.

You will need good language skills—and not only for your sermons if you decide to pursue a career as a pastor. After all, your studies will involve Old and New Testament passages in their original language, as well as the history of the biblical tradition, the historical reality of the world’s religions and the contemporary practice and structure of churches.

placeholder image — Screenshot — Studying at the Faculty of Theology at the Friedrich Schiller University Jena [in German]

Structure

The study of Protestant Theology is structured into a basic course with 120 credits (ECTS for short; 1 ECTS = 30 hours for attendance, preparation and follow-up work, private study, assessed coursework and examinations), a main course with 120 ECTS and an integration period with 60 ECTS.

Proficiency in Hebrew, Ancient Greek and Latin is mandatory for students. But don’t worry! If you have not learned the languages before university, you can generally acquire the required knowledge during your first four semesters with our young and dedicated language teachers. But don’t underestimate the workload, especially at the start of your studies. You will need to work hard and stick at it! However, students are granted an extension in their basic course of one semester each for Ancient Greek and Hebrew.

The focus of the main course is on deepening your knowledge (in a choice of specialist areas) and developing critical thinking skills.

How might your degree programme shape up?

Basic course
The basic course lasts four semesters (plus any additional language semesters for Latin, Hebrew and Ancient Greek). You can set your focus and even attend elective courses from other study programmes.

Study content:

Old Testament: Hebrew and Aramaic scriptures of the Bible, introduction to the history of Israel and other cultures of the Ancient Near East

New Testament: study of scripture, insight into the movement of Roman antiquity and early Christianity

Church History: the emergence and spread of Christian doctrine and life from its beginnings to the present day

Systematic Theology: Christian thought and interpretation in dealing with current issues (dogma) and Christian action (ethics)

Practical Theology: theory of internal religious practice (e.g. worship, church leadership) and external religious practice (e.g. teaching, diakonia)

Religious Education: theory and practice of religious education and discussion of innovative forms of religious education

Religious Studies: origin of religions, historical changes and structuring, and critical examination of ideas, texts, social models, etc.

The four-week internship is ideally completed during the lecture-free period between the final semester of the basic course and the first semester of the main course. We will be happy to help you find a (specialist) internship.

An intermediate examination is taken at the end of the basic course.

More detailed information can be found in the module catalogue for the study programmepdf, 225 kb · de.
Main course
The aim of the main course is to become specialized in certain areas within four to six semesters.

Old Testament (advanced module)

New Testament (advanced module)

Church History (advanced module)

Systematic Theology (advanced module)

Practical Theology / Religious Education (advanced module)

Philosophy (module)

Interdisciplinary advanced module

Religious Studies and Intercultural Theology (module)

Elective modules

More detailed information can be found in the module catalogue for the study programmepdf, 225 kb · de.
Integration period
The two-semester integration period comes right at the end of the course, including the exam preparation and the individual components of the final examination.

Integration module I and II

Academic paper

Practical theological draft

Examinations

More detailed information can be found in the module catalogue for the study programmepdf, 225 kb · de.

Why study in Jena?

an internationally renowned degree: The Friedrich Schiller University Jena is one of the few universities in Germany where you can still obtain a diploma in Protestant Theology. But you are not tied to that option, as you can also take the ‘ecclesiastical examination’ at the Faculty of Theology de.
research focus: Due to its Lutheran roots, the Faculty of Theology de plays a pioneering role in the preservation and research of Reformation heritage. The work of theologians at the University of Jena is characterized by research on key topics like ‘The Bible in the context of antiquity and the Orient’, ‘Reconciliation from a theological and ethical perspective’, ‘Religious education in the context of social change’, ‘Reformation and modernity’ and ‘Biblical and Lutheran theology in the church and society of today’.
excellent supervision: small seminar groups, great student commitment and teaching staff who are (almost) always available to answer questions in one-to-one conversations
close interdisciplinary cooperation, e.g. with the Faculty of Catholic TheologyExternal link in Erfurt, the Department of Ancient Near Eastern StudiesExternal link and the Ethics CenterExternal link in Jena
quick internship placements: close cooperation with churches in Thuringia and the ecclesiastical province of Saxony
adventures abroad: global network of partner universities, e.g. São Bento (Brazil), Stellenbosch (South Africa) and Sibiu (Romania)
important historical sites are not far from Jena, such Eisenach and Wartburg CastleExternal link, ErfurtExternal link and WeimarExternal link.

A look behind the scenes

Image: M. Bleeke

Change of perspective
Your studies will fully immerse you in foreign cultures, eras, languages and reasoning in small seminar groups. Some of your classes may be held outside in summer, such as here at the Frommannscher Garten in Jena.

What can you do after your studies?

Areas of employment for graduates

Gottesdienst in der Jenaer Stadtkirche St. Michael
Image: Jürgen Scheere (University of Jena)

in the member churches of the Protestant Church in Germany (e.g. as a pastor, parish worker, etc.).
in non-school education (adult education centres, ecclesiastical academies, etc.)
at charitable institutions
at specialist editorial offices
at libraries, museums, foundations, cultural institutes, etc.

Downloads and links for the degree programme

What are we looking for in prospective students?

basic knowledge of religious and ecclesiastical history
a keen interest in social affairs and church issues
enjoyment in reading and interpreting texts
interest in foreign cultures, eras, languages and reasoning
membership of the Protestant Church before the first intermediate examination (First Ecclesiastical Examination / Diplom) or another member church of the World Council of Churches (Diplom)

Admission requirements

University entrance qualification

A university entrance qualification, such as a general secondary school leaving certificate, is required for admission onto the study programme.

More information on university entrance qualifications can be found here.
Language requirements

The study programme is taught in German. You must therefore have a very good command of German at the start of the study programme.

You will require knowledge of Latin, Ancient Greek and Hebrew to study theology. If you do not have the necessary language skills at the start of your programme, you can learn the languages at the Faculty of Theology during your studies (except German—see above).

Contacts

Academic Advisor — Tommy Drexel

Room 108
Fürstengraben 6
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

Examinations Office of the Faculty of Theology

Fürstengraben 6
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

+49 3641 9-42604

Central Student Advisory Service

University Main Building / SSZ
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

Office hours:
Please note: The Central Student Advisory Service will not be available from 21.12.2024. We will be back for you on Monday, 06.01.2025.

We offer consultations in person, by telephone, and via Zoom. You can make an appointment by calling us on +49 3641 9-411111 (Mondays to Fridays from 9:00 to 11:00) or outside these office hours on +49 3641 9-411200. You can also use our remote help desk.

Consultation hours:
Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays (9:00 to 12:20), Tuesdays (14:00 to 18:00), and Wednesdays and Thursdays (14:00 to 16:00).

Video chat: To the video chat – Zoom Videochat ZeitenMondays to Fridays (12:30 to 13:00) Password ZSB2020 Data protection informationpdf, 101 kb

Student Service Centre

University Main Building, Room E065
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

Opening hours:
Mondays (10:00 – 12:00)
Tuesdays (13:00 – 15:00)
Wednesdays (10:00 – 12:00)
Thursdays (13:00 – 15:00)
Fridays (10:00 – 12:00)

You can also use our remote help desk at
www.uni-jena.de/service-ssz
or send us your enquiries by post.

Telephone hours:
Mondays to Fridays
(9:00 – 11:00)

Postal address:
Friedrich-Schiller-Universität Jena
Studierenden-Service-Zentrum
07737 Jena

International Office - International students

University Main Building
Fürstengraben 1
07743 Jena Google Maps site planExternal link

incoming@uni-jena.de